“Yes, he is extremely wealthy!” Anne raised her eyebrows. “He would be a good husband, I would think. But he’s very young. I’ve danced with him, too. He’s very agreeable.”
“I don’t want to marry anyone unless I love him,” Isabeau said. “I don’t care if he is a rich man or a pauper.”
“Oh, I didn’t mean to imply anything otherwise, Izzie. I know you. I wonder, though, if you would really feel the same passion for a pauper as you would for a Lord. Having money does make a difference.”
“Money also changes the way people are inside,” Isabeau said. “I know several wealthy men who had delightful personalities until they became wealthy.”
“I think it’s different when they already have a fortune they have inherited through their family name. I think men with old money are a little more judgmental than the others who have had to work their way to wealth.”
“I would agree with that.” Isabeau nodded her head. “It is because they were once paupers themselves…or close to it. When you are poor, and you grow up to be rich, you can see things from both perspectives.”
“Who else do you have on your card? There are four more dances. After Lord Rupert, I have good old hairy Lord Henry.”
“Oh no!” They both laughed. Lord Henry had not cut his hair from the time he was about ten years old. He was another local, and both girls knew him well. They were all friends and had a good time together, so her dance with him was more for fun than anything
The doors the girls had come out of burst open and two young men came through in a hurry, their eyes in search of something. When they spotted the girls, they both called out to them.
“Anne! Isabeau! We’ve been looking for both of you!”
The women turned to see Lord Rupert and Earl Barnaby heading toward them.
“Oh!” Anne flushed. “Have we lost track of time? Oh dear! Has the next dance started?”
Lord Rupert held out his hand to her, flashing a brilliant smile that made his eyes flash. “If we hurry, we won’t miss more than a few moments!”
Anne matched Lord Rupert’s smile, took his hand, and the two of them jogged across the veranda to the door, slipping in swiftly.
“Well, they are very much in a hurry to dance, aren’t they?” Earl Barnaby turned a smile to Isabeau. “I, however, am less motivated to find a spot on the floor. I am feeling…a bit overheated in there.”
“That’s why we came out here.” Isabeau nodded. “It is extremely hot in there. And with that many people crowded in there…I’m actually quite surprised by how many people came tonight. It’s as if everyone from all around the country came here for this one ball.”
The Earl laughed. He held out his hand, and she took it, letting him take her back across the veranda to the doors. “I think that would be quite a lot more people,” he said when they got to the doors. He stopped her when she put her hand on the door handle.
“We don’t need to go in yet, do we? Shall we skip this dance? Or perhaps dance out here? I can hear the music fine. Can you?”
Isabeau was intrigued. It would be quite lovely to dance out here on the veranda. She lifted her arms and smiled at him. He put his arm around her slender waist, and they began to dance. “Have you had any interesting partners yet?”
“None that had me dancing on the veranda,” she responded softly.
“It certainly seems less stressing than being in there, surrounded by all the others and feeling somewhat suffocated.”
“I agree. How have you fared tonight? Any of the Ladies catch your eye?”
“None yet, present company excluded. I must say I am enjoying this dance in particular.”
“That is very pleasing to hear.” Isabeau smiled at him. “You realize that if we are spotted, everyone will come out here, and we will be surrounded once again?”
“I’ll take that chance. It’s a nice evening out here. I don’t want to stop now.”
“I’m glad! I don’t either!”
They laughed, and he spun her in a circle. They finished the dance several minutes later, and he stepped back a foot to bow deeply to her. “That was a lovely dance, Lady Isabeau! Most enjoyable! I do hope you will consider me as a friend and we can dance again next time we see each other!”
She lowered her head. “I certainly would like that, Earl Barnaby.”
“Please, we must dispense with the formalities! I am Jonathan to my friends and you, dear lady, I do call friend.”
“Thank you very much, Ea…Jonathan.” She giggled.
He took her hand and kissed it as the doors opened and several people came wandering through. Isabeau looked, but Anne was not one of them.