A Stranger at Castonbury(39)

But there was still so much she longed to know. What had he done in Spain? ‘Jamie...’ she whispered. Someone jostled her from behind and she remembered that this vast crowd was no place for confidences. She spun away from him and slipped past the knots of people to Lydia’s side. Phaedra and her aunt Wilhemina were walking ahead of them, and Catalina could hear snatches of their conversation.

‘It is too bad Jamie can’t dance now,’ Phaedra was saying. ‘He used to enjoy it so much. And all the local ladies sought him out for their partners all the time.’

‘Hmph,’ Mrs Landes-Fraser said. ‘They should count themselves lucky he does not dance with them now. He has become far too dour and silent. Not to mention not as handsome as he once was.’

Catalina’s gloved hand curled into a fist as anger swept through her at those words. She had to bite her lip to keep from shouting in Jamie’s defence. But could she really defend him? She didn’t even know any longer.

Phaedra did it for her. ‘You can hardly blame him for being silent! He nearly died in Spain, and I am sure he saw some horrible things we cannot even imagine. He is not the person he was when he left. None of us are.’

Phaedra glanced over her shoulder, past Catalina to where Jamie still stood near the wall. Catalina looked back to see that a portly, red-faced gentleman and two young ladies had him cornered, talking at him as he stared at them with a frozen expression.

‘I only wish he could find someone to confide in,’ Phaedra added softly. ‘If I did not have my Bram, I would have gone insane sometimes.’

‘Hmph,’ Mrs Landes-Fraser said again. ‘You would have done much better to marry higher in the world, girl. I do not understand any of you children...’

Lydia drew Catalina’s attention then, pointing out a gown she liked across the room. They became separated from the others in the crowd, pressed in on all sides until Catalina managed to find them a spot near the windows where there were not quite so many people. There was a small breeze flowing from outside as well, and Catalina could watch the passing of the crowd as they flowed by.

‘Oh, Mrs Moreno,’ Lydia cried, her eyes shining with excitement as she looked out at the room. Catalina hadn’t seen her so happy in any London ballroom. ‘Isn’t it pretty? And everyone so welcoming. I could stay at Castonbury for ever.’

‘Miss Westman! Mrs Moreno,’ a voice called out. Catalina turned to see Mr Hale pushing his way past a laughing group to find them. His smile was just as enthusiastic as Lydia’s—especially when he looked at Lydia herself. ‘How wonderful to see you here. Are you enjoying our local entertainments?’

‘Oh, very much indeed, Mr Hale,’ Lydia answered. She didn’t look away from him.

‘It must seem very pale in comparison to London Assembly Rooms,’ he said.

‘Not at all. I much prefer smaller gatherings, where one can really talk to people,’ Lydia said as someone almost trod on her hem in the crowd.

‘Then perhaps you would honour me with the first dance?’ Mr Hale asked eagerly. ‘With Mrs Moreno’s permission, of course.’

‘Oh, yes, please, Mrs Moreno?’ Lydia begged. ‘I do so long for a dance.’

‘Then of course you may,’ Catalina said with a smile. ‘Go and enjoy yourselves.’

She watched as Lydia took Mr Hale’s arm and he led her to a place in the set now forming on the dance floor. She leaned back against the windowsill to let the cool breeze brush over her shoulders and examined the rest of the room.

As the dancers found their places on the floors, some of the crowd went on to the refreshment room and the crush was not quite so great. The duke sat in a large armchair at one end of the long room, watching the gathering as if he was its king. Some of the cousins were clustered around him with shawls and plates of delicacies, but he waved them away impatiently. Phaedra was dancing with her husband, and the portly man who had cornered Jamie was strutting about the room. But she could not see Jamie.

The musicians launched into a lively tune, not quite as smooth and skilled as a fine London orchestra but very enthusiastic. Catalina found herself tapping her foot in time to the music, and remembered again those dances in Spain with Jamie. His hand on hers, his arm around her waist as they spun in circles until she was laughing and giddy...

‘A glass of punch?’ she heard Lily say. A gloved hand held out a glass of pale pink liquid.

Catalina laughed. ‘Thank you. It is rather warm in here.’ She took a sip. ‘It’s...’