exchanged notes, and now we are talking to each other, so I feel we are on the mend. Perhaps, one day, we will be almost as close as we used to be.”
There was a thoughtful silence between them for a moment as they ate, before she asked, “And you won’t feel awkward either?”
“I might be a little mistrustful of him, but I don’t mind you being friends again.”
The dinner came to an end as people finished their desserts. Soon, many people were talking to her and Walter again, as everyone began to make their way to the ballroom.
When the music started to play, some of the couples moved to the center of the ballroom, while everyone else shifted towards the sides of the room.
“Shall we dance?” he asked.
“No, I think I want to watch this first dance,” she replied, her gaze surreptitiously drifting towards Ambrose, who was currently leading Felicia to the dance floor.
When she was looking at the two of them, she gave them both a faint smile before quickly turning to gaze about the room, pretending she hadn’t been watching them and had been merely glancing around.
Walter’s look of amusement at the whole interaction earned him a glare from her. That only made him chuckle at her. “You know … if you wanted to watch them, I could have led you directly next to them for the dance,” he teased.
“Oh, be quiet,” she told him. “Maybe I want to look at all the people dancing, and they were simply the ones I looked at first.”
“Mmm … certainly. Then who are you looking at next?”
She quickly glanced around at the other dancers before her eyes alighted on another couple, and she smiled. “I am looking at Miss Rutherford dancing with the Earl of Ferndale.”
That caught his attention, and he looked in the direction she was indicating to see the pair seemingly quite enjoying each other’s company. “Hm … I think they might actually be a good match,” he told her thoughtfully.
“And this isn’t the first time we have seen them in company lately,” she added. “Though, I thought you said he was very fixed up on business.”
“Yes, which does make me wonder how she managed to even get his attention. But she seems as if she is just the sort of woman to happily listen to hours of talk about business-related topics. And he might be able to help balance out the spendthrift habits of her brothers.”
She laughed a little at the mental picture. “I can almost see him talking to her brothers until they invest their money in business with him instead of on the horse races!”
Walter found the idea just as amusing. “Still, it would be good for them, and for the whole family.”
“I agree,” she said decidedly, as her aunt and uncle approached them.
“Well, dear, how are you enjoying your engagement party so far?” Adelaide asked her.
“And why are you standing here instead of dancing?” Jonas added.
“It is perfect. It is so lovely, I simply had to take it all in, which is better done from here than the dance floor,” she replied, only a slight exaggeration in her voice. “But … I may dance the next set if Walter asks me to.”
“Will it count if I ask you now?”
“No, you have to wait until this one is over.”
He pretended to scowl, but anything he might have been about to say was cut off when Adelaide remarked, “Well, I am glad you two are enjoying yourselves. And I see that Ambrose was able to attend, as well…”
“Yes, we have already spoken to each other, actually.”
“And how did that go?” her uncle asked.
She opened her mouth to give a simple and brief reply, but then she changed her mind. “It was a little uncomfortable, but it was progress. It actually went better than I thought it would.”
They were both relieved at this. “Good, Adelaide and I were a little worried about how your first meeting would go. I am glad it is over with.”
“So am I,” she said as the current dance started to come to an end.
“Well, we will leave the two of you alone for now,” her aunt said, giving her a quick hug.
As the old coupe walked away, Walter turned to Georgiana expectantly. “So, will you please honor me with this next dance?”
“You just want an excuse to hold me close in public,” she playfully told him, as she nodded and let him lead her into position.