A Stranger at Castonbury - By Amanda McCabe Page 0,43

much indeed, Mr Hale,’ Lydia answered. She didn’t look away from him.

‘It must seem very pale in comparison to London Assembly Rooms,’ he said.

‘Not at all. I much prefer smaller gatherings, where one can really talk to people,’ Lydia said as someone almost trod on her hem in the crowd.

‘Then perhaps you would honour me with the first dance?’ Mr Hale asked eagerly. ‘With Mrs Moreno’s permission, of course.’

‘Oh, yes, please, Mrs Moreno?’ Lydia begged. ‘I do so long for a dance.’

‘Then of course you may,’ Catalina said with a smile. ‘Go and enjoy yourselves.’

She watched as Lydia took Mr Hale’s arm and he led her to a place in the set now forming on the dance floor. She leaned back against the windowsill to let the cool breeze brush over her shoulders and examined the rest of the room.

As the dancers found their places on the floors, some of the crowd went on to the refreshment room and the crush was not quite so great. The duke sat in a large armchair at one end of the long room, watching the gathering as if he was its king. Some of the cousins were clustered around him with shawls and plates of delicacies, but he waved them away impatiently. Phaedra was dancing with her husband, and the portly man who had cornered Jamie was strutting about the room. But she could not see Jamie.

The musicians launched into a lively tune, not quite as smooth and skilled as a fine London orchestra but very enthusiastic. Catalina found herself tapping her foot in time to the music, and remembered again those dances in Spain with Jamie. His hand on hers, his arm around her waist as they spun in circles until she was laughing and giddy...

‘A glass of punch?’ she heard Lily say. A gloved hand held out a glass of pale pink liquid.

Catalina laughed. ‘Thank you. It is rather warm in here.’ She took a sip. ‘It’s...’

‘Sweet enough to make your jaw ache?’ Lily said. ‘Quite. The Buxton Assembly Rooms aren’t famous for their refreshments, I fear.’

‘They were much worse when I had to go with Lydia to Almack’s,’ Catalina said.

‘Were they? I must remember never to go there, then.’

‘But the music here is most enjoyable.’

‘So it is. And everyone seems happy to see the duke out and about again.’ Lily gestured with her glass at the line that had formed to greet the duke. ‘Do you not care to dance, Mrs Moreno?’

Catalina shook her head. Her dancing days were done, since she could no longer dance with Jamie. He was the only one she had ever wanted to dance with, no matter what else happened between them. ‘I have to look after Lydia.’

‘I am not dancing tonight either. Giles has gone off to the card room, the wretch,’ Lily said with a laugh. ‘But Miss Westman does appear to be having a fine time.’

Catalina watched as Lydia skipped and turned along the line with Mr Hale. A bright smile was on her face, and Catalina realised she had never seen the girl having such fun before. ‘So she is.’

‘She seems very sweet.’ Lily examined Catalina over the edge of her glass. ‘But you seem too young to already be resigned to playing duenna, Mrs Moreno. You should enjoy yourself as well.’

‘I am enjoying myself—in my way,’ Catalina answered. How could she tell this kind woman, this new bride, how it felt when romance and passion were behind her? How it felt when she could see them again, shimmering and enticing just for ever out of reach?

Lily looked doubtful, but she just nodded and went on to make polite conversation about the people who passed by. She told Catalina who they all were and how they all fit into the life of the neighbourhood.

‘And who is that?’ Catalina asked as the portly man passed by again.

Lily wrinkled her nose. ‘Sir Nathan Samuelson. A near neighbour to Castonbury. And a rather unpleasant individual, I fear. Don’t converse with him if you can help it, Mrs Moreno. He would never let you free again.’

‘I shall endeavour not to,’ Catalina said with a laugh. ‘He doesn’t look like someone I should care to meet.’

‘You heard of what happened lately at Castonbury?’ Lily said quietly. ‘With Miss Walters?’

Alicia—Jamie’s false wife. ‘Oh, yes.’

‘Sir Nathan seemed rather friendly with her for a time, after Lady Kate turned down his offer flat. He appeared to court her, or something like that.’

‘Something like that?’ Catalina said, confused.

‘I don’t know.