“Lady Sefton,” Dotty whispered in his ear.
“Lady Madeline.” Mrs. Drummond-Burrell smiled. “How lovely you look this evening. I am pleased to recommend Mr. Stern to you as a suitable partner for the waltz.”
Madeline smiled up at him as if he were her hero. “Thank you, ma’am. I should be delighted.”
Lords Montagu and St. Albans, whom Harry knew slightly from school, had apparently been granted waltzes with Eleanor and Alice, respectively.
Lady Sefton and the man in blue arrived. “Oh, dear,” Lady Sefton said with a small pout. “I fear you are out of luck, my lord.” She smiled at them. “Lord Lancelot wished to be recommended for the waltz, but unless I am vastly mistaken, the other ladies have already recommended these gentlemen to you.”
Harry recognized that name from somewhere, but where? Worthington stiffened. It must have had something to do with one of the sisters.
Lord Lancelot gave a languid bow. “Ah, my dear Lady Sefton, that only means they may now waltz.” The music for the first set started, and he turned his focus to Alice. “May I have this dance, my lady?”
Alice stiffened slightly as well. It was time to play knight in shining armor. “I am sorry, my lord, but Lady Alice has done me the honor of promising her first set to me.”
Before the man could ask either Eleanor or Madeline, Lord Montagu had made the same claim about dancing with Eleanor, and Lord St. Albans said that Madeline was dancing with him.
“Their first three sets are taken,” Worthington said, looking none too kindly at the gentleman. “We will leave after supper.”
Lord Lancelot bowed and sauntered away. By then the rest of their sisters and their husbands had joined them.
“Good Lord,” Phinn said. “Not him again.”
Augusta frowned at Lord Lancelot, now lounging against the wall across the room. “He looks to be improved. At least he is not wearing a spotted kerchief as a neckcloth.”
“But is he?” Matt raised his quizzing glass at his lordship’s form. “I will make inquiries.”
“It would be a shame not to be able to stand up with someone that gorgeous,” Alice mused.
“If you like peacocks,” St. Albans drawled. “He reminds me of a Gainsborough painting I once saw of a young boy in a light blue suit.”
“Do you know him?” Eleanor asked.
“Not so much know him as know of him. I went to school with one of his brothers. Lord Lancelot is said to be as spoiled as his name might suggest. He fancies himself a poet.”
Charlie Stanwood shook his head. “I was in school with him. He was a dead bore. Perhaps it will be easier if I have a conversation with him to see if he has changed.”
“I for one will stand up with him if he asks,” Madeline said. “Then we will soon know if he has improved or not.”
Harry didn’t like the sound of that. He waited while Worthington rubbed his forehead as if it ached. “He will not be allowed an introduction until I have determined he is the type of gentleman you should know.”
Worthington had spoken and that was that. Harry would make sure the man didn’t approach Madeline.
CHAPTER FOUR
After the contretemps over Lord Lancelot had ended for the present and the first set had finished, Madeline touched Harry’s arm, and he immediately gave her his attention. “Are you acquainted with Lord St. Albans and Lord Montagu?”
“Yes.” He smiled. “Eton and Oxford.”
She tapped his arm with her fan. “And you thought you would not know anyone in Town.”
“I shall once more admit you were correct.” She grinned at his chagrin. “I really should have expected to see many of my old schoolmates here.”
It occurred to Madeline that she could discover more information about both gentlemen that might be helpful to her sisters. “What do you think of them?”
He seemed to consider her question for a few moments. “I like both of them. I would say Montagu is solid. There is nothing to fear if Eleanor is interested in him. St. Albans has always seemed resty to me. Like a horse getting ready to kick over his traces.” Harry met her gaze. “I don’t know another way to describe it.”
Madeline glanced at the gentleman. What Harry had said was true. There was energy, but unlike Harry’s, it did not seem to be well-directed. Is that what was bothering Alice about him? “I see what you mean.”
Madeline felt Harry drop his gaze to her. “Socially, it would be a good match, if that is what you’re concerned about.”
None of them were that concerned about not making acceptable matches. It would never be allowed. “No. It is just the effect he has on Alice. He makes her restless.”
Harry frowned. “How odd.”
It was peculiar. “I think so too.” Madeline gave herself a shake. “If she wants help, we will be there for her, but this may be something she has to work out for herself.”
“Sometimes being there is all one can do.” His words brushed against her ear, making her neck tingle. The prelude for the waltz began. “I believe this is our dance, my lady.”
Smiling up at him, she placed her hand on his arm. “I believe you are correct, sir.”
He led her to the floor, where they bowed and curtseyed before he placed his hands on her waist. It was a shock to feel his warmth even through his gloves and the layers of clothing she wore. His touch was light but firm and confident, allowing her to greatly enjoy the set without worrying about any mishaps. That he was an excellent dancer did not surprise her at all. Everything he did, he would do well, or to the best of his ability.
“Dancing with you is akin to dancing with a feather. It is effortless,” he murmured.
Madeline chuckled. “I was just thinking the same thing about you.”
Hands overhead, he turned her into a twirl. “Would you like to go for a ride tomorrow and visit Gunther’s again?”
Umm. More ices. “You can always tempt me to eat ices.” She dropped her hands to his shoulders. “Did you bring your carriage from Bristol?”
“No. I don’t have one that’s suitable for the Grand Strut.” He’d liked the one he drove today. “I’m going to ask Dotty if I can buy the carriage from her. It will save me the time of having to wait for one to be built.”
They did take time to be made. “Matt is having a high-perch phaeton built for us. It should be ready soon.”
Harry looked surprised. “One vehicle for the three of you to share?”
“Yes. He did the same for Charlotte, Louisa, and Dotty.”
His brows drew together slightly, as if he had been presented with a problem. “What happens to the carriage after you’re all wed?”
That was the barrister talking. “The last one married gets to keep it. Augusta came out by herself, so she had one of her own.”
“Interesting. I wonder why he does that.” He seemed to be ruminating to himself, but Madeline had asked the same question and knew the answer.
“It is easier to keep track of us if we have to share a vehicle. I suppose because we will choose the carriage over walking in the Park.”
The corner of his lips tipped up into a crooked smile. “I suppose any of us would.”