Once Upon a Time in Bath Read online

  Chapter 3

  Had one of the Royal Princesses begun to glide down his modest stairway, Appleton could not have been more astonished. This vision in white coming toward him looked nothing like the dowdy Miss Pankhurst with whom he’d spent the better part of the day. Why had he not been aware of the rich deep, lustrous brown of her hair? It now swept back from her face in a most elegant fashion. Her face, too, looked very fine. Perhaps not beautiful, but there was nothing to give offense.

  His eye quite naturally traveled along the drape of her snowy gown but froze at her breasts. He swallowed. Why had he not noticed how . . . how bountiful they were? Full and plump and everything a man could hope to find in a woman. How had she managed to conceal them? It wasn’t like Appleton not to notice when a woman was possessed of such an endowment.

  Good manners demanded that he remove his gawk from her chesterly assets, and as he did so, the impression she gave, descending the staircase with her dark hair and large, dark eyes set against the gown’s white, reminded him of someone he’d once seen. Someone with whom he’d been favorably impressed.

  Then he remembered.

  At the London opera house, he’d fancied himself in love with the beautiful Italian singer Maria Cara, but none of his efforts to wrangle an introduction to the beautiful songstress ever succeeded.

  Tonight, Miss Pankhurst reminded him of Maria Cara. Which explained why he’d nearly lost his breath when he’d looked up and seen her.

  Escorting Miss Dorothea Pankhurst to the Upper Assembly Rooms tonight wasn’t going to be anything like escorting her around the Pump Room today had been. Tonight he would not be a laughingstock. He fully expected to be the envy of the other bachelors in attendance.

  When she reached the bottom step, he offered his arm. “My dear Miss Pankhurst, I do not exaggerate when I say that your beauty astonishes me.”

  She placed her hand on his proffered sleeve. “You’re too kind, my lord.”

  This one time, she neither protested nor called him a prevaricator. She had enough good sense to have seen how lovely she looked. Unlike other young ladies schooled in maidenly coyness, artifice of any kind was alien to her.

  With the new wardrobe her father’s fortune could procure, along with the personal maid she would be sure to secure now that she was in Bath, it was just a matter of time before every bachelor within fifty miles picked up her scent and came panting after her.

  It was imperative that he win her affections. And quickly.

  In the Appleton coach, he sat across from the ladies. “Now, Miss Pankhurst, owing to your inexperience, it’s best that you only dance once tonight. With me.”

  Annie agreed.

  “For one thing, Miss Pankhurst—and I don’t mean to sound didactic if you already know this—but one is not supposed to dance with a man to whom one’s not been introduced,” Annie said. “Therefore, we’ll be careful that you’re only introduced to my brother’s closest friends.”

  “And I’ll warn them away from dancing with the woman who’s my special guest,” Appleton said.

  He would vow he’d made her blush, but it was difficult to tell, given the darkness in the carriage.

  * * *

  My beauty astonishes him. I’m to be his special guest. As handsome as she’d thought him that afternoon, she found him so much more so tonight that his very presence caused her to feel as if she were in one of those balloons that soared above Hyde Park.

  Where he had dressed carelessly casual in the daytime, at night he wore an impeccable black coat and breeches along with snowy shirt and cravat and stockings. No man could draw more admiration at this evening’s assembly. It was as if that hero from Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Darcy, had accompanied her.

  It was a wonder Dot could communicate at all during the short coach ride to the Upper Assembly Rooms. In less than a single day she had gone from a decidedly dowdy country spinster to a beautifully dressed young woman who felt like a princess. And all because of her new friends, the Appletons. How could she ever repay their kindness?

  Their presence reduced her own nervousness over the impending assembly. Even with Papa’s most insistent urging, she would have avoided the assemblies. She was in possession of enough intelligence to know how unfit she was to be accepted at such a gathering. But now that she’d been the object of the Appletons’ attentions, she no longer worried that she’d be hideously ridiculed.

  She might no longer be ridiculed as she must have been at the Pump Room, but she still feared the unknown. She did not want to embarrass her benefactors. Yet she knew that because of them, nothing too terrible could occur.

  She cautioned herself to stay close to the lovely Miss Appleton and mimic everything that lady did. Except Miss Appleton was certain to dance every set, and Dot was not ready to do so. What would she do whilst her friend was dancing? Perhaps Lord Appleton would stay close and enlighten her on all the correct protocols.

  It was exhilarating, too, to be with others so close to her age. She felt guilty for her newfound belief that coming to Bath may have been the best thing that had ever happened to her when it was Papa’s ill health that had brought them here. She would have felt far more wretched if she believed her father was truly gripped by a serious illness, but she had far more confidence in his ability to heal than he did.

  She turned to Miss Appleton. “I fear I’ve been a poor a companion. I was so dumfounded by my own transformation I neglected to say how lovely you look tonight.”

  Miss Appleton’s gown of soft muslin only barely covered her own bosom which was significantly smaller than Dot’s. It was a wonder the two ladies could wear the same dresses! Seeing her new friend dressed just as immodestly as she allayed Dot’s discomfort. If Miss Appleton could go to the Upper Assembly Rooms dressed in such a manner, Dot was convinced all the females in attendance must reveal a similar expanse of flesh—for Miss Appleton was a pillar of propriety and good breeding. Her unblemished reputation stood up to the scrutiny of the Bath Chronicle, which never disparaged the viscount’s pretty sister in any way.

  Miss Appleton’s maid styled both women’s hair in the same swept-back manner, but they looked vastly different. Dot’s hair was dark and thick, and her hostess’s was a wispy light brown given to jut into bouncy curls.

  “I daresay one as lovely as you will dance every set,” Dot continued.

  “My sister is always a highly sought-after dancing partner,” Lord Appleton said. “She is never seated. But don’t fear, Miss Pankhurst. I’ll not forsake you. I’ll sit with you.”

  “Oh, my lord, you are too kind.” How fortunate she’d been to have met this wonderful man. He just could not be a profligate. He was unquestionably the most admirable man she’d ever met.

  And to think, she never would have met him had it not been for Fur Blossom’s naughtiness. Could she possibly end up owing her happiness to Fur Blossom?

  “Ah, we’re here,” his lordship said.

  * * *

  Appleton didn’t see any of his friends when they arrived. He hadn’t really expected to. George, Lord Sedgewick, was not in Bath at present, and he doubted Melvin would be here. The fellow despised dancing. Perhaps later he’d see Blanks. Glee Blankenship and her sister, Felicity Moreland, enjoyed the assemblies, so their husbands might come. Appleton had made sure to arrive early enough to claim chairs in a good location, given that Miss Pankhurst would be spending most of the night watching the dancers rather than participating.

  Elvin, Appleton knew, would not miss being here because he knew this was when Penguin would meet Annie. Since his distrust of Wolf was as strong as Appleton’s, Sir Elvin would definitely be here to support his friend and his friend’s sister.

  Elvin didn’t know yet that his friend had been successful in his first attempts at wooing the heiress Miss Pankhurst. Appleton smiled to himself when he thought of how surprised Elvin would be when he met her and learned that she was not some skinny, boy-chested dimwit with a basket of cats on her lap.

 
; Appleton led the ladies to the scarlet seats, where he saved an additional one for Elvin.

  “This is even larger than the Pump Room,” Miss Pankhurst exclaimed. “It’s like I imagine Westminster Abbey.”

  He chuckled and covered her hand with his. “It’s much smaller than Westminster Abbey.”

  Her already large chocolate eyes widened even more. “You’ve been there?”

  “Many times.”

  “Yes, I suppose you have often been to London.”

  The poor woman—for she was no longer a girl—knew no more of the world than a child.

  More and more people kept filling the chamber, and it was more difficult to be heard over the drone of voices.

  He watched with amusement as Miss Pankhurst’s head tilted and she looked far above at the ceiling and its five enormous crystal chandeliers sparkling with hundreds of candles illuminating the room as if it were daytime.

  Like a child, she could not disguise her excitement. Her eyes shimmered, and the smile on her face looked as permanent as her aquiline nose.

  Members of the orchestra took their seats and began to tune their instruments. The first set would begin in a matter of minutes. He’d decided that he should give Miss Pankhurst the opportunity to observe at least one set before he asked her to stand up with him.

  From a distance, he saw that Thomas Moreland and his brother-in-law Blanks moved toward the card room. Their pretty wives were now in the ballroom, walking toward them.

  He rose and greeted them.

  Glee Blankenship’s mouth dropped open as she gawked at Miss Pankhurst. “I declare! Can this be Miss Pankhurst? Oh, my dear lady, you are most decidedly lovely tonight.”

  Leave it to the outspoken Pixie to blurt out her opinions so bluntly.

  Miss Pankhurst’s lashes lowered. “You’re so kind, Mrs. Blankenship. Thank you very much.”

  “But I thought you hadn’t procured your new wardrobe yet,” Pixie, er, Glee Blankenship said.

  “Oh, I haven’t.” Miss Pankhurst eyed Annie. “Miss Appleton did me the goodness of allowing me to borrow one of her gowns.”

  “It looks as if it were made just for you.” Glee’s gaze darted to him. “How fortunate you are, Lord Appleton, to be able to escort so lovely a lady here tonight.”

  He set a hand to Miss Pankhurst’s waist. “I am well aware of my good fortune.”

  Mrs. Moreland, another great beauty but more reserved than her sister, looked at the chairs in front of theirs. “Is anyone sitting here?”

  “We were hoping you ladies would join us,” Annie answered.

  Once the five of them were seated, he was relieved to see Sir Elvin enter the chamber.

  His friend cordially greeted Annie and their friend George’s sisters, Felicity Moreland and Glee Blankenship. Then he looked to Appleton for an introduction to the unfamiliar lady.

  “Sir Elvin, might I present to you Miss Dorothea Pankhurst, who is recently in Bath from Lincolnshire.”

  A jolt of recognition at her name was quickly followed by a sly glance at Appleton, and then Elvin bowed and addressed Miss Pankhurst with the greatest civility. “A pleasure to meet you, Miss Pankhurst. I do hope you will honor me with a set tonight.”

  Appleton stiffened. “Miss Pankhurst chooses to mostly observe this evening. She’s never before been to an assembly and does not wish to do anything that would invite ridicule—not that I believe she ever could.”

  “Oh, no. Certainly not.”

  Miss Pankhurst curtsied. “I am delighted to meet a friend of Lord Appleton’s. Thank you for your supportive words, Sir Elvin.”

  How would a newcomer like Elvin gauge the lady, Appleton wondered. He would vow that someone meeting her for the first time tonight would be favorably impressed. Even though Annie should take all the credit for the transformation of the country miss, Appleton himself swelled with pride. After all, even when she had been making a spectacle of herself with that damned cat and dressing practically in rags, he had allowed all of Bath to see him escort her around the Pump Room. And act the fool, chasing that maddening feline of hers all over the Pump Room. He’d been as courteous to her as he would have been were she the offspring of a duke.

  Elvin glanced at the lone empty seat. “I say, are you perchance saving that for me?”

  Appleton nodded. “Indeed we are.”

  So now Appleton had Miss Pankhurst on one side of him with Elvin on the other. Just so that he would not be obliged to speak the whole time to Miss Pankhurst, he had ensured that Annie sat on the other side of her, though he did not expect Annie to spend very much time sitting. He had not exaggerated when he said she was one of the most popular dancing partners in all of Bath.

  As soon as the two men were seated, and Annie had engaged Miss Pankhurst in conversation, Elvin whispered hoarsely in his ear. “Aren’t you bloody lucky? Your heiress ain’t a plain dunderhead after all. I’d say she’s bang up to scratch.”

  Appleton remembered again how plain she had looked earlier this same day and was grateful for what her father’s purse would be able to accomplish—not that tonight’s appearance could be improved upon. She would never again embarrass Appleton. “It’s amazing what can be had when one has a hefty purse.”

  Elvin’s elbows poked him as a smile eked across his face. “With a figure much to your liking, I daresay.”

  It was well known that shapeless women held no appeal for Appleton.

  “Your brother coming tonight?” Appleton asked.

  “No, he’s mad at work on a new book.”

  “I believe it’s the same with Jonathan Blankenship. But Blanks is here. Moreland, too.”

  “In the card room?”

  Appleton nodded.

  “Seen Penguin yet?”

  “No.”

  “How much does your sister know about him?”

  “As little as possible.”

  “Only one dance with him?”

  “Only one.”

  The orchestra started playing. Three different men rushed to Annie, and she bestowed the honor of dancing on the first to reach her chair.

  As the dancing commenced, Appleton watched Miss Pankhurst. She could not remove her gaze from the groups of dancers, and that smile still had not left her face.

  He had to own that there was something pretty about Miss Pankhurst. He admired her large, dark, expressive eyes very much. He liked, too, that her smile revealed fine white teeth, and she seemed to always be smiling. Or was that just because she was so vastly enjoying herself with all these sights and sounds that were new and wondrous to her?

  Nevertheless, he would do everything in his power to keep that wholesome smile upon her face.

  At the end of the first set, Penguin came into the ballroom. Appleton caught a glimpse of that chalky face when the crowd parted, and Henry Wolf strode toward them, his eyes on Annie. Just the sight of the man angered Appleton.

  The very notion that this man had been secretly watching his favorite sister sickened Appleton. Not about to allow him to claim the chair to which Annie was returning, he leapt to his feet to greet him. Elvin followed his lead.

  After her partner restored Annie to their group, her brother was obliged to introduce her to the man who held all of his IOUs. “Annie, I should like to present to you Mr. Henry Wolf.” Then, turning to Wolf, he added. “My eldest sister, Miss Annie Appleton.”

  Wolf bowed. “I am delighted to meet my friend’s lovely sister, and I pray you will do me the goodness of standing up with me for the next set.”

  How dare the man claim Appleton as his friend!

  His sister’s uncharacteristic stiffness when she greeted Penguin pleased Appleton. “I can oblige you, sir.”

  That next dance, featuring a longway, was the one Appleton had practiced the most with Miss Pankhurst. After Wolf led Annie onto the dance floor, Appleton turned to his female companion. “Will you do me the honor, Miss Pankhurst?”

  That bright smile faded from her face. “Would you mind awfu
lly if I declined?”

  “Of course not. My only wish is for your happiness.” Oddly, he meant it.

  “I shall be much happier as an observer. I think when I deem myself ready to dance, it won’t be for a dance where I will be so prominently upon public display. With you being so handsome, everyone would be sure to scrutinize me, and I should perish of mortification.”

  Appleton was not handsome. His married friends held that distinction. But owing to the fact he was likely the most sought-after bachelor currently residing in Bath, females might be inclined to think him handsome in comparison to other, less desirable matrimonial prospects.

  “I am honored by the friendship which has you mistakenly flattering me,” he said, bowing his head with humility, “but it’s your own beauty which demands attention from others.”

  He sat back down beside her and once again covered her hand with his. “I shouldn’t wish to do anything which mortifies you. We’ll wait. Perhaps at your next assembly we can stand up together for a country dance.”

  “Perhaps I will be more confident then. Papa was taking steps to engage a dancing master for me.”

  “Would he like a recommendation?”

  Dot shook her head. “My headstrong Papa never asks like that. It’s his belief that whoever is considered the most expensive must be the best.”

  Appleton chuckled. It must be gratifying to be as wealthy as Mr. Pankhurst.

  His attention turned to Annie and Wolf as they began the slow, graceful glide down the longway formed by the two facing rows of dancers. Anyone else observing would find nothing objectionable in Henry Wolf. His dress was impeccable, and he had obviously been instructed by an extremely competent dance master. Even his interaction with Annie had been exemplary.

  Were Appleton and Annie not so close, she would have been apt to think her brother daft. But Annie had always trusted him. Because of that, she would be wary of the man.

  Elvin, too, watched. His elbow kept digging into Appleton’s side. “Do not let her be fooled by courtly ways,” he whispered hoarsely.

  “You may be assured.”