A Stranger at Castonbury(40)

‘Sweet enough to make your jaw ache?’ Lily said. ‘Quite. The Buxton Assembly Rooms aren’t famous for their refreshments, I fear.’

‘They were much worse when I had to go with Lydia to Almack’s,’ Catalina said.

‘Were they? I must remember never to go there, then.’

‘But the music here is most enjoyable.’

‘So it is. And everyone seems happy to see the duke out and about again.’ Lily gestured with her glass at the line that had formed to greet the duke. ‘Do you not care to dance, Mrs Moreno?’

Catalina shook her head. Her dancing days were done, since she could no longer dance with Jamie. He was the only one she had ever wanted to dance with, no matter what else happened between them. ‘I have to look after Lydia.’

‘I am not dancing tonight either. Giles has gone off to the card room, the wretch,’ Lily said with a laugh. ‘But Miss Westman does appear to be having a fine time.’

Catalina watched as Lydia skipped and turned along the line with Mr Hale. A bright smile was on her face, and Catalina realised she had never seen the girl having such fun before. ‘So she is.’

‘She seems very sweet.’ Lily examined Catalina over the edge of her glass. ‘But you seem too young to already be resigned to playing duenna, Mrs Moreno. You should enjoy yourself as well.’

‘I am enjoying myself—in my way,’ Catalina answered. How could she tell this kind woman, this new bride, how it felt when romance and passion were behind her? How it felt when she could see them again, shimmering and enticing just for ever out of reach?

Lily looked doubtful, but she just nodded and went on to make polite conversation about the people who passed by. She told Catalina who they all were and how they all fit into the life of the neighbourhood.

‘And who is that?’ Catalina asked as the portly man passed by again.

Lily wrinkled her nose. ‘Sir Nathan Samuelson. A near neighbour to Castonbury. And a rather unpleasant individual, I fear. Don’t converse with him if you can help it, Mrs Moreno. He would never let you free again.’

‘I shall endeavour not to,’ Catalina said with a laugh. ‘He doesn’t look like someone I should care to meet.’

‘You heard of what happened lately at Castonbury?’ Lily said quietly. ‘With Miss Walters?’

Alicia—Jamie’s false wife. ‘Oh, yes.’

‘Sir Nathan seemed rather friendly with her for a time, after Lady Kate turned down his offer flat. He appeared to court her, or something like that.’

‘Something like that?’ Catalina said, confused.

‘I don’t know. I am not sure of the whole tale there. But I would never trust Sir Nathan.’

Catalina watched the man as he continued on his circuit around the room, and noticed that few people actually spoke to him. Everyone said Alicia had disappeared. Did he know where she was?

A group of people swept up to offer Lily best wishes on the wedding and were soon followed by even more well-wishers. Lydia never stopped dancing after the first set, and before Catalina knew it the evening had grown late. The breeze had gone still from beyond the window and the room was close-packed and warm.

As Lydia went off to dance with another young man, Catalina’s head suddenly throbbed. It had been a long day; it felt like a lifetime since she had come to Castonbury and found Jamie. Now the crowd and the noise seemed to press in around her. She couldn’t be such a ninny as to faint again!

‘I think I should find the ladies’ withdrawing room for a moment,’ she whispered to Lily.

‘Of course,’ Lily said quickly. ‘You do look rather pale, Mrs Moreno. There are so many people here on too warm a night. I will watch Miss Westman.’

Catalina looked to where Lydia was still dancing. She didn’t seem to look tired in the least. ‘Thank you,’ she murmured, and made her way slowly around to the ballroom doors.

In the corridor outside, she glanced around for something resembling a ladies’ room but there was only more people, talking, laughing, sipping the sweet punch. She didn’t see Jamie there. It seemed he had made his escape from the assembly long ago.

Then a door opened and closed behind a loud group at the end of the corridor, and Catalina had a glimpse of a garden beyond. She hurried towards the beckoning cool darkness and slipped outside.

It was not a large garden, but it was quiet as it backed onto a narrow lane and a field beyond. There were large old trees and a few neatly kept flower beds lined with pathways and benches where weary dancers could catch a breath of fresh air. Catalina breathed deeply of the cool breeze, and let the dark silence wrap around her. She could still hear the strains of music, but it was faint and almost ghostly.