The Irish Upstart (34 page)

Thomas nodded in agreement.
“
One would think Mrs. Trevlyn and her daughters might have given her some pointers.
”

“
Are you daft?
”
asked Penelope, bursting into laughter.
“
You think they should have helped her? I guarantee, Lydia Trevlyn is delighted over Evleen’s social gaffes. Need I explain why?
”

Montague
.
“
No, I understand. But surely someone ought to help her
...”
an idea struck him
“
... why not you?
”

In deep thought, Penelope was silent a moment.
“
I didn’t have the chance to speak to the poor girl, but I’m sure she must have been completely humiliated last night. Yes, I suppose...
”
Her expression brightened. She burst,
“
I’ll do it! I know all the steps, and teaching her should be great fun. Besides, Charlotte and Bettina are just too snooty for words. I would love to see their faces when Evleen turns into Cinderella at the ball.
”

He chided,
“
Not a noble motive, Penelope.
”

“
You don’t understand women, Thomas.
”

He could tell from the firm set of his sister’s jaw that she was not about to back down. But no matter. All he cared about was that Evleen would receive the help she needed.
“
Can you start right away?
”

“
This afternoon, if you like. I shall direct a note to our Irish princess, explain what I’m planning, and invite her to take tea. Then, if she’s agreeable, we’ll have our first lesson.
”

“
Fine. I’ll be here. Perhaps I can help.
”

“
I thought you could hardly wait to get back to your beloved horses.
”

He hoped his face wasn’t turning red as he answered,
“
I have reconsidered. I’ve decided to stay in town.
”

* * *
 
                                       

Another silly English custom, Evleen thought as she sat in the Trevlyns’ carriage and watched as the liveried footman approached the front door of the Marquess’s townhouse. She would have much preferred knocking on the door herself but had been sternly informed, it simply isn’t done.

“
You sit in the carriage and you wait for the footman to knock,
”
Lydia had admonished.
“
The footman gives your card to the butler. The butler takes the card to the mistress of the household who then decides whether or not she is at home. Then the butler returns with the message.
”

“
But how can she decide if she’s home or not?
”
asked Evleen, bewildered.
“
If she’s at home then she’s at home, isn’t she?
”

Lydia threw up her hands.
“
You simply do not understand.
”

Evleen persisted.
“
But how could she be not home if she’s home? How—?
”

“
Just do as I say,
”
Lydia snapped, thoroughly exasperated.
“
And another thing—if you see the lady of the house peering at you from behind the curtains, you must pretend not to notice.
”

Such nonsensical rules. Such a silly, frivolous society
. Still, when Evleen received Penelope’s invitation to
“
take tea and discuss fans and waltzes,
”
she deeply appreciated the generous and tactful offer. If she was to have even the slightest chance of fulfilling her promise to her mother, she must make amends for her miserable performance of the night before.

At tea, Evleen discovered that despite her lingering despondency over the previous night, she was enjoying herself. Thomas’s sister was bright, pleasant, and stunningly attractive in her modish afternoon gown of yellow cotton batiste. Unlike the Trevlyns, she did not seem full of artifices. She also possessed a quick wit which, after the dullness of the Trevlyns, Evleen greatly appreciated.

“
Where shall we begin your lessons?
”
Penelope asked when they’d finished tea.

“
Anywhere,
”
Evleen answered half humorously.
“
It appears I need improvement in all areas.
”

“
Then let’s do fans.
”
Penelope unfurled and fluttered her ivory fan.
“
You see, you don’t clutch it, you just hold it lightly.
”
She placed the fan in front of her face and peered playfully over the top.
“
This means follow me.
”
She placed the fan in her left hand.
“
Means I’m desirous of an acquaintance.
”
She closed the fan and drew it across her forehead.
“
Means we’re being watched.
”

A wry smile curved Evleen’s lips.
“
How did I happen to say, ‘Take me to the garden, Lord Corneale, and give me a big, sloppy, slimy kiss’?
”

When they stopped laughing, Penelope remarked,
“
I’m not sure exactly how Lord Corneale got such a message, but perhaps...
”
she rested the tip of the fan on her right cheek
“
—did you do something like this?
”
At Evleen’s nod, she said,
“
Then that’s likely what you did. In essence, it means yes.
”

For the next hour, Evleen practiced with her own fan, learned fast, and enjoyed herself in the bargain. It was good to laugh again, although, come to think of it, she had never in her life spent such a frivolous afternoon. Back in County Clare, work and worry filled their lives. The money—the illnesses—the struggle to stay warm despite the damp, creeping cold left little time for fun as fancy-free as this.

Just as she was confident she’d mastered the language of the fan, Lord Thomas appeared in the doorway. Evleen caught her breath at the unexpected sight of him, standing there in that casual stance of his, with that lop-sided grin on his dark, handsome face.
“
I thought you were leaving London today,
”
she said.

“
Obviously not,
”
he replied.
“
Penelope has recruited me to help teach you the waltz.
”

She remembered the previous night and the callous manner in which she’d rejected him. What must he think?
“
I’m sorry about last night.
”

“
Say no more.
”
He went to her and held out his hand. He signaled to Penelope, who had seated herself at the piano.
“
Play us a waltz, sister, slow if you please, and we shall have Miss O’Fallon waltzing in no time.
”
He placed his hand around her waist.
“
Now, put your hand on my shoulder, don’t look down, step back with your right foot, and off we go.
”

Soon she was waltzing.
“
You have a natural bent for it,
”
Thomas declared after only minutes. Feeling herself move gracefully, in perfect tune to the music, she knew he was right. Such fun! The remains of her blue funk disappeared. Later, when Montague came to see what all the commotion was about, he, too, waltzed her around the room and proclaimed she was a first rate waltzer.
“
You’ll do fine, Miss O’Fallon,
”
he said, his eyes warm with admiration.
“
I shall claim all your waltzes at the next ball.
”

Thinking of Lydia’s reaction if he did, her spirits dipped, but not for long.
“
We shall see,
”
she said, giving him an enigmatic smile. Nothing could ruin this delightful afternoon.

When she made ready to leave, her heart was full of gratitude. She tried to express her thanks, but Thomas wouldn’t hear it.
“
Come back tomorrow, Miss O’Fallon,
”
he told her politely.
“
We shall learn the quadrille.
”

When Penelope was alone with Evleen at the front door, she asked pointedly,
“
Er... that mud-colored gown? Will you be wearing it again to Lord and Lady Trent’s ball next Friday night?
”

“
You needn’t be polite,
”
came Evleen’s laughing answer.
“
Lord Trevlyn hired a dressmaker and I’ve already been fitted. With any luck, at the next ball I’ll have my own gown, not that hideous hand-me-down.
”

“
Marvelous.
”
Penelope clasped her hands with delight.
“
I have so enjoyed this afternoon.
”

“
As have I.
”

“
I have never met anyone quite like you.
”
Penelope’s warmth was sincere.
“
I predict that fair, fresh beauty of yours and that fiery Irish spirit will make you the belle of the ball.
”

Despite her new friend’s encouraging words, and her pleasurable afternoon, Evleen was struck by an odd twinge of worry.
“
I don’t know that you’re right,
”
she said quietly,
“
but even if you are, what with one thing and another, I’m not sure being the belle of the ball is the best thing for me.
”

Penelope sighed heavily.
“
What you mean is, the more successful you are, the more jealous Lydia and her daughters will become.
”

“
I suppose, but surely they would do nothing to harm me.
”

“
Oh, no, no, of course not,
”
Penelope quickly answered, but she didn’t sound too convinced.

* * *
 
                                       

For several days in a row, Evleen was invited back to the Marquess’s elegant townhouse, where, after tea, the dancing lessons continued. Evleen found each visit delightful. She thoroughly enjoyed the music, witty conversation, and, most of all, the close proximity to a man whose company she found increasingly pleasurable. As for Thomas, at first she found his motives were obscure. He had been charming, yet distant. His manners were so impeccable she had begun to wonder if his passionate kiss in the carriage was simply a moment of playful lust, of no deep significance at all. She had about concluded he was helping her out of pity when, on the last day before the ball, she discovered otherwise.

They were standing together, having just concluded a dance, when Penelope briefly left the room. Ordinarily they would have broken apart, but some strange force kept them close together, facing each other, as if they were part of a tableau. When she looked into his eyes, she found him gazing at her with such a burning hunger she was taken aback. She was about to pull away when he swept her into his arms and kissed her fiercely. Before she could even think how to respond, he had broken off the kiss, clasped her arms and firmly put her away from him. It was as if she were a forbidden pleasure, and he, after a momentary lapse, had regained his senses and did what honor decreed he do.

“
Sorry,
”
he’d said, his breath coming fast.
“
Don’t tell me that shouldn’t have happened, I already know.
”

Before she could even begin to answer, Penelope returned. If she noticed anything, she didn’t say, and the lesson went on as if nothing had occurred. At the end, Penelope glowed as she said,
“
I have taught you all I know, Evleen. You’ve done marvelously well. Just wait ‘til they see you at the ball tomorrow night. The dandies will be falling all over themselves, trying to get a dance with you.
”

“
That remains to be seen,
”
Evleen answered cautiously, aware there was still so much that could go wrong.
“
You have been the most wonderful teacher, Penelope, I can’t thank you enough.
”

* * *
 
                                       

“
Evleen, you look magnificent and just so beautiful,
”
exclaimed Amanda.