I listened at the door, determined that it was safe to leave, relocked the door with my hairpin, and hurried back to the ballroom, hoping I didn’t look as flushed and anxious as I felt. Flora was where I left her, looking more bored than she did when reading a book. “Did Aunt Elinor approve of your gown?” she asked.

So much had happened since I saw Elinor that it took me a moment to remember why I’d left the ballroom. “She did. And she took me to task for not dancing.”

“Chaperones seldom dance. Only at very small balls where there are few ladies.” She frowned at the dance floor, then added, “Though this was one of them. I’m surprised none of the officers asked you to dance. Henry probably scared them all away.”

“Where is your uncle?” I asked, trying to sound only mildly curious, even as my heart pounded madly against my stays. “Hasn’t he returned yet?”

“No, he hasn’t. If I know Henry, after he talked to Matthews he wandered into the library and forgot he was attending a ball. We’ll have to send servants to find him so we can go home.”

Henry entered the room then, looking mostly the way he had when he left, though his hair was more rumpled. He stopped and spoke briefly with a few young men as he made his way to us. “My apologies for leaving you ladies alone,” he said when he reached us.

“I hope there’s nothing the matter,” I said. I couldn’t bring myself to meet his eyes because I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep a straight face if I did.

“Only a minor situation that required my immediate attention.”

“And you were eternally grateful to have an excuse to leave,” Flora teased. “I know what you think about balls.”

“I’m surprised to see you sitting,” he replied.

“I’ve decided soldiers are even worse than scientists when it comes to conversation.”

“I suppose soldiers aren’t very good at talking about gowns.”

I wished I had Flora’s fan as I tried to hold back a smile. They sounded just like Rollo and Olive.

After bickering a little more with Flora, Henry turned to me. “Miss Newton, have you danced at all this evening?”

“I am here as a chaperone,” I demurred, but he stood in front of me and held out his hand.

“Please do me the honor, Miss Newton.”

“Oh, I couldn’t.”

“I insist.”

Flora glared daggers at me, and I knew it would be wisest to refuse, but I did want to dance. It was, after all, my first ball. I tried to tell myself it had nothing to do with Henry, but I didn’t believe it.