Free Elizabeth Mansfield by The GirlWith the Persian Shawl Page A

rest of us cavort about."
    "Then how am I ever to learn, if I'm not permitted to watch?"
    This surprised Kate. "Do you want to team to dance? I thought boys your age only wanted to learn shooting and cricket and the manly sports."
    “To be honest, Kate, I'd really like to be able to dance," Benjy said, reddening. "You see, sometimes our headmaster invites the girls from the Marchmont Academy for a social evening, and several of the fellows get up and dance with 'em, but I always stand about like a dolt."
    "But isn't there someone at school who can teach you?" Kate asked, touched. "One of the fellows who knows how?"
    "It's embarrassing to have to ask," the boy muttered glumly as he turned and started toward the stairway.
    "Wait!" Kate called after him. "I'll teach you, Benjy! It'll be great fun."
    Benjy swung about eagerly. "You will? When?"
    “Tonight! Why not?" She brightened as the idea grew in her mind. "Listen, Benjy, go to the library, find yourself a book, and read for a while. I must go to the ball for an hour or so, for I'm promised to Percy for a waltz and to some others for a few of the country dances; but I'll slip out as soon as I can. I'll join you in the library and teach you."
    Benjy's eyes lit up. "Would you really, Kate? That'd be smashing!"
    "Yes, I think it will be. If we leave the library door ajar, we'll surely be able to hear the music. And we can dance to it!"
    But before her words had left her tongue, his face fell again. "No, I can't," he said, taking a backward step, "it wouldn't be right. I can't ask you to miss the ball on my account."
    "Nonsense, I'd much rather dance with you in the library than with any of the dandies and prigs who'll offer to stand up with me in the ballroom."
    He shook his head. "No, thanks, Kate. Grandmama would have my head if she heard I made you miss the ball."
    "She won't hear it. And I promise you, word of honor, that I won't be missing anything that would give me more pleasure than dancing with you. So run along to the library and wait for me. I won't be more than an hour." And, without giving him a chance to phrase another objection, she turned on her heel and ran off.
    It was, as it ought to be, Deirdre's night. After the dinner guests had joined the assemblage in the ballroom, the orchestra broke into a rousing rendition of Rule Britannia as Deirdre made her entrance on her father's arm. To the applause and cheers of the crowd, Charles gallantly handed her over to her betrothed for the first dance.
    It was the gayest of affairs. The house glowed with lights, and the lively music, combined with sounds of laughter, rang against the high ceilings and echoed gaily in the air. Deirdre was indeed having the night of her life. She waltzed twice with her betrothed with such abandon that, each time, the others on the floor stopped to watch them. Then, besieged with partners, she danced every dance with enthusiastic gaiety, apparently enjoying every partner's companionship with equal delight.
    For Kate, however, the ball was less than delightful. For one thing, she wasn't able to wear the lavender ball gown she'd intended to, having foolishly worn it before, so she was forced to wear a very pale yellow lustring with a modest decolletage and girlishly puffed sleeves. It made her feel dowdy. For another, Percy was forever at her elbow. Because she'd encouraged his attentions the day before, she had not the heart to give him a set down now. But his shirt points—the highest of any man in the room—and his tightly curled hair, arranged in plastered-down ringlets across his forehead, made him conspicuous. Dancing with him was an embarrassing ordeal.
    Worst of all, she still was still smarting from Harry's unkind remark of the day before. Soon after she entered the ballroom, he came up to her and asked her to dance, but she refused him. She would have enjoyed standing up with him, but her pride did not permit it. If he thinks me too strong-minded, she told herself defiantly, then