Although he'd had an entire year of mourning to work up to it, the arrival of a flurry of invitations that holiday season had still caught him off guard. Before his father had died, his only consideration when receiving an invitation had been weather or not he wanted to go — and he hadn't received that many to begin with. Now, there was so much to think about. Was Verity invited as well? Did anyone really consider her a fixture of society after having more or less disappeared — ostensibly for 'finishing' — after her Coming Out Ball? Was there any chance that he could bring Grace as well, despite the fact that she hadn't formally debuted? Much as he adored his sister, would it, perhaps, be better not to bring Grace? Who would be there? Was this a formal party or an intimate dinner? Would their be dancing? Ought he to dance with Verity at the beginning of the evening, or should he leave her be in the hopes that someone else would ask her? And what if she wasn't asked?
The lengthy list of considerations attached to each invitation made them quickly overwhelming, even though there were not, after all, so many. This one had come from a coworker in his Department, who he knew reasonably well, and it had quite graciously included an invitation for Verity, so off the two of them had gone. He had decided to dance with her, first, thinking no one would fault either of them for it and a nice neutral opening to the night would be better than a poor one if she was unable to secure a partner so quickly. She had attached herself to a schoolmate shortly after, no doubt eager to secure a gentleman for a future dance. Ford was left to his own devices, feeling awkward and unsure what to do next.
Fortunately, he was not alone for long. "Miss Belby!" he greeted brightly. He remembered her from school, although they had been separated by a year and a common room (she had not been entirely forgettable, leaving school the way she had), and they had always been friendly — though it had been at least a year and perhaps longer since they had spoken, he thought. "Very long indeed. You're looking lovely tonight," he said, which was not untrue — but he would have said it even if she'd been looking like a haggard troll, because that was the thing you were supposed to say to young women at parties.
Set by Lady!
The lengthy list of considerations attached to each invitation made them quickly overwhelming, even though there were not, after all, so many. This one had come from a coworker in his Department, who he knew reasonably well, and it had quite graciously included an invitation for Verity, so off the two of them had gone. He had decided to dance with her, first, thinking no one would fault either of them for it and a nice neutral opening to the night would be better than a poor one if she was unable to secure a partner so quickly. She had attached herself to a schoolmate shortly after, no doubt eager to secure a gentleman for a future dance. Ford was left to his own devices, feeling awkward and unsure what to do next.
Fortunately, he was not alone for long. "Miss Belby!" he greeted brightly. He remembered her from school, although they had been separated by a year and a common room (she had not been entirely forgettable, leaving school the way she had), and they had always been friendly — though it had been at least a year and perhaps longer since they had spoken, he thought. "Very long indeed. You're looking lovely tonight," he said, which was not untrue — but he would have said it even if she'd been looking like a haggard troll, because that was the thing you were supposed to say to young women at parties.
Set by Lady!