Free Lord Dearborn's Destiny by Brenda Hiatt

I cannot be sorry, for their tongues were very nearly as poisonous as hers. I fear I shall never develop the taste for gossip that appears to be de rigueur for Town life."
    "That will do, Elinor," Mrs. Winston-Fitts said sharply. "I agree that Lady Mountheath was unconscionably rude, but you will not mend matters by being even more so. It is a sad truth that she is highly placed in Society and that her opinion carries some weight. We must be thankful, I suppose, that your entree to Almack's is already assured. It is rather too late for her to turn the patronesses against you."
    "She could not if she tried," said Lord Dearborn knowingly. "Sally Jersey detests the woman and would be more prone to receive someone based on her censure than on her recommendation. I must commend you, Miss O'Day, for your valiant defence of Miss Winston-Fitts. She has a staunch ally in you." His smile was warmer than any he had yet directed her way, and Ellie felt her heart lurch.
    "Rosalind is a dear friend, as well as my cousin, my lord. I could hardly do less for her," she said rather breathlessly.
    "I am glad to see that she has such a friend." He regarded her earnestly for a long moment. Then, turning abruptly to the other ladies, he said, "Will I see you all tomorrow night at Almack's?" At their various nods and murmurs of agreement, he added, mainly to Rosalind, "I pray you will not be disappointed at your first sight of the rooms." With that enigmatic comment, he took his leave of them.
    While Mrs. Millworth explained that the hall and the refreshments at Almack's were frequently disparaged by the more fastidious, Ellie gazed after Lord Dearborn's phaeton. Would he remember his half promise to dance with her? "Staunch" and "valiant" were hardly lover-like words, but he had approved of her, and that was enough... for now.  
     
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C HAPTER 7

    F ORREST SLIPPED a finger beneath his cravat, certain that he had somehow tied it tighter than usual. This was his first visit to Almack's in two or three years, as the establishment, for all its vaunted social sanctity, was not among his favourite places to spend an evening. Of course, if he intended to shackle himself to Miss Winston-Fitts he would have to get used to this sort of thing, he told himself. Surely his constitution could manage twelve Wednesday nights out of the year enduring stale bread and butter and tepid lemonade for the sake of a nonpareil like her.
    In spite of such bracing speeches to himself, the Earl was already beginning to waver when the Winston-Fittses arrived. However, immediately upon seeing Rosalind, resplendent in white satin overlaid with pale blue net, he felt his resolve to see it through strengthened. Miss O'Day was looking well also, he noted irrelevantly, in a canary silk gown that brought out the highlights in her dark hair. Really, it was almost a pity that petite brunettes were not in his style.
    Moving forward, he greeted Mr. and Mrs. Winston-Fitts before bowing over Rosalind's hand. "I am delighted to welcome you on your first visit to Almack's, Miss Winston-Fitts. And you, as well, Miss O'Day. Might I prevail on each of you to honour me with an early dance?"  
    Rosalind looked more frightened than delighted at the prospect, and by Almack's in general, he thought, but she assented readily enough. Miss O'Day, on the other hand, was looking about her with great interest.
    "If Miss Winston-Fitts will oblige me with the first dance, dare I hope that you will reserve the second for me, Miss O'Day?" he asked.
    Ellie looked up at him with a smile. She was enjoying her first view of the celebrated Almack's immensely, in spite of its relative plainness, which she had been warned about by Mrs. Millworth. Simply being here at all was far beyond anything she had ever dreamed of, and she intended to enjoy it fully.  
    "Certainly, my lord," she replied merrily to Lord Dearborn. "Dancing is what one does here, is it not?"
    The Earl