WORTHY OF BEING PLEASED

Author's Note: This is a sample chapter only.

Chapter 6

Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam entered the Montgomery townhouse with a large throng of other guests. Mr. Saunders, his faithful valet, had appealed to him to wear the latest gentlemen's fashions to the prestigious holiday ball instead of his regimentals and Richard was vastly pleased that he had agreed. He had not been this elegantly attired in many years, with his coat of black superfine, tight fitting breeches and expertly tied cravat. He had insisted on the red plaid waistcoat, much to his valet's chagrin and he suffered no regrets for the choice; red was perfectly in keeping with the festivities of the season, he thought. Peter and Esther Montgomery, his dear friends of many years, welcomed him into their home and urged him to make himself comfortable.

"How festive you look, Colonel," Mrs. Simsbury exclaimed, joining their group. Richard warmly greeted Esther's mother and wished her the joys of the season. "I shall look forward to watching you dance this evening," she said with a merry twinkle in her eyes.

He remained in the vestibule for a few moments to have a private chat with the amiable lady, then entered the drawing room and joined the other guests. He was momentarily disappointed when he did not see Miss Hawthorne but his disappointment turned to dread when he observed Mr. Drummond unsteadily approaching him, cane in hand and a scowl on his face.

"I could not help but notice your attentions to Miss Hawthorne, Colonel."

Richard assumed a bland expression. "Could you not?" he said.

"Not in the least. Miss Hawthorne is an admirable lady, as you well know —"

Richard was already out of patience. "Are you courting Miss Hawthorne?" he bluntly inquired.

"No!" Drummond's eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared.

"Then what concern is it of yours?"

"Miss Hawthorne is devoted to her niece and takes no attention to herself."

"I rather thought she enjoyed my attentions," Richard said.

Drummond clenched his jaw. "Shall you engage her affections and then go off to war, Colonel? Is that your intention; to leave her pining for you?"

"I have no such intentions, sir!" Richard struggled to maintain his composure and rather than allow the gentleman to continue to raise his ire, he decided to end the conversation. "Kindly excuse me," he said, walking out a side door to cool his temper on the balcony.

He could not very well be angry with Drummond for pointing out the obvious. He was indeed in town for a short time and would be returning to his regiment the following month. He had no right to engage any woman's affections, much less one as lovely as Miss Hawthorne; and beyond that, he was no prize on the marriage mart, as Drummond was. With a meagre military income, he had very little to offer a lady in search of a husband.

"What are you doing out here, Richard?" Peter Montgomery inquired, joining him on the balcony.

Richard took a breath to clear his head. "I just needed a moment, Peter."

Peter stood next to him, looking out on the scene below. The guest conveyances were lined up in the driveway and stable hands were seeing to the horses. "Did Drummond bore you senseless with one of his stories?"

Richard scoffed. "Of course not; one never tires of hearing a good story! I am certain I have nothing to rival his falling-off-a-horse tale!" he said with a smirk.

Peter laughed and clapped him on the back. "Ha! Nor I to be sure!" he said. "Come back inside. My wife is hoping for a dance with you."

He suspected his friend might have another reason for wishing him indoors. "Is she? Or are you hoping for an excuse to escape to the card room?" he asked with a smirk.

Peter slumped his shoulders. "Alas, I am banned from the card room this evening. I promised Esther I would keep to the ballroom tonight."

"Well then, by the end of the evening, I am confident you shall have a story to rival Drummond's."

They both returned indoors and were met by Esther Montgomery. "There you are Colonel! I hope you do not mind that I sent my husband after you," she said.

He did not mind in the slightest and immediately requested the honour of a dance with her. When the dance began, she circled around him. "Shall I be angry with Mr. Drummond, too?"

"No, indeed, he merely has Miss Hawthorne's best interests in mind."

She reached out her gloved hand and he grasped it. "As we all do, Colonel. I fear he has dampened your spirits," she said, stepping to the right.

"My dear Esther, I am privileged to dance with the loveliest lady at the most prestigious event of the holiday season. I can only be in the highest spirits!" he said, offering her an easy smile.

"Such flattery, sir!" She released his hand and he circled around her. "The young lady in question has arrived with her niece, in case you had not noticed," she said.

"I am pleased to hear of it," he said, but his spirits sank when he caught no sight of Augusta amid the vast crowd.

~~o~~

Despite her wildly pounding heart, Augusta Hawthorne attempted to give the illusion that she had not a care in the world. But she could not deny that she was a trifle nervous about the party that evening. She took a deep breath to calm her jitters as the carriage arrived at the Montgomery townhouse. She had encouraged her niece to enjoy the evening to the fullest, yet she dearly hoped that the girl would make a favourable impression on the London elite. Moreover, there was the smallest hope lingering in the back of her mind that a recent acquaintance would approve of the efforts she had made with her appearance.

Augusta had allowed her maid to adorn her green velvet gown and slippers with gold ribbon trim. Her hair, which had been swept into a simple bun, was covered as usual, with a lace cap. She had refused to relent on the cap but could not resist splurging on the delicate ecru Parisian lace. But would the colonel notice?

When they entered the house, a footman collected their pelisses and bonnets and Augusta instinctively touched her neck, where her mother's emerald pendant hung on a delicate gold chain. She felt a connection to her dear mama and heard her voice encouraging her to hold her head high. Indeed, she and Geneva were greeted with the greatest enthusiasm by their fellow guests; it seemed that everyone was in awe of the Incomparable. Augusta clung protectively to her niece, by force of habit but chided herself for being overprotective. This evening they would be among friends; she had nothing to fear at a private ball of this nature.

While Augusta wore a modest neckline, Geneva's gown was intended to flatter her figure; the pale pink muslin was trimmed with lace around the sleeves and darker pink ribbon around the neckline and hem, and pink roses were embroidered along the bottom of the skirt. Her white kid slippers were enhanced with pink roses too, and her dark hair was fashioned into soft curls, secured by a pink ribbon. The colour suited Geneva to perfection and in Augusta's opinion, she had never looked lovelier.

They made their way through the crowd and into the ballroom, where they were greeted by Mr. Montgomery. "I hope each of you will save a dance for me," he told them. He lowered his voice to a whisper. "Being the host of the evening affords me with certain privileges," he said with a delightful smile.

~~o~~

Richard made his bow to the Hawthorne ladies, paying most of his attention to Miss Augusta Hawthorne. She appeared more relaxed, most likely due to the absence of disparaging harpies at this event. Despite the regrettable presence of a certain bothersome fellow, Richard would enjoy the evening and do his utmost to ensure that the lady did as well.

"Colonel Fitzwilliam, your waistcoat is a wonderful reminder of the red berries that adorn the holly," she said, her eyes gleaming. She referred to the abundance of holly that had been placed throughout the house. He had paid no attention to the décor until she had mentioned it and he wondered how it had escaped his notice. Perhaps he had been too busy seeking her out.

"I am glad that you approve, Miss Hawthorne," he said, pleased by her pretty blushes. Indeed, he would wear this same waistcoat every day if she would grace him with such a glowing expression. He leaned in close to her ear. "You look lovely this evening in your holly green gown," he said. He decided to waste no time in requesting her hand. "Are you engaged for the supper set, Miss Hawthorne?"

She frowned. "No Colonel, but if I were to accept, I must arrange for someone to attend to my niece."

"Mrs. Simsbury has already agreed to do so, if you are amenable." He had taken care of that detail as soon as he had arrived.

Her eyes flew open wide in surprise. "Oh Colonel! You did not ask her!" she said, expressing her fear the lady's enjoyment of the evening might be impaired by such a request.

"I did. If I overstepped, I apologize," he said with a bow. In all truthfulness, he suffered no regrets for making the arrangement. Nothing would deter him from enjoying a dance with the lady. "You may inquire with her yourself but she assures me it is no imposition."

She smiled and relaxed her shoulders. "Then I shall be delighted." She dipped a small curtsy in acknowledgment.

"Will you also save me a waltz?"

She agreed to that too, turning a delightful shade of pink.

~~o~~

While Geneva was dancing, Augusta sat with Mrs. Simsbury engaged in agreeable conversation. The older lady had assured her that it was no inconvenience whatsoever to sit with Geneva during the waltz but Augusta could not help but fret. However, her worry had little to do with Geneva; it was the dance that troubled her most. She had never waltzed in public before, as the waltz was considered entirely scandalous when she had made her come out, due to the physical closeness of the dancers. The waltz still was not permitted at Almack's but at a private ball such as this, it was perfectly acceptable. She and Geneva had practiced the steps together even though the younger girl would not be allowed to waltz just yet. Augusta knew she was perfectly prepared to perform the dance herself, but she could not deny the fluttering sensation she felt when she imagined dancing with the colonel in such an intimate manner. To be that close to him, to allow him to touch her torso; she felt a flush rise to her cheeks in anticipation. Then she chided herself for such foolishness; she had not been this nervous on the momentous occasion of her own come out but somehow this night felt even more important.

At the end of the set, her niece returned to her side. Still worried that Geneva would be required to sit out during the waltz, Augusta asked if she would mind terribly if she danced with the colonel.

Geneva grasped both of her hands. "Oh, how splendid, Aunt Augusta! I shall be watching every moment!" she said, with a luminous smile.

"I am also engaged for the supper set, if you would not mind," she advised her niece.

"Oh no, not at all Aunt Augusta! I am engaged to dance that set with Mr. Grantley."

"Well then you are sure to enjoy yourself. We shall sit together at supper so you can tell me all about it!" Turning to Mrs. Simsbury, she touched the older woman's hand. "You will keep an eye on her, will you not, Mrs. Simsbury?" she asked, hoping she was making a wise decision to trust Geneva's care to someone else.

"You may depend on me, Miss Hawthorne."

"Are you quite certain that it is no imposition?" The orchestra played the introduction to the waltz to announce the next set and she spied the colonel approaching from the other side of the ballroom. His relaxed yet confident stride set off butterflies in her stomach, a sensation previously unknown to her.

"Yes, quite certain, my dear. Go on then; off with you!" Mrs. Simsbury said, sending her off with a wave of her hand.

Despite her attempts to remain calm, Augusta felt her pulse race as the colonel drew near. She smoothed her skirts, hoping he would not notice her fidgets, and accepted his escort to the centre of the room. While they waited for the other dancers to take their places, she quietly confessed that she had never waltzed in public before.

He placed his hand over hers and offered a reassuring smile. "I am acutely aware of the honour you bestow on me, Miss Hawthorne," he said. He leaned in closer to whisper: "We shall muddle through somehow," he said.

When the dance began, she rested one hand on his well-formed shoulder, the other hand comfortably enclosed in his. The colonel placed his hand on Augusta's waist and she felt the heat rise to her cheeks. It became instantly apparent that they had no need whatsoever to muddle through the waltz; he was as proficient as he was elegant. As the son of an earl, his education could have suffered no neglect; his knowledge and skills were obviously well-tuned. Indeed, his manners and performance in the ballroom were everything that a young man's should be.

"You are a marvellous dancer, Miss Hawthorne," he said, gently squeezing her hand.

"You are to be given all the credit, Colonel! Your guidance has been invaluable." She followed his lead around the ballroom and felt a sense of freedom she had never known before.

~~o~~

© 2016

Note: I hope you love Richard and Augusta as much as I do!

The complete story has now been published under the title: "Worthy of Being Pleased". Please see my Author page for details.