she’d have to turn that about and right quickly. And yet, love was supposed to just happen, wasn’t it? She’d always thought that she’d know the very moment she saw him that she was in love. But if that was so, he was taking his bloody time making an appearance.
She glanced back at her friend suddenly and asked, “Did love show up for you instantly?”
Larissa laughed. “Goodness, no, it just sort of snuck up on me.”
“Then when did you know?”
“When that first Season of ours was over and I’d gone back home to Kent—and was missing Lord Henry so much I could barely stand it.”
“That’s right, you met him again in the spring, didn’t you?”
“Yes, at a country gathering. He proposed before it was over.” Larissa grinned. “He’d been missing me, too, something fierce.”
Amanda sighed to herself. That was likely the problem right there. She’d been expecting love at first sight, to simply know immediately when it happened, and because that didn’t happen, she’d given up on all those young men who might have suited her just fine—eventually. And all because she didn’t fall in love with any of them on a fantasized time schedule!
Chapter Twelve
D EVIN GLANCED AROUND THE ballroom, taking note of the people he already knew. He spotted a few clients and was surprised to see Owen Culley. Not exactly where Devin would expect to find the elderly nobleman, although Mabel Collicott and Gertrude Allen, who were also up there in years, were in attendance. But he knew why they were attending this ball and every other major social event this Season. He hoped they’d steer clear of Blythe. The girl was anxious enough without having to deal with someone as bullish as Mabel.
“Don’t fidget, it makes you appear nervous,” Blythe scolded in a whisper.
He almost laughed. Blythe was the one who was nervous, her terse tones a dead giveaway. It was the only time she wasn’t a pleasure to be around. But Devin wasn’t about to point that out to her or her cheeks would turn red. He did want her to shine tonight, but not with embarrassment.
He knew why she was nervous. The invitation to this fancy ball had been sent to him, not her, and it was the first invitationthat had actually specified that he could bring only one guest. If not for that, he would have asked William along as well, though his friend claimed to have another engagement tonight that couldn’t be put off and had even asked if he could borrow Donald’s coach for it, since Devin and Blythe would be using the grand old Pace family coach tonight.
Thank goodness Blythe had been prepared and didn’t have to scramble at the last moment for a ball gown, as he’d had to do for his fancy duds. He’d never use that tailor again. But Blythe already had her wardrobe for the Season, which William was now in debt for. “Bloody expensive, getting a sister married off,” Will had complained more than once in the last months.
“It’s these new clothes,” Devin said, explaining his fidgeting. “They’re uncomfortable, stiff, scratchy.”
Blythe’s green eyes briefly moved over his black attire, broadcloth with velvet lapels. “They don’t look uncomfortable and they do fit you nicely.”
“The tailor lined them with wool! Raved about women having their petticoats made that way, so why shouldn’t men get an extra layer for the cold season, too. Bloody idiot.”
It was his own fault for having to find a new tailor who would work overtime when his regular man wouldn’t, and since he was already paying him extra for the rush, he didn’t want to spring for the extra expense of soft wool. But his exaggerated complaints did what he’d intended. Blythe looked much more relaxed now, even seemed to be holding back a laugh.
He added, “And might I say, you look quite fetching tonight.” She was done up grandly for the night in her pink-and-white ball gown. Blond hair, green eyes, plump in the right places, good bones, she wasn’t a
She glanced back at her friend suddenly and asked, “Did love show up for you instantly?”
Larissa laughed. “Goodness, no, it just sort of snuck up on me.”
“Then when did you know?”
“When that first Season of ours was over and I’d gone back home to Kent—and was missing Lord Henry so much I could barely stand it.”
“That’s right, you met him again in the spring, didn’t you?”
“Yes, at a country gathering. He proposed before it was over.” Larissa grinned. “He’d been missing me, too, something fierce.”
Amanda sighed to herself. That was likely the problem right there. She’d been expecting love at first sight, to simply know immediately when it happened, and because that didn’t happen, she’d given up on all those young men who might have suited her just fine—eventually. And all because she didn’t fall in love with any of them on a fantasized time schedule!
Chapter Twelve
D EVIN GLANCED AROUND THE ballroom, taking note of the people he already knew. He spotted a few clients and was surprised to see Owen Culley. Not exactly where Devin would expect to find the elderly nobleman, although Mabel Collicott and Gertrude Allen, who were also up there in years, were in attendance. But he knew why they were attending this ball and every other major social event this Season. He hoped they’d steer clear of Blythe. The girl was anxious enough without having to deal with someone as bullish as Mabel.
“Don’t fidget, it makes you appear nervous,” Blythe scolded in a whisper.
He almost laughed. Blythe was the one who was nervous, her terse tones a dead giveaway. It was the only time she wasn’t a pleasure to be around. But Devin wasn’t about to point that out to her or her cheeks would turn red. He did want her to shine tonight, but not with embarrassment.
He knew why she was nervous. The invitation to this fancy ball had been sent to him, not her, and it was the first invitationthat had actually specified that he could bring only one guest. If not for that, he would have asked William along as well, though his friend claimed to have another engagement tonight that couldn’t be put off and had even asked if he could borrow Donald’s coach for it, since Devin and Blythe would be using the grand old Pace family coach tonight.
Thank goodness Blythe had been prepared and didn’t have to scramble at the last moment for a ball gown, as he’d had to do for his fancy duds. He’d never use that tailor again. But Blythe already had her wardrobe for the Season, which William was now in debt for. “Bloody expensive, getting a sister married off,” Will had complained more than once in the last months.
“It’s these new clothes,” Devin said, explaining his fidgeting. “They’re uncomfortable, stiff, scratchy.”
Blythe’s green eyes briefly moved over his black attire, broadcloth with velvet lapels. “They don’t look uncomfortable and they do fit you nicely.”
“The tailor lined them with wool! Raved about women having their petticoats made that way, so why shouldn’t men get an extra layer for the cold season, too. Bloody idiot.”
It was his own fault for having to find a new tailor who would work overtime when his regular man wouldn’t, and since he was already paying him extra for the rush, he didn’t want to spring for the extra expense of soft wool. But his exaggerated complaints did what he’d intended. Blythe looked much more relaxed now, even seemed to be holding back a laugh.
He added, “And might I say, you look quite fetching tonight.” She was done up grandly for the night in her pink-and-white ball gown. Blond hair, green eyes, plump in the right places, good bones, she wasn’t a
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