Courting Constance (Fountain of Love) by Kirsten Osbourne Page B

Her father insisted it was time for her debut in a few months, but talked him into a small house party first.  Not that she was nervous about her first season in London.  It was just that she wanted to see if it could be avoided. 
    Kit should be finished with university this year.  Maybe he would be there.  He would sweep her off her feet, and Papa would agree there was no need for a season when she’d already found her true love.  He’d offer a huge dowry, because as a third son, Kit would need it, and they would live happily ever after. 
    She hadn’t seen him since that day in the woods, but she remembered him perfectly.  He had hair that was so dark it was almost black and the warmest brown eyes she’d ever seen.  What else did she really need to know?
    “Ow!  Be careful, Bernice.  I want to have some hair left for the party,” she joked.  In truth, her maid had become her closest friend.  She knew Papa would cringe if she ever said such a thing aloud, but there were no other young ladies around for her to befriend.
    “I’m sorry, Lady Lily.”
    “We’re alone!  How many times do I have to tell you to drop the formalities when we’re alone?”
    “Sorry!”
    “Are you almost finished?”  Lily knew she should be more patient, but it wasn’t in her nature.  She couldn’t stand sitting still and doing nothing.  She’d still rather be running barefoot through the woods than anything else in the world. 
    Papa had finally asked his sister, Aunt Margaret, to come live with them.  Margaret was a widow and a stickler for rules of propriety.  Papa was certain Aunt Margaret could tame her.  Lily sighed as she looked down at her hands.  She may not have been tamed, but she certainly knew how to pretend she was.
    “Yes. Your hair is going to look glorious!”
    Lily smiled.  It had to look perfect for Kit.  She knew she shouldn’t count on him coming, but she’d seen his father several times over the years as he’d come to do business with hers.  Surely his family would be invited.
    Finally, her hair finished, she stood to allow Bernice to help her into her dress.  It was made of silk and a deep forest green.  It matched her eyes perfectly.  When she was dressed, she looked into the mirror and sighed.  “Yes, that’s just right.”  She turned and threw her arms around her maid.  “Thank you!  My hair is just like Mama’s in the portrait in the hall.”
    “I’m glad you like it.”  Bernice hugged her back for a moment, and then walked in a slow circle around her, trying to be sure everything was just right.  “Remember not to kick your shoes off.”
    Lily sighed.  “I hate shoes.  And these new slippers pinch my toes.  My dress is so long, what difference would it make if I danced without them?”
    Bernice laughed.  “Your papa would have my head.  You have to behave like a lady.  Just this once!”
    “I’ll try.”  Lily looked down at the floor as she said the words.  She knew she was the bane of her father’s existence.  He wanted her to be the perfect lady and marry well.  She didn’t care if she married well, as long as she married Kit.
    Her father knocked on her door.  “Are you ready, Lily?”
    “Yes, Papa.”  She walked to the door and took his arm.  Tonight she would be presented to the people at the small country dance her father had her aunt arrange.  She walked as gracefully as possible to the top of the stairs.
    They descended slowly.  She kept her chin up the entire time as she’d been taught.  Finally they reached the bottom, and he presented her to a young man who immediately took her arm and twirled her away in a dance. 
    She’d have to wait until she got to London and was given permission before she danced the waltz, but she’d had a dance teacher come to teach her all of the dances she could possibly be expected to dance, both here and in London.
    She made small talk with the young man she danced with, trying to keep her eyes on