Regency - Chapter 11

"I'm thinking about us," Beth answered. Noting the sudden heat in Alec's eyes, she quickly added, "I wonder what people think of our dancing together."

His expression returned to a friendly smile as he replied, "I'm sure they think that I am a very lucky man."

Beth blushed and looked around. She wasn't surprised to see the eyes of many of the audience on her and Alec. Some of the kinder matrons wore kind smiles. The noted gossips wore more predatory smiles. The women with young daughters to marry off appeared more disgruntled than anything and Beth began to wonder if maybe she should have chosen someone who would draw less scrutiny. Alec was probably the most notable partner she could have chosen.

As she considered her choice, she realized that even if she were well enough acquainted with another candidate, she would not have wanted her first dance to be with anyone else.

She looked back at Alec and found him watching her. His earnest, steady gaze made her blush start again and she began speaking, hoping to lighten the tension between them.

"Have you enjoyed the ball?"

"This is certainly the highlight," Alec answered. Then, seeming to sense her need for lighted conversation, he added, "I enjoyed watching the crowd as they arrived. I was here near the beginning and I got to see the cream of society as they trickled in."

"Did you catch anything interesting?"

"Certainly. People are always interesting. I saw many mothers of marriageable daughters on the hunt. Truly, I find the mamas here terrifying. I often feel like prey in a very ruthless hunt."

Beth laughed as Alec continued to discuss the intricacies and foibles of the ton. She joined in, sharing some of her favorite stories from past seasons. While Beth was not usually a fan of gossip, she found talking with Alec to be refreshing and entertaining. While they laughed together over some of the more foolish activities of their class, they also shared positive anecdotes about the good they saw in others.

When the dance ended, Beth felt an unexpected stab of disappointment. It was certainly not because the dance was unsuccessful. She had remembered the steps her dancing master taught her and knew she had acquitted herself well. It was also not because the dance was a disappointment. Rather, she was sad to step out of Alec's arms and surrender his exclusive company.

Indeed, as soon as he delivered her to Mother's side, he was quickly accosted by women vying for his attention. Beth pushed down her discontent and turned her attention to the growing group of eligible bachelors lining up to request a dance with her.

She recognized quite a few from previous seasons. There were a few new faces who were quickly introduced by friends or by Mother. Soon the rest of her dances were spoken for.

Beth didn't have time to worry about Alec or Arella or anyone else for the rest of the evening as moved from partner to partner, dancing every dance with energy. It had been so long since she allowed herself to feel and to express emotions so strongly. She found herself laughing and joking with her partners.

She was escorted to supper by the man who had introduced her to Alec. Mr. Moore was a kind man and she had already considered him as close to a friend as she allowed herself to have. Now that she was slowly lowering her walls, she found him an excellent conversationalist and dance partner. He took her to a supper table where Alec was already seated next to Lady Amelia.

Beth looked at them in surprise, but the four made a merry group as they spoke about birds. Mr. Moore and Lady Amelia debated a few finer points while Alec and Beth interrupted with occasional questions.

After supper, Beth continued dancing until she was sure her feet would fall off. She was grateful when Mother told her it was time to go and led her and Arella to retrieve their cloaks. Father met them at the door and escorted them to their waiting carriage. The rides home from balls were usually given over to Arella's descriptions of her favorite partners while Beth watched in silence.

Tonight, though, Mother turned her attention to Beth first. "Oh my dear," she sighed with a happy smile, leaning across the carriage to take Beth's hand in her own. "You danced! Oh, so many partners! And you looked so comfortable with Lord Watford! What a nice young man he is."

"Ah yes, I noticed you saved your first waltz for Lord Watford," Father said, sending Beth a kind smile. "He's a good man, my girl. And it was good to see you out on the dance floor, where you belong."

Beth blushed a little. "Thank you. It felt good to dance. It has been far too long."

Mother huffed a little and said, "It needn't have been so long, you know. I don't understand why-" She stopped as Father put a gentle hand on her arm.

"I'm sure Beth had her reasons, my dear." He returned his attention to Beth. "We are both very happy to see you becoming yourself again, Beth. I have missed my warm and lively daughter, you know."

Beth nodded and Arella quickly piped up, changing the subject. "Oh Mother, did you see Lord Hassleton tonight? Why, he simply could not take his eyes off of me."

Beth tuned her sister's chatter out and turned her eyes to the view out the window. She had not felt so much like herself in quite a while. She hadn't realized what a toll her efforts to save herself for Alex were taking on her. At least the damage wasn't irreversible, she hoped.

She reviewed the evening, lingering on her dance with Alec. While she had enjoyed everything about the evening, from making new friends to finally getting to experience a night full of dancing, her waltz with Alec was still the highlight.

Recalling his words about their dance being the highlight for him as well, she blushed a little and hoped that no one was paying attention to her. He seemed very taken with her, and she really didn't understand why. She had been nothing but trouble for him since the moment she launched herself into his arms in the library.