Lady Pelham had two marriageable daughters, Lady Rachel and Lady Stephanie. She was determined that the ball be a triumph to impress the eligible gentlemen in attendance and had, therefore, ordered the best of everything. Lord and Lady Pelham had already joined their guests by the time Lord Ravenswood’s party arrived, so they made their way directly into the ballroom. Daphne entered the massive room and blinked. In her two Seasons she had never seen quite the level of opulence created here. Crystal chandeliers filled with candles sparkled a rainbow of colors overhead. Hundreds of hothouse flowers perfumed the air from pots placed around the room. Liveried footmen carried gleaming silver trays containing glasses of champagne for the guests’ pleasure. In the musician’s gallery, an orchestra began the strains of a Scotch reel. It seemed all of the beau monde was in attendance. They themselves heightened the lavishness of the spectacle with their flashing jewels and rich satins and silks.
