Desperately Seeking Suzanna (7 page)

“My God, you’re smitten!” Thornwood’s eyes narrowed on him. “I can hardly believe it! Who is this temptress who’s lured you in?”

“Her name is Suzanna. Lovely, isn’t it?” Holden sighed on a smile and took another sip of his drink.

“And this is all you know of her?”

“Well, yes. She disappeared, you see. You have no idea how infuriating it is to have a chit vanish in such a manner. I only want to see her once more. Perhaps it’s only a proper ending to things that I am looking for tonight.” Or a proper beginning… He drank again, thankful for the distraction from his friend’s interrogation.

“Disappearing ladies are annoying, to say the least.” Thornwood ran a hand through his hair, and the grim expression surrounding his gray eyes seemed to indicate how he deeply meant his words. “She disappeared on you. She could be running from any sort of thing. She could be a thief. Did you check your pockets after that dance?”

“A thief? Why the devil would you think that?”

All of society called his friend the Mad Duke of Thornwood, and he was acting in accordance with his name at the moment. Holden had never believed his friend to be mad, though. It was said that the old duke had been mad and passed the sickness on to his son—an idea that Holden was quite certain was rubbish. But since his return to the country last year, Thornwood had become a recluse from society, absorbed in his shipping interests and little else. For months he’d hidden away in his library, surrounded by his maps, trade routes, and exotic plants. Tonight was different. Something beyond Suzanna’s identity was troubling his friend. A thief, indeed. Holden narrowed his gaze on the man across the table in an attempt to read his thoughts or simply get him to stop accusing his Suzanna of thievery.

“It’s a possibility to be considered. I’m sure it happens occasionally.” Thornwood leaned forward from his previous casual stance, his wide shoulders looming over Holden, which wasn’t an easy feat considering Holden’s height. At the moment he was quite thankful for the small table between them. Why was Thornwood so upset? This was Suzanna they were discussing after all. He didn’t even know her.

“I hardly think a lady would steal from me at my uncle’s home.” Holden watched Thornwood as a look of wild fury crossed his eyes, almost hidden by the dark hair falling into his face. He certainly looked mad in this light. Unfortunately, Thornwood would never divulge what was truly on his mind. Holden knew that much of his friend. Yet he asked anyway, “What’s gotten into you?”

The lines of concern etched on Thornwood’s face relaxed into an easy smile as he leaned back again in his chair. “It’s nothing. And I’ve changed my mind. I believe I will attend the Dillsworth event this evening. I must meet this mystery lady that has you chasing her all about the countryside.”

“Spectacular!” Holden was surprised by this change, to say the least, but pleased at any rate. “I really wasn’t looking forward to keeping the company of my cousins for the whole evening. They tend to squeal. It’s quite annoying, really. But with you there, I can slip away easily.” Holden relaxed in his seat, looking forward to the evening more and more by the minute.

“I suppose if it keeps you free of unwanted relations, you can use my notorious nature for good this evening.”

“It should go to some good use. You certainly haven’t used it recently, staying holed up in your library working, with no time for any ladies or entertainment. Indeed, this will work perfectly. My cousins are terrified of you as it is. I’ll have the whole evening free of them to find Suzanna. And you will finally leave your home to socialize with me. Who knows, perhaps you’ll even dance.” Holden grinned, knowing his socially ill-tempered, brooding friend would never set foot on a dance floor.

“Ah, but now you will have me taunting you as you make a fool of yourself for a lady. Yes, this evening’s entertainment is sounding more enticing by the second. But there will be no dancing.” Thornwood rose with a grim smile and offered Holden a nod as he rounded the table. “I’ll see you there. I have a few things to attend to first.” With that, he threw open the door and was gone, leaving Holden with an empty table, an empty glass, and a mind full of anticipation for the night ahead.

“I’m going to need another drink,” he mumbled to the tabletop as he checked the time. Four hours. It would be worth every second’s wait, for tonight he would find Suzanna.

***

Holden leaned over his cousin with a sigh to continue the conversation they’d begun on the front steps of the Dillsworth home. “We could have been here an hour ago. You’re aware there are colors other than pink available for gowns.”

“I am.” April lifted her chin, displaying a smile for two ladies passing them in the hallway.

Holden offered a nod in their direction before continuing, “And you can purchase fabrics in blue, green, yellow…”

“Dreadfully dull colors, all of them.” She stopped her progress down the hall, looking up at him to ask, “Why would I want to be dull, Holden?”

“I suppose you wouldn’t.” He shook his head at April’s stubborn nature. Some gentleman would have a challenge ahead of him. He smiled down at her, watching as she twitched the fan in her fingers from closed to half open to fully open while watching herself in a nearby mirror. “For clarity’s sake, you believe my blue waistcoat is…”

“Dull,” she offered with a toss of her head, inciting laughter from her sisters.

With his cousins and aunt and uncle, they were creating quite the crowd in the hall. Other partygoers craned their necks to see around them, while a few pushed past on their way to the ballroom. Holden was already scanning the area for Suzanna, but there was no sign of her here. He needed to slip away. And this corridor was too crowded for comfort. Resisting the urge to loosen his cravat from around his neck, he stepped closer to the wall at his back in an attempt to pull his family from the walkway.

Aunt Penelope moved into their conversation, her elaborate gown filling the space in the corridor Holden had just created. “April, it’s not proper to insult a gentleman’s attire—even if the gentleman in question is your cousin.” Aunt Penelope’s eyes fell on Holden with a fond gleam. “I think you look quite nice, Holden.”

“You’re looking lovely this evening as well, Aunt. And I’m glad someone around here appreciates my fine looks,” he said with a teasing tone in his voice that caused April to roll her eyes.

“Always, dear.” She pulled June closer so two gentlemen could move past, before turning back to Holden. “You could have joined us in the carriage, you know. We had room for you. I don’t know why you always insist…”

“Thank you, Aunt Pen. However, as you know, I prefer to have my own transportation.” He glanced around again. No sight of her. He needed to move along. What if she left early with a headache? What if her dance card filled? He sighed and turned his attention back to his aunt, who was still harping about his arrival on horseback.

“I know you say that, but…”

“Everywhere in this country worth going can be reached by horse.”

“To a ball, though? Really, Holden.”

June stepped closer and pushed her glasses higher on her nose. “I agree with Mama. It’s quite unseemly, Cousin.”

“My apologies for being
unseemly
.”

May gave her sister a shove on the arm and smiled up at Holden as she interjected, “I think it’s dashing and romantic to travel by horse.”

“You would,” April admonished.

“I suppose I could have walked.” Holden threw the statement into the conversation mostly to eliminate the risk of a sibling argument in the middle of the Dillsworths’ main hall.

Aunt Penelope gasped. “Walked? You can’t arrive at a ball on foot.”

“You see? My horse is looking better by the second.” He grinned and nodded to a gentleman who passed by on his way toward the card room. Holden needed to be on his way as well. Only, his course would not take him in the direction of the card games and gentlemen. Not tonight.

When his cousins were distracted by the arrival of another family, his aunt tugged on his arm and added, “You do need to occasionally follow society’s rules, Holden, or people might begin to talk.”

She wasn’t going to let this topic go, was she? “Are you saying you’re in favor of propriety at all times? You? One of the infamous Rutledges?” He chuckled as he watched his uncle move closer through the crowd, finally catching up with them from his conversation with the party host. Perhaps he could make his excuses and leave now that his uncle would be around to take control of the group of females.

“I’m aware of our family’s stance on normalcy. Yet, we shouldn’t encourage talk when we can avoid it, Holden.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. I wouldn’t want to incite chatter at a ball. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go and meet Thornwood.”

“The Mad Duke? Do you truly not care for your good name?”

“Of course not. I associate with the lot of you, don’t I?”

Uncle Joseph joined his wife, placing her hand on his arm and offering Holden a smile. “Will I see you in the card room later this evening?”

“Joseph! Your daughters’ dance cards could very well be full tonight. Don’t you wish to oversee things to make sure no undesirable gentlemen pay them undue attention?”

“They survive Holden. Surely they can hold their own on a crowded dance floor.” He shot Holden a teasing grin.

“I’m sure they can, but won’t you stay anyway?” Aunt Penelope pleaded. “We could dance. Don’t you want to keep me company?”

“Holden, explain to your aunt that a gentleman needs time in the company of other gentlemen.”

“Oh, no. I wouldn’t dare get involved in such a dangerous subject as dancing versus cards. Have a nice evening. I’m off to find Thornwood.”

“Thornwood, eh? Ask after his ships for me, won’t you?”

“Certainly, Uncle. I didn’t know you had an interest in explorations beyond reading about them.”

He shot a sly grin over at Aunt Penelope. “I feel if I don’t spend time with gentlemen discussing mannish topics, soon I may start embroidering pillows and arranging flowers. Months abroad on a ship might be just what I need…or I could simply go play a hand or two of cards.”

“Very well. Go and smoke those filthy cheroots you think I’m unaware of and gamble away the money you slipped into your pocket when you thought I wasn’t looking.
I
will be in the ballroom seeing to
our
daughters.”

“Perfect!” Uncle Joseph replied with a grin.

“Humph.” The swat of his aunt’s fan was swift and final on the sleeve of his uncle’s coat.

“I’ll leave you two to…settle or discuss…yes. Well, I’ll see you later.” Holden turned with a smile and left the disorganized group lingering in the hallway.

Making a straight path for the refreshment table, he pushed through the crowded hallway. Sustenance was needed if he was to conduct a proper search for Suzanna. Rounding a corner into a less crowded parlor, he spotted it—a table laden with cakes, fruits, and cheeses. His stomach grumbled in response. Just as he was closing the gap of floor between his mouth and the delicious-looking tea cakes on the towering display at the end of the table, he heard his name.

“Steelings, there you are. I was afraid I would have to find someone else to torment for the evening,” Thornwood said, clapping Holden on the back in greeting.

“I’d hate to disappoint you, Thornwood. I was delayed by some devastating emergency involving my cousin’s gown. You would have thought the world was coming to an end, all for a missing bead of some sort. There were tears and wailing.” He shuddered. April could be so emotional at times, especially when it came to her gowns and the possibility of having to wear her sister’s perfectly lovely blue gown instead. He shook off the memory.

“That does sound like quite the dramatic beginning to the evening. I do hate it when they wail, though. How are we to deal with that? Where did you leave them?” Thornwood cast his eyes behind Holden but there was no one there except for a few gentlemen deep in conversation.

“I made my excuses in the hallway. Now that you’re here, I must begin my search for Suzanna.” He rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

“Ah yes, the mysterious Suzanna. What does this vixen look like?”

Holden exhaled a deep breath, the memory of Suzanna swirling around him for a moment. “It was at a masquerade, yet I would know her anywhere. She was just over five feet, hair the color of burnished gold…”

“
Burnished
gold?
” Thornwood laughed, almost spitting out the liquor he’d just poured into his mouth.

A small part of Holden wished his friend would choke on his liquor. Her hair
was
the color of burnished gold. If Thornwood had seen her, he wouldn’t be in such a teasing frame of mind. He should have kept quiet about his interest in this lady, for now he was paying the price. When it came to gentlemen, this was the price of friendship. He sighed. “Very well, blondish-brown if that’s more to your liking.”

“No, I believe I prefer ‘burnished gold.’” Thornwood chuckled again. “Although I don’t see that color in this side parlor. Perhaps we should look in the main ballroom?”

“Yes.” Holden gave one final fleeting look at the refreshment table before turning back to his friend. Food would have to wait. “Isn’t there a door that adjoins the rooms over there behind that potted palm?”

“Indeed. I recall making use of it once when Miss Rashings had me in her sights years ago. It made for a timely retreat.”

“The face of a horse, that one, and the hindquarters to match,” Holden mused as they made their way to the door.

“That’s actually a bit kind where that particular lady is concerned.” Thornwood’s chuckle was lost in the sounds of the ballroom. The chatter from all corners of the room, the orchestra striking up a country dance from the balcony, and the tittering laughter of dozens of young girls learning to flirt echoed off the cream-colored walls.

Holden followed Thornwood through the small side door. Glancing up, he took note of the glass ceiling over the center of the ballroom. It was clearly meant to impress, and Holden had to admit the Dillsworth family knew how to throw a ball. From the abundance of roses to the ample number of footmen with trays of champagne, this ball was what the
ton
would consider a successful crush.