Unfortunately, the only thing that could be said about her was that she found the endless, circuitous life of the ton rather boring… and even that was not something she was foolish enough to voice aloud. Well… not very often, at any rate.
Her less-than-enthusiastic acceptance into society was something of a mystery to her, but not one that she dwelled upon now—she had far more important things to think about, such as her dogs and the course of training them for the hunt. And at the moment, as the carriage inched forward, moment by interminable moment, she was thinking about Lockhart, the only bright spot to her otherwise exceedingly dull existence.
At long last the carriage rolled to a stop outside the main gates of the Darlington mansion, and the four of them spilled out.
Lucy and Anna fell in behind their parents and stood patiently as they waited to be announced. Lucy took the opportunity to give Anna’s gown a bit of critical study and opined, “You should have worn the pearl necklace. It would go well with your gown.”
Anna shot a look at her. “Do you mean the pearl necklace you’re wearing? My necklace? The one you said you simply had to have or you’d not attend tonight’s ball?”
“Did I really say so?” Lucy asked with a pert toss of her head. “Well I—Oh! Who is that?” she asked, going up on her toes to peer over her father’s shoulder.
Anna looked to where Lucy indicated and caught a glimpse of a tall, broad-shouldered man’s back as he turned the corner and walked into the gentlemen’s gaming room just as the Darlington butler intoned, “Lord and Lady Whittington…Miss Anna Addison…Miss Lucy Addison.”
Their father offered his arm to their mother, and the four of them glided into the ballroom.
Several young dandies instantly flocked to Lucy, who was, to her great delight, already rumored to be this Season’s most desirable debutante. Anna stood patiently by with a smile pasted on her face, just as she had done all her life next to one sister or the other, alternating between feeling quite self-conscious and rather insignificant as Lucy received the young men’s warm salutations.
She was thinking she’d just as soon find a quiet corner than stand there when she felt two gloved fingers on her elbow.
She glanced over her shoulder, felt her body’s heat surge into her neck and face, for the hand on her elbow belonged to none other than him—tall with golden brown hair, a charming smile, and mysterious brown eyes. “Why, Mr. Lockhart,” she exclaimed with a sly smile. “Fancy meeting you here, at a tedious ball.”
“Tedious?” he asked, cocking a brow. “I cannot imagine what you mean, Miss Addison, for nothing could keep me from the pleasure of viewing the loveliest ladies London has to offer.” His gaze flicked the length of her. “And might I add that seeing such a radiant image of femininity and good health is most sublime.”
The warmth in her neck was rapidly spreading down her body, and Anna laughed low, flicked open her fan and looked covertly about the room over the top of it. “Have you come alone, Mr. Lockhart? Or will we have the pleasure of meeting your brother and Miss Lockhart, too?”
“Naturally, my sister has come in the company of my parents,” he said, smiling as if he knew what heat he caused in her. “Unfortunately, my brother, Nigel, is in Bath this Season, taking the waters there.”
Sobering up was more like it, and everyone knew it. It was no secret among the Mayfair drawing rooms that Mr. Nigel Lockhart was fonder of drink than food or women or sleep. Anna had heard from Bette (who knew everything about everyone) that when Drake had arrived home from the Continent, he had instantly sent his younger brother to Bath in the company of an elderly uncle until he could free himself of the demon drink.
“What of you, ma petite Anna Addison?” Drake asked, stepping closer, so close that he was almost touching her. “Have you come in the company of your parents? Is there perhaps a chance that a gentleman might have the pleasure of your company for a walkabout in the gardens when the moon is full? Or would the gentleman be forced to endure the presence of her venerable papa, too?”
Anna laughed. “I assure you, sir, if a gentleman were to escort me on a moonlit walk about the gardens, my father would be the last to hear of it, directly after the vicar.”
Lockhart grinned. “Oh my, Miss Addison, how terribly wicked of you. I shall certainly have to seek you out and request the favor, shan’t I?”
It was all Anna could do to keep from nodding eagerly, but she slanted him another look over the top of her fan. “Perhaps,” she said with a slight, noncommittal shrug.
“Until the moon, then, Miss Addison,” Lockhart said, and with a sly wink he stepped around her and walked to where Lucy was standing, still in the midst of several young gentlemen.