Rebel Magisters (Rebel Mechanics #2)(47)

At that moment, Flora appeared at the top of the stairs and paused for us to admire her before she made her way slowly down the staircase. I wasn’t sure why she bothered making a dramatic entrance with only her uncle, her grandfather, a couple of servants, and me to witness it, unless perhaps she was practicing for the entrance she planned to make later that evening.

“Good, there you are,” the governor said with a grunt. “Now, stop dillydallying and come on. The carriage is waiting.”





Chapter Twelve


In Which

the Ball Proves Exciting




The ball was held at a nearby mansion even larger than the place where we were staying. The ballroom might have held the house where I grew up, and its gilded and painted ceiling was so high I could barely make out what the fresco depicted. When we entered, the governor, Flora, and Henry were announced with much pomp. I hung back behind them as the assembled crowd cheered the governor’s entrance. He escorted Flora down the steps into the ballroom, Henry a few feet behind them and me trailing after the whole group. Henry shot a few glances over his shoulder at me, so I knew I wasn’t entirely forgotten.

We had seats on a dais at one end of the room, as guests of honor. The governor’s was practically a throne, and those for Henry and Flora were also grand, with velvet cushions. I had a modest chair at the rear of the dais, in Flora’s shadow. I quietly lowered myself onto it and willed myself to be invisible.

I’d thought that the last ball I’d attended had been an elaborate affair, and had scoffed at the idea that it was considered a very modest event. Now I understood why Flora had described it that way, for this ball outstripped it. Everything about it was larger: the flower arrangements, the refreshment tables, the orchestra, and the guest list.

In fact, I wasn’t sure how anyone could dance, there were so many people there. They were packed in, shoulder to shoulder. Yet somehow space cleared on the floor when the governor and Flora stepped out to begin the dancing. After the first minute or so, the floor filled again, all the dancers moving around the floor and miraculously not bumping into each other.

Flora had barely returned to her seat after the first dance when a line of young men formed to beg a slot on her dance card. She didn’t respond with much enthusiasm to any of them, but I didn’t notice her rejecting anyone. Her heart might still be with Colin, but that wasn’t going to stop her from enjoying the ball. I presumed that anyone who was invited would be considered suitable, so my presence was purely ceremonial and to show that her family was following the custom for her class.

Both Brad and Theo were in the group asking Flora to dance, which meant at least some of the rebel magisters were present. The room was too crowded to spot anyone else while they were dancing.

Flora was off on the floor again as soon as the next dance began, and it appeared that the governor was making the rounds, dancing with the various noblewomen. Henry stood and said, “I suppose I’d better ask enough women to dance that I don’t look rude. And maybe I can find out what Camilla has planned.”

“Have fun,” I instructed, trying not to feel and sound jealous. I finally spotted Camilla when she danced with Henry because both of them were tall enough to stand above much of the crowd. She wore more conventional attire, corset and all, tonight, though her gown was out of fashion. She must have been honest with the Mechanics about her family’s financial position.

I soon spotted Maude because she was definitely not dressed like anyone else at the ball. She wore a flowing Grecian-style gown that veiled her figure when she was still but that draped around her, outlining her body, as she moved. She wore her hair loose and no jewelry. I was rather impressed at the confidence it must have taken to appear like that, but she didn’t seem to notice the stares or the mutters of disapproval. I had to wonder what her rank was. Only someone immune to societal censure could get away with flying in the face of convention to that extent. She didn’t lack for dancing partners, though. Young men seemed utterly entranced, possibly because of their mothers’ disapproving scowls.

Flora returned to her seat, fanning herself, and waited for some swain to bring her a cup of punch. “That gown is practically obscene!” she said.

“Which one?” I asked.

“Lady Maude Winters—the one who called earlier in the week.”

“She seems to be properly covered. She’s showing far less décolletage than most of the ladies present.” Including Flora and even me.

“She’s clearly not wearing a corset. Aesthetic dress is fine for at home, but this is not the occasion for being such a Bohemian.” She watched for a moment longer, then said somewhat vaguely, as though she was unaware of speaking out loud, “It does look very comfortable, though.”

Flora’s partner came to claim her for the next dance, and I was left alone again. I watched the crowd, trying to determine what, if anything, the rebels might have planned. Maude was easy to track, mostly because I could follow the stares, but I couldn’t find Camilla anymore. Theo and Brad were impossible to detect in that throng because all the men were dressed alike.

Henry returned from his rounds of the dance floor and sat in Flora’s chair, closer to me. “Camilla still denies they have anything planned, but she’s a terrible liar, and she looks far too smug.”

“I think Maude might be the diversion,” I suggested.