“Have you taken part yourselves?” Bernice asked, and Marshall gave her a smile and told her that he had indeed tried the new dance. The two girls glanced at each other and Bertie knew for certain that they were planning trouble. Arielle said that she would love to see it and suggested that Caroline and Marshall show them how the dance went. Bertie tried to intervene to warn that the older generation would not appreciate the sight of two people dancing close together, but the girls brushed him aside and looked pleadingly at Marshall. Arielle went away and was presumably going to see if the orchestra could play a waltz. Bertie tried again to top the experiment, but the two visitors had no notion of the effect this would have on the spectators. Badger lent his voice as well and even Arabella, but it seemed that the decision was already made and Arielle returned to say that the orchestra was ready, and there would be an announcement. Bertie’s heart sank, and he appealed directly to Caroline to call off the dance. She smiled and told him that everyone here seemed eager to find out what was happening elsewhere, and she stood up to take the arm of her second cousin. The two of them walked out onto the floor as the music began and as Marshall swept his relative into his arms and held her against his chest, there was an audible gasp from the spectators around the room.
The music played the one two three one two three of the waltz that had arrived in the country from Austria and the two people on the dance floor were swept into the excitement of the moment and did not understand the silence that was greeting their performance. They whirled and twirled and smiled at each other because it was a fun thing to do and then the music came to an end and Caroline curtsied to her partner who gave a brief bow and offered his hand to take her back to her seat. It was only at that point that the two of them noticed the absolute silence that greeted their performance. They stopped and looked around. Caroline gave a nervous smile and the couple walked over to the group where Bertie, Badger and Arabella were waiting. The girls were seated and around the room a rustle of conversation broke out but in subdued voices. Someone directed the orchestra to make more music, and some sort of normality returned to the room. Bertie took a seat beside Caroline. “I think they are not ready for all of the modern things in Derbyshire.” Then he could not help himself. He said to Badger. “I knew Arielle was up to something. That girl is always trouble.” Arabella shushed him and looked around. Badger was nodding though and taking in the attitude of the guests. It was not pleasant, and when Caroline said that she would like a breath of fresh air, Bertie stood and offered his arm. As they passed the people sitting at the side of the ballroom, it was very pointed that each of the ladies turned away. He looked across at his aunt sitting with her friends and even she gave him a pointed stare and turned away. Bertie was furious. He took Caroline out onto the terrace and realise that she was shaking. As they were standing in the shade of a wall, he put his arms around her and held her close until she felt able to stand and recover her composure. “It is just not like London,” he told her. “They move very slowly here. I will see to the things I need to do and then I will return to my town house.” Caroline held onto his arm and said “Thank you for bringing me out here. I did not quite know how to respond.”
“Hmph.” Lord Haverbrook said sounding like the aristocrat that he undoubtedly was. “I will make it very plain to everyone concerned that the house of Haverbrook does not condone such bad manners.” That produced a smile from his companion.
“You did try to warn us,” she replied. “Please do not cause any trouble on my behalf. My cousin, like myself, is used to a more liberal society.” Bertie realised he still had an arm around her shoulders, and it was very pleasant. This woman had found her way under his skin and he was enjoying the sensation. “It will not be trouble. That Arielle delights in making people look uncomfortable, and I will make it quite clear that putting friends of mine in that position is unacceptable.” He paused. “I rather think Badger will say the same and his sister will most certainly be on the side of your second cousin.” They both laughed at this and made their way back to the ballroom. The traditional dances were filling the floor, and Caroline asked if he would find her cousin and tell him she would like to go home.
He left her standing beside Arabella and went in search of her cousin. When he returned, Caroline was gone, and Arabella was fuming. “These people.” She hissed and named four well-known women.
“Came over and deliberately snubbed Miss Carstairs. I will not be coming to any more of these balls, I think. Badger can get the carriage and take me home.”
“I’ll talk with you tomorrow,” he said and went over to his aunt. “I think it is time to take out leave, my dearest aunt.” He held out a hand, and Aunt Agatha had no option but to accept it.
*****
His aunt tried to talk to him about the traditions of these balls and how people should not be offended when they broke the rules, but he would have none of it and went off to his bed. Sleep was a long time in coming, and visions of Caroline were ever in his head. He had never before felt so much for anyone and had never been so annoyed on behalf of someone else, and it came to him that if he were to return to London that he would not see the delicious Miss Carstairs again. He drifted into slumber eventually wondering if he could persuade her to return to the city as well.