“
It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Sheffield,” he said politely. “I do hope you will favor me with one of your dances this evening.”
“I— Of course.” She cleared her throat. “I would be honored.”
“Kate,” Mary said, nudging her softly, “show him your dance card.”
“Oh! Yes, of course.” Kate fumbled for her dance card, which was tied prettily to her wrist with a green ribbon. That she had to fumble for anything actually tied to her body was a bit alarming, but Kate decided to blame her lack of composure on the sudden and unexpected appearance of a heretofore unknown Bridgerton brother.
That, and the unfortunate fact that even under the best of circumstances she was never the most graceful girl in the room.
Colin filled his name in for one of the dances later that evening, then asked if she might like to walk with him to the lemonade table.
“Go, go,” Mary said, before Kate could reply. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be just fine without you.”
“I can bring you back a glass,” Kate offered, trying to figure out if it was possible to glare at her stepmother without Mr. Bridgerton noticing.
“Not necessary. I really should get back to my position with all the other chaperones and mamas.” Mary whipped her head around frantically until she spied a familiar face. “Oh, look, there is Mrs. Featherington. I must be off. Portia! Portia!”
Kate watched her stepmother’s rapidly retreating form for a moment before turning back to Mr. Bridgerton.
“I think,” she said dryly, “that she doesn’t want any lemonade.”
A sparkle of humor glinted in his emerald green eyes. “Either that or she’s planning to run all the way to Spain to pick the lemons herself.”
-Colin, Kate, & Mary
”
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