He looked around and spotted Badger with a glass in hand and headed in that direction. The house was, in Bertie’s opinion, over the top with decoration. The walls were overdone with plasterwork and marble, and there were so many plants in pots that it was difficult to navigate the room. In each corner, there was a sort of pavilion effect as if the place was set up to watch a medieval jousting tournament. He fleetingly wondered if the host was going to sit under one like a sort of King Arthur. The two men stood and surveyed the assembly and Bertie thought that Badger had come up to date. “I say, Badge, you are wearing the new tight trousers.” Badger grinned at his friend and told him that his sister had made him read the magazines that Caroline had introduced. “Well I must say, it looks good,” Bertie concluded. He scanned the room and noted that some of the younger ones were clad in fashionable gowns, and some were still a little dated. Most of the young ladies were wearing the empire line dress which had been popular for some time and was quite flattering. The material gathered under the bust line and fell away to the floor. Some of them had a small train which could be hooked up for dancing and some of them were very delicately and ornately decorated. The colours were so varied that it almost looked like a collection of butterflies in the garden. The young women held fans that they fluttered, and lots of them held up the skirt with the other hand. Most of them had their hair swept up and caught into small curls clustered to the head. The older ladies like his aunt wore bonnets. An old friend who was a military man came over and greeted the two men. The military jackets and very tight trouser always caught the eyes of the opposite sex and William Grey was very aware of the eyes on him as he strode across the floor. “Smart as ever, old boy.” Bertie greeted the man and the they talked of what was happening in the military world.
The dancing was underway and those keen to start were out on the floor in formation for the well-known and well-loved quadrille. The fans held by the ladies were on a ribbon around the wrist, long skirts were held up, and everyone was very stately and could show off their elegance as they moved from partner to partner. Bertie and Badger stood this one out and saw their friends out on the floor. Arabella managed a smile for the boys as she moved around in the dance and Bertie saw Caroline Carstairs looking wonderful in a dark burgundy coloured outfit that was not over embellished but stood out as the best that London could produce. His eyes followed her progress around the room, and he felt a tingle in his lips as he thought about that kiss in the garden.
The dance ended and the man whom Bertie too to be Caroline’s second cousin escorted her from the floor to a seat beside Arabella and Bertie with Badger in tow moved over to join the party. It was a pleasure to meet the man who turned out to be a member of a club to which Bertie already subscribed. They found that they had a few friends in common, and the man was a pleasant companion. His eyes were very obviously drawn to Arabella, and that young lady was not unaware of the attention. Like his cousin, Marshall Carstairs was dressed in great style and showed an elegant calf in his well-tailored clothes. His hair was cut shorter on the top than Bertie’s, and he did not have the sideburns, but he was a very attractive man with a pleasant personality. He asked if he would be allowed to accompany Arabella in the next quadrille and Bertie offered to take Caroline so that Arabella could accept the invitation. The little group were happily enjoying a conversation when along to join them came Arielle and her cousin Bernice. Bertie inwardly groaned. He really did not Like Arielle Pernicier. He suspected she was looking to cause trouble but the two girls joined the conversation about the dancing, and all seemed innocuous. The next dance began, and Bertie offered Caroline his arm. She smiled as she accepted and he walked her into the middle of the floor to join the pattern for another quadrille. It gave him a little thrill of pleasure to feel the touch of her hand, and she must have felt the same because she lifted her other hand and patted his arm as she walked. They smiled at each other and took their places in the dance. Arabella and Marshall did the same and Bertie smiled across at his friend’s sister. She knew he understood. The dance was elegant, stately and everyone was able to look their best.
The couples returned to the table, and Bertie was sorry to see that Arielle was still there. His training did not allow him to display anything other than good manners, and he gave Caroline a hand as she took a seat. The group talked about the dances and Arielle asked if they had seen the new dance that she had heard about in London. “I have heard that a dance called the Waltz is being enjoyed. Have any of you seen it?” Bertie, Marshall and Caroline all nodded and told her that they had seen the dance, and it was proving very popular. “It uses a lot of energy.” Bertie pointed out. “You are left breathless at the end of it,” Marshall added that it spun around in fast circles and also left you a little dizzy. “It is very fast,” he finished.