A new season, a new sort of scandal about to unfold. All eyes was on Lady Halloway who hosted her ball. Lord Sinclair was seen dancing with Miss Beaumont (the older one) which to everyone who has been reading this gossip sheet would find interesting...
This Author is rather confused on whether Viscount Nicholas is no longer interested in the young lady or perhaps Lord Sinclair beat him to the chance of asking a dance with Miss Beaumont although the Viscount was seen dancing with the younger Beaumont but we all know that The Viscount is only interested in the older sister.....or perhaps not...
This Author remain confused and conflicted on the matter....
Lady Ravenscroft's Society Papers, 30 April 1812.
Lady Halloway is well-known among members of society, not because of her home or particularly because of her husband's wealth. The woman was well-known because she cannot seem to shut her mouth.
Lady Ravenscroft has on many accounts referred to the woman as the Lady who doesn't know when to keep her mouth shut. The Ton's blabbermouth. She is much more famous than Lady Ravenscroft as a gossip even though she doesn't write papers, her mouth did the job more than she can account for.
She has three children—Noel, Lucia and Marina. Noel, who is to be the Viscount properly when his father dies—(the man is still strong and active) is off to Oxford. His younger sisters Lucia and Marina however are the ones who are unable to survive their mother's clutches most especially Lucia who is sixteen and was forced to be introduced to the society as a debutante very early.
Lucia and Catherine are close friends but since Catherine had got married a year ago, poor Lucia has been stuck with her mother introducing her to every man that is available.
A Halloway ball is one that is almost to Lady Morribel's standard, the Viscountess loved parties and knows how to host one (her only good quality) and the ball tonight is no exception.
Nicholas had been invited and wanted to ignore it but decided against it the last minute.
"Mr Harrington." Lady Halloway called out once he entered the estate and Nicholas could not help but roll his eyes.
"How lovely to see you." Nicholas said with a forced smile.
"My condolence on what happened to Catherine's husband. I trust that she is doing well with your mother and siblings." She said with pity.
"She is." He simply replied out of respect.
"Lucia should be around here somewhere, I imagine you want a dance with her." She said as she glance through the ballroom.
Nicholas cannot help but groan. Lucia is like a younger sister to him and his mother always ask him to take care of her—not that she needed to, he always do.
"I imagine I shall see her before this evening ends." He said.
"Oh, well I can see Lord Sterling alone. I shall see you later." She said before scurrying off to bother another gentleman.
Nicholas glance around the ballroom and his eyes land on Lucia Halloway hiding in a corner probably away from her mother's preying eyes.
"You are not really good at hiding." He said as he reach her side.
"Lord Harrington!" She said in a fright to which Nicholas chuckles.
"I thought you preferred Nicholas" he said with a smile.
"I do," she said while her eyes wanders round the room for her mother. "But Mother is of the impression that I should call every gentleman by their surname or perhaps title. Not that I want to" she said grinting her teeth.
"Call me Nicholas as you've always done but you can stick to Lord Harrington when your mother is nearby." He said to which she nodded.
"And how is Catherine. I asked Iris to deliver my letter but I imagine she would not reply anytime soon." She asked concerning her close friend.
Lucia and Catherine were very close—still are, but when Catherine got married to Lord Howard, the distance heightened between them.
"I also wrote to her through Iris. I imagine she will write back and Iris will deliver it when they come back." He explained to which she nodded.
"A more befitting hiding spot would be the terrace or perhaps the garden." He provided after a brief moment of silence.
"She already know that I run off there."
"And have you tried Marina's room?." He asked.
"What!"
"Well, Ben always hid in Felicity, Hazel or Iris room whenever he wants to avoid our Mother during these events and she has not caught onto that yet." He explained.
"Oh, that is the most brilliant idea that you've ever given me" she said to which he chuckled.
"I shall put that to use." She said.
"And if by chance she is coming towards either of us, you shall tap your dance card twice so I can bewarned."
"And if she is coming towards me?". She asked.
"I shall..." Nicholas wonder off. "I shall touch my hair while staring at you till you get the message."
"Good"
"Done." He said and suddenly she looked behind him before bursting into a laughing fit.
"What?"
"I think it is better for you to leave now."
"Why?" He asked. "Is your mother coming?"
"No," she said with a smile. "More like Miss Beaumont is glaring at the two of us. Almost as if she wants to bite my head off."
"You are like a sister to me." He said with a frown as he glance at Helena.
"And does she know that?" Lucia asked.
"Well, No."
"Go before she gets more angry at you." She said.
'Why would she be angry?" He asked in confusion.
"Nicholas," she began as she stare at him as if he is stupid—he might as well be. "The woman that everyone in the Ton knows that you are planning to court or at least thinks so sees you talking to someone else rather quite casually. Of course she will be jealous." She explained.
"Jealous?." He asked confused.
"Heaven help me," she said as she slammed her hands on her face. "He has added stupidity to the qualities he has." She said while staring at the ceiling with a sigh.
"Lucia!!!"
"What," she said with a glare. "Even Noel would not act in such a stupid way, go before she murder me in her mind." She said before shoving him away.
Meanwhile the moment the Beaumont arrived at Lady Halloway's ball, Helena eyes searched for the viscount and she could not describe the feeling she was having seeing him and the lady beside him together. She was angry.
"You are angry." Lady Beaumont said as she turn to look at the direction Helena was glaring at.
"That is Lucia Halloway" Hiliary provided.
"Lady Halloway's daughter?" Helena asked.
"Yes," she said as she take in the scene far from them. "The Halloways and the Harringtons are close. Lucia is close friends with Catherine." Hiliary explained.
"That's good." Helena replied.
"They looked good together." Hiliary said knowing very well that her sister is angry at the pair.
Helena glared at her.
"Or maybe not..." She added.
"Whoever the Viscount speaks to is none of my business." Helena said as she turn her eyes away from the pair—not that she wants to.
"It is not?" Lady Beaumont asked with a frown and a smile.
"It is not." Helena reaffirmed.
"He is heading towards us." Hiliary said.
"Miss Beaumont, May I bother you with a dance?" A Lord asked before Nicholas could reach the Beaumont family.
"I-....Of course, Lord....." Helena trail off
"Lord Sinclair." The man provided.
It would seem rude if Helena rejected the man offer and quite frankly she wanted to see Nicholas reaction to her dancing with someone else.
Nicholas getting angry is an understatement.....he was PISSED.
"Mr Harrington," Lady Beaumont greeted with a smile to take his eyes away from Helena who is on the dancefloor. "It is nice to see you."
"Is that Helena with Lord Sinclair?" Lady Morribel asked as she reach the trio.
"Yes, indeed." Hiliary said with a smirk.
"They look good together." Lady Morribel said to which Nicholas gave her a glare. What about the two of them is good?.
They do not look good together.
Why was he angry about it?.
She has a right to dance with anyone she wants....
But why is he angry at the mere fact of them dancing together.....
"Are you jealous by chance?" Lady Morribel asked with her brows raised at him.
"I am not." Nicholas quickly defended.
"He is." Came the response from the three women by his side.
Was he?....
Definitely not.....
Nicholas stare at the pair ahead with Lord Sinclair leaning in to Helena's side.
He is jealous.....
"Perhaps we should take to the dance floor?" Hiliary asked reaching out to which Nicholas agreed.
The first few seconds of the dance was not on Nicholas mind but rather on Helena and her dance partner.
"He seems to like her." Hiliary commented focusing Nicholas attention on her.
"And you know that how?"
"Simply by looking."
"What do you want to say Miss Beaumont?" He asked as the dance is about to end.
"And why do you believe I have something to say?"
"You asked me to a dance when you clearly know that I am angry at the fact that your older sister is dancing with another man." He said not taking his eyes off the pair. " Do not let her know that I am jealous." He quickly added.
"I won't."
"Spill."
"I simply want to learn how to dance from you. You seem like a very good dancer." She provided but he was not buying anything of it.
"Fine," she said with a pout. "I just wanted you to know that if you remain tight-lipped about your feelings towards Helena, another man like Lord Sinclair will go after her just like now." She said to which he stare at her.
"And how do you know I have feelings for her?" He asked as he gave her a twirl.
"I am young not stupid and also I have eyes."
"True."
"Helena is fragile than she lead one to think." She said.
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Heaven help me, Mr Harrington was correct when he mentioned you being clueless when it comes to love." She said with a groan.
"Benedict?"
"Yes, we talked when we were at Lady Morribel's place for dinner," she explained. "Just so you know, I placed a wager that you are going to end up with my sister. Do not fail me." She said to which he chuckles.
It would seem that the Beaumont sisters share the same type of humor.
"Do not let Helena know before she kills me."
"My lips are sealed."
"And do something about your feelings and her before that man claims her." She scolded him.
"She is not an item."
"Mr Harrington!!!" She warned.
"Thank you for the advice." He said quickly as the dance came to an end.
"You're welcome."
Nicholas and Hiliary returned to Lady Morribel and Lady Beaumont with Helena and Lord Sinclair arriving next.
"Harrington." Lord Sinclair greeted while greeting the women by his side.
"Sinclair." He said with a forced smile to which Hiliary snorted earning a glare from him.
"Thank you for the dance once again, Miss Beaumont." Lord Sinclair said before taking his leave while Helena bow to him.
"I shall have to leave." Nicholas said as he notice Lady Halloway looking for him with Lucia by her side. Lucia had seen the Viscount before her mother and had quickly made their sign to him.
"The ball has just begin." Lady Morribel countered.
"And I want no part of Lady Halloway's nonsense." He said with a grunt.
"Good day, My Lord." Helena said with obvious anger.
"Good day.....oh....Miss Beaumont." He said remembering Lucia's earlier accusations.
"Yes, My Lord."
"Lucia is a sister and will be nothing more than that, something that she herself knows
as well." He said with a smile and a wink to her leaving her with her mouth open and smiles from their company.