Free Lucy Muir by The Imprudent Wager Page B

don’t know,” Anne replied. “I don’t even recall meeting Lady Brookfield, do you, Melissa?”
    “No, although I have heard her name before,” Melissa answered.
    Whatever her reason for inviting them, Anne found that Lord and Lady Brookfield welcomed them most graciously and genuinely. Lord Brookfield was a well-looking man of middle age who appeared rather uncomfortable in his full evening dress. Anne felt he would be more at home among the sporting set or at his club. Lady Brookfield, in contrast, appeared to be in her element. She was exquisitely gowned in white satin lavishly embroidered in violet and wore a magnificent necklace of diamonds. Her dark good looks seemed somehow familiar to Anne, but she decided that she must have remembered her from other entertainments, and chose not to dwell upon it.
    Lady Brookfield’s ball was quite the most elaborate ball she and Melissa had yet attended. Lady Brookfield had lavishly decorated the large yellow-and-white ballroom in the Oriental fashion. Eastern draperies were hung upon the walls, and exotic ornaments of brass had been placed about the room. The servants were all dressed in brightly coloured Oriental costumes, and altogether Anne felt as if she had just stepped into a seraglio in Turkey.
    There was a great crush of people present, most of them unknown to Anne and Melissa, although there were a few familiar faces. Lord Millbank was in attendance, as were Lady Conliffe and Viscount Woolbridge. Mrs. Halcott pointed out several others whose names the cousins had often heard, but whom they had never seen. Lady Sefton and Mrs. Drummond-Burrell, two of the patronesses of Almack’s, were present, as was the famous political hostess, Lady Melbourne. Anne thought the two patronesses looked very haughty and superior, and was glad she did not have to worry about being approved by them in order to gain entrance to Almack’s. Lady Melbourne, on the other hand, appeared quite charming and approachable.
    The guest Anne and Melissa were most interested in, however, was Beau Brummel, the arbiter of men’s fashion. Anne could see why his word was law, for his sartorial style was faultless. He was clad in a perfectly fitting blue coat, white waistcoat, tight black breeches, striped silk stockings and a cravat that was an absolute marvel of starch and intricate folds. He was not dancing, but held court with a circle of admirers that included most of the fashionable gentlemen present. Having heard many tales of his sharp wit, the cousins were just as glad there was little likelihood of being presented to the Beau.
    Melissa was soon swept away to the dance floor by Lord Woolbridge and Anne, elegant in gold velvet, did not lack for a partner long. Lord Millbank minced up to her and, bowing carefully so as not to disarrange his attire, solicited her hand for the boulanger. He was dressed all-the-crack in a purple coat with velvet collar, canary waistcoat, high stock, shirt points up to his ears and a huge ruby shirt broach. Anne accepted, wondering why the young sprig of fashion continued to seek her out. She would have thought one of the young girls in their first Season would be a better partner than she. But the earl danced well, if cautiously, and his notice of Anne moved several other men to request dances. As the evening progressed, many gentlemen she had not met before asked to be presented, and Anne had no premonition when she heard her hostess’s voice behind her.
    “Miss Southwell, another gentleman has requested that I make him known to you.”
    Anne turned with a gracious smile upon her face, which froze upon her lips. For the first time since she had left Longworth she found herself face-to-face with Lord Henry Stanton. He was even more handsome than she had remembered, and rivalled the Beau’s elegance in his tight-fitting olive green coat, cream waistcoat, drab-coloured kerseymere breeches and perfectly tied cravat.
    “May I present Lord Henry Stanton, Marquess of