A Spinster No More by Rose Pearson

Chapter One

February 1820, London

The entrance hallof Almack’s was thronged with giggling girls, all shrieking with delight as they encountered their friends and relations at the first Wednesday night ball of the Season. Anne untied the ribbon of her cape and took it off, handing it to the footman and watched as her new charge, Miss Caroline Spencer did the same. She glanced around, seeing a few familiar faces, but nobody she might call a real friend. She sighed heavily, dreading the months of such events as this one ahead of her.

Why did every young woman come to London so full of excitement? Anne shook her head as she watched the glowing faces all around her. They’d soon lose that enthusiasm when they realized that they would have to spend the next few months surrounded by the very same people, doing the very same things, over and over again, in the vain hope that some man might notice them – preferably young, rich and titled, but that he be of good breeding was paramount. It rarely took long for the endless round of balls and soirees, luncheons and musicales to wear on the nerves if no such match seemed forthcoming.

Anne watched the young women of the Ton as they gathered for this evening’s entertainments. This, the first of Almack’s Wednesday night balls, was one of the first events of the Season. All the eligible young women present fluttered around like giddy butterflies, all eager to show off their new gowns and to catch up on gossip they might have missed. They seemed even younger and sillier than ever this Season. Anne wondered if that was because she was getting older, or if it was because she simply didn’t want to be here anymore. She would gladly return to Tulilly or Alnerton tomorrow if she could.

And this year things were to be even more extravagant than ever. Following the death of his father, the Prince Regent would have his coronation towards the end of the Season and would finally become King in name as well as duties. By all accounts it was to be a lavish affair and everyone in town wished to be invited. He was older now, fat - and apparently prone to rather unpleasant moods. There were even rumors that he had a tendency to use a little too much laudanum. As the Prince Regent, he had been self-indulgent, spoiled and extravagant – but he had also been a patron of the arts and had been considered charming by many. Anne was not sure if he would make a good king, but the spectacle of his coronation would at least be something to make this Season stand out from all the others.

Her new charge, Miss Spencer, was no different to every other giddy sixteen-year-old in London for the first time. She had been the toast of the county in Northumberland and expected to be no less in the capital. She was pretty, with blonde hair that curled becomingly and wide blue eyes that made her seem innocent and sweet. She was neither partridge plump or too thin and had an income of fifteen thousand pounds per year. She could dance beautifully, paint exquisite watercolors, and sang like a lark. Yet underneath her beauty, she was calculating and determined. She knew what she wanted, and that was to marry well – and to do it fast so she might never have to return to Northumberland again. She did not yet realize that her choice of husband might offer her even less happiness than her current situation – despite all of Anne’s warnings to that effect.

Following Anne’s arrival in Northumberland, it had not taken the two young women long to learn that they had little in common. Anne did not much like her new charge and often wished that she had been able to become Lady Gertrude St. John’s companion instead. But that position had not been offered to her by the Duke and Duchess of Compton, Gertrude’s parents – and even if it had been, it would have been too late. She had already accepted the offer from Mr. Spencer, a wealthy industrialist who was determined that his daughter might marry a duke, or at least an earl, in order to make his grandchildren respectable to the Ton in a way he knew he never would be.

The girls scurried around, determined to fill their dance cards without seeming to be doing so. With each new partner, a quick gloat amongst one’s friends seemed to be essential, so the introductions and pleasantries took much longer than they truly needed to. As Anne watched, the more ridiculous the entire thing seemed to her. To her, the clamoring seemed no different to that at the Exeter cattle market, where farmers fought over the finest beasts. The Season was a market just the same, where wealthy and titled men came to choose a well-mannered and wealthy wife. If she was pretty and titled, too, then so much the better. The girls were often too young and too romantic to realize the true nature of their presence here.

It was clear that Miss Spencer’s arrival in London had caused quite a stir, as was so often the case with a pretty and accomplished new face. Anne cynically wondered if it was because of her charge’s beauty that Miss Spencer was so sought out, or her fifteen thousand a year. Perhaps it might be both – but it certainly wasn’t for her sweet nature, because Miss Spencer did not possess such a thing. She was selfish, vain and utterly uninterested in anything that did not pertain to her own happiness.

Yet despite that, Miss Spencer’s dance card was filled in no time with a number of prominent names, including the most sought-after bachelors in London this Season. Miss Spencer wasted no time in gloating about it. “Try and be a little more gracious,” Anne whispered in her ear. “Your companions will not like you if you lord it over them – and your suitors will look elsewhere if they think you are not kind.”

Miss Spencer nodded politely and raised her opened fan to her face. “You are my companion, not my tutor,” she hissed spitefully.

“I am indeed only your companion,” Anne agreed quietly. “But you told me you wished for my guidance and to tell you if you were not doing things as you should be. I have escorted two young women before you and seen what it takes to win a husband. You must be sweet and generous, kind and gentle, Miss Spencer. No man wishes to wed a shrew.”

The young girl looked decidedly put out, but Anne knew that she would take the lesson to heart. Miss Spencer wished to be married too badly to ignore good advice – and Anne wished to be free to go home. Mrs. Spencer had already told her daughter often enough that she would have to pretend to be something she was not. And Miss Spencer was an excellent actress. “Stop frowning, you don’t want lines,” Anne added as Miss Spencer pinned a smile to her lovely face and lowered her fan as if nothing untoward had been said.

She took Miss Spencer’s card and ran a finger down the names signed up for each dance. She gave her charge a brief description of those she knew and the things they liked. Miss Spencer nodded, and Anne knew she was memorizing every word. She would use the information to make polite conversation as they danced and would try to make a good impression. Anne had no doubt that there would be a number of calling cards delivered to the Mayfair townhouse in the morning and that Miss Spencer would have her pick of who to take her into supper and escort her home.

Mrs. Spencer had spent a number of hours impressing upon Anne how important it would be that Miss Spencer was never left alone with any young man for too long, to ensure he did not see signs of the girl’s true nature before becoming besotted enough to ask for her hand. While Anne could feel sorry for any child whose parents seemed to have such a low opinion of their offspring, it was easy to see why. Miss Spencer had grown up believing that she was better than most people – and that she deserved much more than she already possessed. Yet such beliefs had to have come from somewhere, and Anne was sure it was her parents’ mistakes that had led to it. They had spoiled her terribly.

As Miss Spencer began her evening, dancing every dance, Anne moved into a quiet corner. She was not much impressed by balls and dances. She didn’t mind card parties and music evenings, but the supposed glamor of the Season had lost its charm very quickly after her arrival from Exeter to accompany Lady Mary as she navigated her first Season. She’d much rather be at home with a good book. And that was exactly where she intended to go, as soon as she had seen Miss Caroline Spencer affianced and wed.

As the evening passed, she kept her eyes on Miss Spencer the entire time. It would not do to have her charge make an error in her first few days in London. The Season was long and there were many hurdles to be crossed. A mistake would be held against her for the rest of her life and would mean that Anne would not be released from Miss Spencer’s service for many years to come.

“It is you,” a familiar voice declared nearby. Anne looked up to see the smiling face of Lady Gertrude St. John and her new companion as they approached. “Dear Miss Knorr, how are you?”

“I am well, Lady Gertrude,” Anne said smiling back at them both. Lady Gertrude looked lovely, as always. Her companion was older, perhaps in her late twenties, and had a bright smile and a light step.

“This is Eleanor Jessup,” Lady Gertrude said, pushing her companion forward. “She is my new Sophie.”

“Delighted to meet you. Everyone speaks very highly of you,” Miss Jessup said, clearly not at all put out to be called Gertrude’s new Sophie.

“Have you had word from your brother and Lady Sophie?” Anne asked. “I understood that they had extended their trip because they were enjoying the sights of Europe so much.”

“I think Sophie just does not wish to leave her family,” Lady Gertrude said with a warm smile as she thought about her brother and new sister-in-law. “But they assure me that they are to do one further trip, to Rome this time, and that they will return in time for the King’s coronation.”

“And have you yet met Mary’s baby?” Anne asked eagerly. She had been unable to get away from Northumberland when the child was born and had been sad to have to turn down Mary and Lord William’s invitation to the child’s baptism in October.

“I have. I attended the baptism and stood as Claveston’s proxy as they chose him to be godfather to little Nathaniel. Mary and William chose Captain Watts and Charlotte as his other godparents.”

“Was it a wonderful celebration?”

“It was. Lady Mary and Lord William looked so unbelievably happy, and Nathaniel is a lusty boy, with a fine appetite.”

“I am glad. I so wished to attend.”

“I know your presence was missed, though everyone understood why you could not get away. They were very touched by the gifts you sent in your stead.”

“Mary wrote me a lovely letter, thanking me,” Anne said. “It was the very least I could do.”

“Then I presume she told you that they are expecting another child?” Lady Gertrude said excitedly. “She must have already been enceinte at the baptism itself.”

“She did, and it is wonderful news,” Anne agreed. She had been able to tell just how delighted Mary had been about it in her most recent letter. She had waxed most poetic about the pleasures of pregnancy and motherhood, gifts she had assumed that would never be hers.

Lady Gertrude glanced around the room, as if looking for someone very specific. She tutted and tapped her foot a little, then looked back at Anne. “Did you know, Everton Cormick and his brother are in town,” she said, a tone of exasperation in her voice. “They promised they would be here tonight, but I’ve not seen them. It would be just like them to get here late once every girls’ dance card is filled so they can leave immediately after supper to go to their club and play cards.”

“Mr. Cormick?” Anne said, trying to sound nonchalant. She still recalled that moment on the terrace, and how it had felt to be in his arms as they’d waltzed at Lady Sophie’s wedding.

“Yes, they are doing some work for their father, who has had to remain in Hertfordshire. A minor health scare I’m told, so the brothers are in charge of everything for a while. Mr. Cormick assured me he would be here to act as my big brother in Claveston’s place – to help me weed out the suitors not worthy of my attentions.”

“I am sure Mr. Cormick will do a fine job of that,” Anne said, her heart suddenly beating a little faster and harder than usual. “I am sure if he promised he would be here, that he will arrive in good time for supper.” Anne bit at her lip. She should not be surprised that he was in town. She knew that the family were very successful merchants and that both sons had followed their father into his enterprise. She would have to do all she could not to get her hopes up that he might notice her once more, and perhaps even dance with her again.