Page 239 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

That evening, Anne came downstairs in the pale blue gown she had chosen. A simple gold chain lay at her throat, and her newly cut curls framed her face.

Lady Helen looked up as Anne entered. “You look lovely, my dear. The blue gown is an excellent choice.”

Anne smiled. “Thank you, Aunt Helen. I am very pleased with it.”

Richard entered a moment later, already dressed for the evening. He came several steps into the room before stopping.

Anne looked at him.

Richard crossed the remaining distance between them. “You look beautiful, Annie.”

“Thank you, Richard.”

He offered his arm. “I hope you are ready to dance.”

“I am.”

Anne placed her hand upon his arm. Richard covered it briefly with his own, and they left for the Worthingtons' ball.

* * *

The Worthingtons' ballroom was already crowded when Anne entered with Lady Helen and Richard.

She paused just inside the room. Hundreds of candles burned in the chandeliers and wall sconces, and ladies in evening gowns filled the room with color while the musicians prepared for the first dance.

“It is beautiful,” Anne said. “I have never seen so many people gathered in one room.”

Lady Helen introduced Anne to their hosts and several acquaintances before Richard claimed the first dance.

Anne placed her hand in his and smiled up at him.

The musicians began, and Anne followed her cousin’s lead. Whenever they came together in the dance, Richard smiled at her. By the time the music ended, Anne's earlier nervousness had disappeared.

“You did very well, Annie.”

“Richard, I find that I enjoy dancing very much.”

A gentleman Lady Helen had introduced earlier drew near and asked Anne to dance, and another sought an introduction afterward. By the time Richard claimed her for the supper set, her dance card was full.

Richard led her into the set. “You have not sat out a single dance, little cousin. Are you enjoying your first ball?”

His fingers closed a little more firmly around hers before the figure separated them.

After the dance, Richard escorted Anne into supper. As they spoke with Lady Helen, another gentleman approached and asked Anne for a dance later in the evening.

“I am sorry, sir, but my dance card is full.”

* * *

Anne's current dancing partner escorted her to a chair along the wall of the ballroom before going to fetch her a cup of punch. As she waited for him to return, she heard two gentlemen speaking nearby.

“Miss de Bourgh is Lady Catherine's only daughter,” one said. “Rosings Park will eventually be hers, and I am told she has thirty thousand pounds of her own.”

“Thirty thousand pounds and Rosings? No wonder every fortune hunter in the room is falling over himself to secure her attention.”

Anne looked down at the dance card hanging from her wrist and moved away before either man saw her.

Anne saw Richard across the ballroom and made her way to him.