Desperately Seeking Suzanna (11 page)

“Clearly, I didn’t.”

“Clearly. Well, our ice has melted now. Lord Steelings has fled your company, and it is completely your fault. Let us return to our shopping, girls. Evangeline is now in the market for a new day dress.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Evangeline said, moving toward the carriage.

“Sue, do keep up.”

“But it’s just a bit of ice. Surely it can be cleaned.” Sue rubbed at the sticky spot on her skin where her own ice had slipped into her stays.

“A marred appearance lasts a lifetime.”

Marred for life—Sue supposed that summed it up. With a sigh she moved to follow her mother back to the carriage.

“And then you said, ‘How do you get your hair to stay that way?’ Mother, as many times as I’ve heard this story, I can’t help but feel some pity for the insect that got involved with poor Lady Dafterly. He never asked for such treatment. I think the real story lies with the plight of the poor bug and not with Lady Dafterly’s coiffure.”

“Which is precisely why you will not marry, dear. No one wants to hear your opinions or your thoughts in any capacity. Look at your sister. See how she smiles at the gentleman with whom she dances. Oh, now she is giggling at some jest he made as they glide in unison around the dance floor. Is she picking apart everything he says for discussion?”

“It doesn’t appear so.” Sue watched as her sister made another turn around the Geddings’ ballroom.

“Is she forming opinions and stating them for all to hear?”

“No. But then is Evangeline able to form her own thoughts beyond which ribbon would accentuate her hair?” She knew once the words were out of her mouth that she’d gone too far. But once again she’d spoken before she thought. She truly needed to work on this issue.

“Sue Green, you should count yourself lucky we are in a crowded ballroom—a ball I have graciously allowed you to attend.”

“I do, Mother.” Her jaw tightened at the reminder of her ever-nearing future. “Very lucky indeed. Yes, I’m quite fortunate this season. Please excuse me while I go find someone to marry.” There was plenty more she could say, but it wouldn’t be wise. For once, she needed to keep her mouth closed. Perhaps that was the way to deal with talking too much—simply walk away when tempted to speak.

She heard her mother’s exhalation of air as she wound through the crowd. Was it possible to get lost at a ball and never be heard from again? She was busy smiling at the thought of her mother having to act as if she cared her elder daughter had gone missing because the
ton
was watching. It was an amusing dream, until she walked into something hard. Taking a step backward and rubbing her forehead, she looked up into Holden’s face.

Of course it would be him. Arrogance wrapped in evening finery shouldn’t have blended in so well that she struck her forehead on it. And now that she was looking, his eyes seemed to sparkle at her. But those eyes sparkled at all ladies, so she wasn’t special. That moment at the Dillsworth ball had been in her imagination, and the ices yesterday…well, that was nothing.

“Lord Steelings, how…nice it is to see you this evening.”

“Are you all right?” He lifted a hand to steady her but it fell back to his side as she stepped beyond his reach.

“Yes. Pardon me, my lord. I wasn’t looking where I was going.” Certainly not, for she’d walked into the very man she hoped to avoid this evening. She needed to search for an undesirable gentleman to marry, not waste her time chatting with Lord Lady Charmer.

He leaned over her and in a soft voice said, “I thought we decided to be done with the lordly greetings, Sue.”

“Yes, I suppose we did. Forgive me. My mother has me a bit flustered this evening. In fact, I should go see to…” She tried to slip past him but he turned with her, continuing their conversation as they walked.

“Oh? How did she manage to upset you? You haven’t been painting things red, have you?”

“No, it’s not as scandalous as that. Only the constant reminder of impending doom at season’s end, a lady’s worst night terror realized, and a last-minute ball-gown change because I was wearing the same color as my sister. Nothing to worry about, really.”

“I’m not sure how to help with the impending doom. However, I could take your mind off things with a dance. Assist you in living life a little?”

She shouldn’t want to dance with him and yet she did. “I would like that, but…”

“And you can assist me in locating Suzanna. She is here, isn’t she?”

“Of course she is.” Sue tamped down the hysterical laughter brewing inside her at his question, along with the disappointment of knowing he truly only wanted information, not to dance with her.

“Do you know what color gown she’s wearing?”

“I can’t recall.” She needed to get away. Glancing to the side, she searched for an excuse to escape his questions. There was no help there as she only saw a group of giggling ladies watching Holden. Did ladies follow him everywhere he went? He probably enjoyed it. Rogue. She rolled her eyes.

“Where did you last see her?” he asked, craning his neck around and spying the group of ladies. He smiled and nodded in their direction before turning back to Sue.

He was beyond annoying. There he was, grinning over other women and asking about someone he thought to be another lady entirely, all while talking with her. She was truly last on a long list of ladies who had come before her, and the list would go on well after her. She was a number. And to think she’d enjoyed his company over ices! She needed to remember his true nature. Her lips twisted with agitation as she answered, “I saw her when I first arrived.”

“Did she say where she could be found?”

“No. We…didn’t have time to speak.” When would he lose interest in Suzanna and move on to some other conquest? There certainly seemed to be plenty he could choose from.

“Very well. About that dance…”

“Will you excuse me for a moment? I need to go…speak with someone.”

“The next country dance is ours. Until then.” He bowed over her hand.

An entire dance where she would be asked questions about Suzanna in rapid succession, all while allowing Holden’s hands on her? She’d looked into his despicable green eyes and said yes. “I am such a blasted idiot,” she mumbled, turning away. “Stupid, stupid, stupid.” Well, if he couldn’t find her come time for the country dance, then he would have to move on to torment some other poor lady and Sue could get back to finding a husband.

She’d spied a gentleman earlier who barely fit in a single chair in the corner, and another in the main hall who seemed to perspire profusely at all times. Both were excellent candidates for a husband. Unlike Mr. Country Dance with the eyes, who was only looking for a night’s amusement and taking up far too much of her time. His moments of friendly chat were only carefully crafted attempts to find Suzanna. She needed to not think about him, for she had husband-hunting work to do.

The music changed and she jumped, diving behind a large tiled planter containing a tree. Was it a country dance? She sighed at the sound of a waltz and stood from her crouched position. She plucked a leaf from the tree’s canopy and peered out to make sure she was alone. From her concealed location she studied the room, scanning for unfortunate-looking lords. However, there didn’t seem to be that many gentlemen around at the moment. Even the perspiring man seemed to have vanished.

She dropped the crumpled bits of leaf in her hand and started toward the refreshment table. If she was going to find a husband tonight, she was going to need something to drink, and if they had the strawberries covered in chocolate this year like they did last year, she was certainly going to need one of those. She caught a glimpse of Holden across the room laughing with yet another lady. Make that two chocolate-covered strawberries.

Skirting the edge of the dance floor, she was almost past the crush of people near the door when she spotted Lillian. “Lillian, I am so happy you’ve arrived. I thought I would have to chat with my mother all evening. You know I do love chats with my mother.” Her words dripped with sarcasm. “But at a ball, who wants to endure that humiliation? Not I.” Sue beamed as she grabbed Lillian’s gloved hand, dragging her across the floor toward the refreshment table.

“I am always pleased to be of assistance. May I ask where we’re going?” Lillian called out as Sue pulled her across the floor.

“I spotted Lord Steelings entering the ballroom”—more like she’d banged her head on him, but Lillian didn’t need to know the details—“so we are leaving it. Shall we escape to the terrace or the hallway or perhaps the ladies’ retiring room? Yes, that will be just the place. Don’t you think so? He couldn’t possibly find us there. Can you imagine the look on the ladies’ faces if a gentleman entered the ladies’ retiring room?”

“Or we could slip into this parlor.” Lillian gestured to the doorway they were passing with a long-limbed wave of her arm.

Perfect! He would never find her here. Come time for that dance, he would be wandering around the ball alone. And she would be here, sipping lemonade with ladies at least three times her age. She smiled at the brilliance of the scheme.

“Why don’t you wish to see Lord Steelings?”

“His incessant questions, his annoying sense of humor, his looks…” Sue ticked off reasons on her fingers as they entered a side parlor and passed several prominent matrons, all of whom eyed them as if they’d stepped onstage for a performance.

“Does he have a poor sense of humor?” Lillian asked, her brows drawn together as she tried to understand.

“No, but that has nothing to do with it.”

“Oh.” Lillian fell silent, which was just as well because the last thing Sue wished to discuss was Lord Steelings.

They found two seats against the far wall and sat down, trying to blend in with the ocean of graying hair and elaborate gowns. It had always struck Sue as odd that the older a lady became within the
ton
, the more jewels and plumes of feathers she was expected to wear. Her eyes landed on a frail woman in the corner with a back that seemed to round over, leaving her head much lower than it had once been, Sue was sure. “It’s most likely from the weight of her necklace. A shame, that.”

“What’s a shame?” asked the tall, thin woman beside her.

“Oh. I wasn’t aware I spoke aloud.”

“Not to worry, dear. I can hear voices that most cannot.”

“That’s an interesting ability.” Sue turned to regard the lady sitting beside her. Her gray hair was tied up in a tight knot on the very top of her head that pulled at the corners of her green eyes. There was something familiar about her face. Had they met before? At some past season’s ball, perhaps?

“Unfortunately it stems from living in a madhouse for five and twenty years.”

Sue tilted her head in thought. What an original sense of comedy this lady possessed. A madhouse indeed. She smiled. “I’m terribly sorry to hear it. Sometimes I feel as if I live in a madhouse as well.”

“It’s quite all right. I escaped it to go visit my son. And now here I am chatting with you.”

“Visiting family can be a nice retreat from daily life. I spent the past month in the company of my cousins and it was wonderful. Granted, my immediate family was in attendance as well, but nothing can be perfect.” Sue chuckled.

“Is that who you’re escaping this evening? Your family?”

“No, not at the moment. There is this gentleman…”

“There always is. All ladies of your age are concerned with finding a husband.” The older woman’s face twisted at some bitter thought on the subject. And when she referred to her home as a madhouse, Sue couldn’t blame her.

“I do hope to find happiness one day in marriage.” Sue glanced down at her hands lying in her lap. That fate didn’t seem likely, but she would never give up on the dream of a husband.

“I’m sure you will, dear. And when you do, keep a wary eye. One day you’ll believe yourself to be in love, and the next he will betray you. The only true love you’ll have in your life will be your children. Protect them at all costs.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, my lady.”

“It’s Henrietta, and I only say this from the experience of life.”

“Thank you for the wisdom, Henrietta. I’m Sue Green.”

“A pleasure, Sue. Just remember, never trust your future husband. And your household staff will be of no assistance. Be rid of them, I say. And hold your children close. Live by those rules and things will work out fine.”

“Well, that is…interesting advice. I’ll remember that.”

“See that you do.” The older woman went back to sipping her lemonade.

What an odd lady. Sue turned in her chair to focus her attention on Lillian, only to see Lord Steelings striding into the room. He looked concerned. And he was looking in her direction. Had she missed their dance already? Did a missed dance really have the ability to worry him so? But as soon as she noticed the fierce look in his eyes, it was gone, replaced by a smile. Although she didn’t quite trust that smile.

His gaze swept to the side, landing on Henrietta. “My lady, you look overtired. You must allow me to escort you to your carriage.”

Sue gasped. What was Holden doing? Telling a lady she looked tired was never a good idea. She wasn’t sure why, but she was quite sure it shouldn’t be done.

“I’m quite fine, thank you,” Henrietta stated with a raised chin.

“I disagree.” He stared at her, waiting for her response.

Did they know one another? Sue’s eyes narrowed on Holden. This entire encounter was odd, to say the least.

Henrietta settled deeper into her chair in defiance of the arrogant man. “I will remain here for a time. Thank you, however, for your concern.”

Holden’s jaw ground on a retort for a moment before he glanced around the room and sighed. Turning his attention to Sue, he bowed and offered a nod of his head in Lillian’s direction as well. “We meet again, Miss Green.”

Sue shot a quick glance at Henrietta. Whatever had happened only a minute ago seemed to be forgotten by all—except for her. She watched Holden as he attempted a casual stance before her but failed miserably, a muscle in his cheek still twitching in agitation. “Is it time for our dance already?” she asked.

“Soon.” His response sounded more like a threat than a promise.

What about their situation, or more specifically the woman at her side, had him so out of sorts? Sue wasn’t foolish enough to believe his irritation had anything to do with missing a country dance. She was studying his expression for clues when she heard a voice ring out from beside Lillian.

A well-dressed and bejeweled lady at Lillian’s side stated, “Lord Steelings, do not act as if you do not see me here simply because I am with these two eye-catching young ladies. You are not too old for me to take in hand, you know.”