Loving a Fearless Duchess: A Historical Regency Romance Book(20)

Penelope didn’t know where to look. The ball was so crowded; it was difficult to see the fashions on display. She looked to the left to see five girls clumped together, forced to stand close because of the crowd. Their gowns stood side-by-side, yellow, pink, blue, green, and another blue. It was so pretty to see. It must have been so boring in the days all the girls had to wear white.

She liked the white feathers coming out of the hair of a girl with a pink dress. They moved when she moved.

You could tell a lot from a gentleman’s waistcoat, Penelope decided. Most gentlemen wore a black coat over a white shirt and cravat and buckskin pants with boots or buckled shoes. The only way they could express their individuality was through their waistcoats.

Penelope decided she liked the solid ones rather than the plaid. If the plaid was too busy, it ruined the outfit, and the gentleman looked ridiculous strutting around as if to draw attention to himself.

The solid ones added the colour the gentleman chose for the evening, similar to how Penelope chose lavender as the colour of her gown. She liked to imagine a gentleman looking through his wardrobe passing over red, green, and tan to choose blue. Otherwise, men wouldn’t have any fun dressing, would they?

Penelope wasn’t fond of turbans and wondered why any woman would wear one, never mind wear one to a ball. The only thing she liked about turbans was the large jeweled pin centered above her forehead on the turban. She could look at all the jewellery on display all night.

She longed to be able to style her hair so ribbons could be weaved through it in an artful display but tried not to look too closely at hairstyles. There were so many beautiful ones, and she couldn’t wear any of them.

Penelope had taken to putting a hair comb on the right side of her head near her eyes so anyone talking with her might be distracted by looking at her hair comb instead of her scar on her left side. It was suggested that she lowered her neckline to distract others. Penelope and her mother didn’t like that suggestion.

There was only so much she could do. She scanned the ballroom to see if there were other ladies with disadvantages. A large nose, bushy eyebrows, bad teeth, unruly hair. She didn’t think they qualified. A fan helps a large nose and bad teeth. Bushy eyebrows are easily fixed. A good ladies maid could fix unruly hair.

She felt and then saw her mother beside her. “What are you looking for, Penelope. Can I help you search?”

She turned to her mother and smiled. “I’m looking at the fashions. Maybe I will find a look or a hairstyle that might suit me.”

“Anything to your liking?”

“Feathers. I saw a lady with a feather that lay between her skin and her hair, held in place by a hair comb. Maybe we could buy one, and I could experiment?”

Cecilia beamed. “We’ll go tomorrow.”

Edward ventured into the card room to see every seat at every table occupied. Gentlemen were hovering over the shoulders of players, glimpsing their hands to see if they would fold and rise from their seat. It didn’t look to Edward like a chair would open up soon. He would probably have to get behind the men hovering over the tables. Their intent was to get a seat. It would be a long wait.

He went back to the ballroom looking for his mother and sister. In this madhouse, he would never find them. He stood on his toes, craning his neck. No luck. From behind him, he heard a voice.

“You’re not going to find them by standing on your toes.”

Edward turned and smiled. “Oh? What do you suggest, Your Grace?”

Nash smiled. “Come with me.” He climbed the stairs and took a sharp left at the top. About twenty feet down the hallway there was an opening in the wall and a handrail across the opening. They stood, leaned on the handrail, and scanned the ballroom below.

“See? We should have much better luck here.”

Edward laughed. “How did you know about this?”

Nash rolled his eyes. “Simple. I looked up. Quite a few townhouses have a balcony like this. Now, do you see them?”

Edward shook his head. “Not yet. Penelope is wearing lavender.”

Nash saw something below. “Look to the right of the ballroom floor about halfway down against the wall. In yellow. That’s Mildred James.”

Edward leaned over and to the right. Mildred James was one of the names Nash came armed with to White’s. She was attractive, and she laughed with those around her. Her face lit up with her laughter. Edward asked Nash for an introduction, and Nash nodded.

Nash found them first, “There they are.” His face fell. “What’s Henry doing with them?”

Edward’s head swiveled, “Where?”

“In the left corner. He’s got them pinned in there. They are both glaring at him. Why is he here? Is he searching for a wife?”

Edward shrugged. “I doubt it. More likely he’s here to make my mother and sister miserable. And by the look on their faces, I think he’s succeeded.”

Nash pointed his chin to the hallway. “Come on. We have ladies to rescue.”

Edward took one last look to see if Miss James was still where they found her. She was. Satisfied, he followed Nash.

“Good evening, Lady Balfour, Lady Penelope, Lord Stanton.” Nash bowed, and the ladies curtsied. Henry stared. “We had difficulty finding you in this crush of people.”

Cecilia opened her mouth to speak, but Henry beat her to it.