„Then we define honorable differently.“

„No, we do not. It is only that your definition is clouded by pride. Honor and pride. They are not the same.“

„And preserving my pride was something else I failed to include in my list.“

„Very good, Colonel. Yes, indeed, your wish is granted. It is up to you to make the best of it without compromising what is most important to you.“

And with a nod, the man put his cap back on and continued down the street.

„Major David Lindsay.“ The steward’s voice was well suited to his current task announcing guests. His baritone carried across the ballroom and caught the attention of Grace Anderson.

Elation swept through her. He was here. There was still a chance he would agree to her offer. He was not particularly late – the Harristons were still receiving guests – but she had given up hope when he had not been among the first to arrive.

At the announcement of his name, the woman she was speaking with stopped talking and turned to take a look at him. Grace watched him study the crowd. When he found her, he nodded. More than one head turned to follow his gaze and see who merited such attention.

It was not hard to tell. Her answering smile was out of all proportion to his brief nod. She could not help it.

„Oooh, my dear,“ the lady next to her said, „aren’t you the lucky one. I was rather hoping I was the one he had taken such particular notice of. Major Lindsay is quite a handsome man, and I daresay it is not just the uniform that gives him such distinction.“

Grace reminded herself that a single exchange of glances was enough to start gossip. Rumors of a liaison might be her goal, but the last thing she wanted was for gossip to start before she knew if he was willing. She did her best to control her satisfaction. If he said no after the smile she gave his discreet nod, everyone would know that it was he who had snubbed her. Did it matter? Just enough to make her smile disappear.

She gave her full attention to the woman who had expressed such envy, a woman whose name she could not quite recall. Something like „rooster,“ but that may have come to mind because she was dressed as though her goal had been to look like one. Grace wondered if anyone else thought the rather lovely bronze-red taffeta dress and the huge pair of feathers rising from her crown gave the woman the look of a bantam. A ruby choker only added to the overall effect. Perhaps she was trying to compete with her husband, a colonel whose uniform was as impressive as Lindsay’s, even without the Waterloo medal.

„I met the major the other day, when he saved my clothes from ruin.“ Grace pressed her lips together to erase the smile and tried for something more decorous.

„Did Fetters race down Bond Street again?“

„Yes.“ She resisted the urge to turn back to look for Lindsay. He had seen her. He would find her when the time was right.

„We will have more to talk of this Season than which girl has caught the eye of which gentleman if Fetters continues these absurdities.“ The woman shook her shoulders, looking more like a rooster with each gesture.

„Hopefully, he will not be here tonight,“ Grace said, only half attending. „This is one gown I would like to wear again.“

„The major is coming this way,“ the woman whispered.

Grace could not resist a glance over her shoulder. His uniform made him easy to find, the red standing out even among the glitter of society. It was both elegant and sober, as was the man wearing it.

„He’s coming straight to you,“ the woman hissed, stating the obvious, and Grace turned to greet him.

„Lady Anderson.“ He bowed.

„Major Lindsay.“ She curtsied.

Her smile faded as he stared at her, silent. Then he shook his head in the same slight way he had nodded to her. He turned to her companion as though the two words of her name was all the attention she would have from him.

This, then, was not the good news she had hoped for. Now she was truly embarrassed at the enthusiasm of her earlier welcome.

She stood her ground, though she was sorely tempted to flee. She was embarrassed only. Not humiliated. It was his choice and could have been made for a dozen reasons, reasons that had nothing to do with the way she dressed or drank soup.

With a determination to end their brief acquaintance with civility and, by the by, give the woman in red no further fuel for gossip, Grace watched as the major bowed over the other woman’s hand.

„Good evening to you, Mrs. Rooster.“

Rooster? Good heavens, Grace thought, did he really call her that? Even as she had the thought he blushed.

„It’s Schuster, Major. I believe we met at General Broadbent’s. The name is Schuster.“

He bowed low over her hand. „I do beg your pardon, Mrs. Schuster. How hen-witted of me.“

The choice of words was deliberate, Grace was sure. With real effort, she kept from looking at him. As it was she could barely contain her laughter.

„You must excuse me, Major, Lady Anderson.“ Mrs. Schuster nodded to each of them. „Lady Harriston wants my opinion on some new bonnets for her chicks. They are lovely girls. But having all three make their bow in the same Season would be a burden for any mother. If you will excuse me? And I’m sure you will.“ The arch tone hinted that Mrs. Schuster was going to share more than her opinion on hats.

They both watched her leave, and as soon as she was out of earshot Lindsay turned to her.

„Is there any hope for me or have I ruined myself completely?“ Despite the question, he did not look particularly worried. „Tell me, how important is Mrs. Schuster? You must know the pecking order here.“

She could not hold back her laughter. It came out with a most unladylike gasp, thank heaven, not quite a snort. His own grin became a laugh as well.

„I think you will survive, for she has no idea what the joke is. ‘Chicks,’ Major. She called the Harriston girls ‘chicks.’“

This sent them into gales of laughter, which were soon uncontrollable and attracting more than a little attention. So much so that he tugged her after him and through the doors onto a terrace and the back garden.

The dancing would not end for another hour and the garden was empty. Grace laughed until her sides hurt, as much a release of tension as amusement. Lindsay led her to a bench, dusted the seat with his handkerchief and gestured for her to sit.

They sat side by side, barely touching, the laughter gone as quickly as it had come. Finally, Grace cleared her throat. „I dared hope that your presence tonight meant that you had decided to accept the position.“

„I thought I had.“ He sighed, the sound of indecision at odds with the uniform and the air of authority that seemed so naturally a part of him. After a long moment he said, „I have no choice but to accept, my lady.“ He sounded more resigned than interested.

„One always has a choice, sir.“ He’d made it sound as though he were choosing the guillotine over the hangman’s noose.

„I need the money. Enough for that to be the deciding factor.“ He was staring through the window at the dancers as they made their way through a waltz. Anything to avoid looking at her, she thought.

He needed money that badly? George had said that he did not gamble, or at least no more than most officers with too much time on their hands. Or maybe he needed the money for an investment. She would not ask. She had learned already that he valued his privacy, and she would respect that.

She was silent so long that he finally did turn to look at her.

„Is that too blunt for you?“

„No. Actually I appreciate your honesty.“ Now it was her turn to look away. „I could wish for more enthusiasm, but will do my best not to be offended by the lack of it.“ This awkwardness was not a particularly good way to start out.