By the time Emily could drag Cassandra away from her daughter, the ball had already begun. There weren't too many guests, however, and both Nate and Kit were present to welcome them so it wasn't too rude that Cassandra wasn't present right from the beginning, especially as Nate was the official host.
Emily surveyed the decorations from where she stood with Cassie at the top of the grand marble staircase into the ballroom. The room was gorgeous, with silvery white and pale pink flowers forming the centrepieces, silver accents all around and, only adding to the general splendour of everything, sheer lace drapes against the windows which allowed the moonlight to filter into the room, adding to the romance of the evening.
"I knew the lace drapes were the perfect choice!" Cassandra whispered triumphantly into Emily's ear, making her chuckle softly as they waited to be announced. Finally, they were presented with their dance cards and the announcer said, "Lady Cassandra Weston, Countess of Hawthorne and the Lady Emily Carter."
Emily could feel the disbelieving eyes on her as she descended the stairs directly behind Cassandra, who was practically gliding. She hadn't advertised the fact that she had returned to England, and it was a well-known fact that she was not exactly welcome. She wished suddenly that she had Cassandra's obliviousness as she struggled to not make eye contact with anyone in the ballroom and instead walked as steadily as she could, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other.
Once they'd reached the bottom of the stairs, Kit stood ready and waiting to escort Cassandra, while Nate was kind enough to offer Emily his arm. They exchanged a smile that, for some reason, sent Emily's heart all aflutter.
"You look very nice tonight." He complimented softly, as she settled her hand in the crook of his arm, making her smile again.
"As do you." Emily said truthfully, squeezing his arm. He was dressed to the nines in his coat and tails, and his black jacket fit snugly across his broad shoulders, while his blond hair was just as dishevelled as always, making him seem more relaxed. It fell across his forehead in little swathes of slight curls, softening the roughness of his features. It made him all the more handsome, and drew attention to his eyes, making them seem more the colour of dark honey than that of chocolate. His dimples were still her favourite of his physical characteristics, though.
"I must greet the guests. Would you mind terribly keeping me company?" He requested, steering her in a direction that left them close to the entryway, perfectly poised to see and be seen by those who entered.
"Of course not." Emily said instantly, swallowing the nervous lump that had formed in her throat. She hadn't seen any of these people in years and hadn't ever wanted to see them again. But, she felt that she couldn't refuse Nate, for reasons she did not know and could not comprehend at all. She used to be so good at saying no, yet now she found herself agreeing to nearly everything.
Nevertheless, she allowed Nate to guide her to where Kit and Cassandra were standing, looking as natural and adoring as they always did. The two of them were quite obvious with how much they loved one another, and they were the envy of the ton, while still being society's darlings. No one could ever even consider thinking ill of those two. Even Emily could find nearly nothing to tease them about, apart from being as in love as they were, which didn't make for very good material.
"The one thing I hate the most about hosting balls," Cassandra muttered to Emily from the corner of her mouth as she smiled falsely at a nearby Duke who both of them knew for a fact was a lecherous old coot. "Is the fact that we have to remain until the very end, which will be well after 2 o'clock, I am sure."
"Do not remind me." Emily complained with a small pout, righting her expression as the next set of guests appeared at the top of the staircase and were announced.
"Lord Jasper Benton and Lady Jane Benton, Earl and Countess of Salisbury." Kit instantly perked up at this, and Emily recognized the couple from the last time she'd been in London for her last season. They were his sister and brother-in-law, and both of them were quite kind, if a little lost between themselves sometimes.
Emily watched as Lord and Lady Salisbury hugged both Kit and Cassandra, who were beaming widely. Perhaps it had been a while since they had seen each other.
"Nathaniel." Lord Salisbury greeted, clasping Nate's hand. "And Lady Emily. It is a pleasure to see you again after these two years."
"You as well, Lord Salisbury. Lady Salisbury, how are you?" Emily replied, smiling prettily. This was probably the only kind reception she would receive from anyone in the ton.
"I'm very well, thank you." Jane answered, "How have you been? Your travels must have been arduous yet rewarding, I presume."
"They truly were lovely and I wouldn't have traded the experience for the world. How are the children? Edward and Eloise, if I remember correctly." Emily asked, recalling that the Lord and Lady had both a son and a daughter.
"Yes," Lady Salisbury said with a wide smile, "They're wonderful. We've been blessed with a new addition, too. Little Eugene was born not six months ago."
"That's wonderful news." Emily gushed, mind racing as she attempted to remember whether either Kit or Cassandra had mentioned that particular tidbit of interest to her earlier. "I am so pleased for both of you!"
"Thank you, Lady Emily." Lord Salisbury said with a short bow while his wife only beamed, squeezing his arm. They looked nearly the exact same as they did the last time she'd seen them, except for the fact that they were significantly happier, not to say that they hadn't been so before. The new arrival had simply made them even more blissful.
"It appears you have more guests to tend to, so we shall get out of your way." Jasper said, before turning to address Christopher and Cassandra. "We're departing tomorrow at noon, so we hope to see you before then."
"Of course." Cassandra answered immediately, "You're staying at the English Rose, I presume?" At this, Lady Salisbury nodded. She was referring to the nicest inn in the village, where most of the more affluent travellers tended to stay. Emily wondered for a moment why the two of them weren't staying at Somerhall, considering they were so intimately related to the family, but she didn't want to pose the question in front of so many. Perhaps she could ask Cassie or even Nate later. They probably wanted some privacy, with three young children at home.
"I think the ballroom is nearly full." Nate commented to the other three a little while later and, indeed, it appeared that it was. Most of the guests Cassandra had thought to invite had already arrived and, as far as Emily could tell, there were only a few more couples yet to arrive. Already, the dance floor was filled with a swirling mass of couples as they danced the quadrille, not many of them young.
Since the London season was in full swing, most of the young, unmarried people had flocked to the city to enjoy the summer there. It was mostly older couples that remained and those who did not wish to partake in the social events in London. Emily was glad that she was here and not there, for those in the city were bound to be much fiercer to her. Besides, she adored the peace that the countryside offered, as compared to the havoc and hustle of cities. It had been the same even in America.
When the announcer called out a familiar name, Emily's head spun upwards to the top of the stairs and her mouth fell open as Cassandra groaned audibly. The Lord and Lady Havisham had just arrived, the latter of whom neither Emily nor Cassandra could stand the sight of. She was an odious woman, with even more odious views. Her husband was milder and more stable, but did nothing to control the erratic expoundings of his wife, most of which barely scraped behind the border between bearable and unbelievably rude. She also despised Emily with everything in her.
"Well, Cassie, it seems that this is the perfect time to dance." Kit suggested, gauging his wife's displeasure and Emily pouted in fake annoyance at Cassandra as her husband whisked her off in the direction of the dance floor. Cassandra smirked back, her eyes glinting, pleased that she would not have to be in the woman's presence.
"Lord and Lady Havisham!" Nate greeted, only seconds after the happy couple had disappeared into the crowd, and Emily could clearly see his teeth grit as his face took on a smile that was very clearly painfully fake. "It is such a pleasure to see you again."
"Your Grace! You grow more and more handsome every day. Is it true that you have not yet found a wife?" Lady Havisham said immediately, eyes flitting briefly to the corner of the room where a young, rather pretty lady who Emily knew to be her niece stood, talking to a man who looked to be her father.
"It is true." Nate agreed, clenching his teeth even tighter as Emily fought back the urge to laugh.
"Lady Havisham, how are your children? I do recall your daughter marrying a few years ago...." Nate changed the subject, and the lady launched into a rant about her daughter, whose name was also Jane, and the grandchildren she had been bearing for Lady Havisham to spoil.
"All four boys." She proclaimed pretentiously, "She has done her parents very proud indeed by blessing her union with so many sons. She hasn't had a single daughter."
At this, Emily found she could not hold herself back any longer. "One would think a parent would be ecstatic with a child of either gender. Wouldn't you, Lady Havisham?" She asked innocently, sounding as saccharine as she could.
"Ah, Lady Emily, I hadn't known you were back. Of course, I don't think any of us even realised once you'd left, if you can tell my meaning." The older woman replied glaringly, her eyes narrowed and challenging Emily who ignored her words and powered through.
"Yes, I returned about two weeks ago. I dare say that England was a sight for sore eyes, but there are some views that I hadn't missed at all." She countered, and Lady Havisham floundered, not possessing the wit to respond.
"It was a very......unexpected move on your part. I can't say I was very surprised that it came from you. You were always the one with the least regard for propriety of all of us." She insulted openly, and Emily stiffened, eyes widening. To comment on something so freely in society was not done at all and it was one of the rudest comments Lady Havisham ever had made. "I suppose America is the place for you, though. The people are much.......looser there."
"I happen to think Lady Emily was exceedingly brave in undertaking such a journey on her own. It shows a level of independence, courage and wilfulness that, sadly, so many young ladies today greatly lack." Nate spoke up as Emily recoiled slightly, stung by Lady Havisham's words. Lord Havisham, as usual, looked downwards and fiddled with the hem of his coat. "Besides, if we ascribe those who think for themselves as being loose, then how are we to be anything but woefully behind in terms of our progress? I believe it is a shame that not more people think as she does."
In that moment, Emily could have launched herself at him and hugged him, but didn't. Instead, she settled for giving him a wide smile which he returned with his own little one as Lady Havisham tried to defend herself, flustered. In the end, she could not say much for it would not do to say anything that went against a Duke like Nate.
"With that being said, Lady Emily, would you like to dance?" He asked.
The thought then occurred to her that Nathaniel Whitlock was a very unique man.
"Of course."