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She would only be a debutante once, and this was a night she intended to remember.
But Billy only gave the ladies a half smile as he reclined in the booth.
Credit: Berkley, Penguin Random House
His uncle ran off with an American heiress and took the family estate, too.
Its all the rage, Bertrand ranted, evenKingEdward was not immune to the charms of your kind.
He puffed on his cigarette and stared Kick down.
She laughed it off.
She was no Wallis Simpson, and no spoiled English undergrad was going to ruin her evening.
For the first time since arriving in Englandsince graduating from Sacred Heart, in factshe felt completely unshackled.
Then she took a long and satisfying drink of champagne.
Everyone howled with laughter, even Billy and Bertrand himself.
David stood and held out his hand with an admiring and amused expression.
May I have this first dance,Kick?
I hate the falseness of it all.
To Kicks delight, the band never let up.
She danced to every song.
The last to ask her was Billy Hartington.
She hadnt been able to tell from his posture at the table, but Billy was enormously tall.
At least a foot taller than she was, even at a stoop.
If theyd been any closer, shed have constantly bumped his chin with the crown of her own head.
She laughed to herselfthey must look absurd together.
He had to drop his head down to say it.
Ah yes, your nickname.
And you certainly gave a firmkickto Bertrand.
It doesnt seem to have done him any harm.
I think he needs many firm kicks a day.
Are you usually the one to deliver them?
I dont see much of him, really.
Hes more Andrews friend.
Billy nodded, then said, Were both at Trinity, though we generally run in different circles.
He has more friends who need a good kick?
Thats one way to put it.
Why are you out tonight with them, then?
Sheer boredom, he said, though it sounded a little like a joke.
She couldnt quite tell, and that intrigued her.
Well, I hope no one had to suggest you ask me to dance, said Kick.
No, no, he replied.
No one would have to do that.
He smelled of cedar and mint, mixed with a faint yeastiness from the champagne.
A childhood favorite made adult but without any of adulthoods complications.
After that, panting, she needed to rest.
She would give herself twenty more minutes.
Thankfully, the food arrived quickly.
Sissy asked for the society pages, then spread them out among the four girls.
She felt flattered but embarrassed, and didnt know quite what to say.
She didnt want to disappoint him, and shed already overstayed her planned twenty minutes by another ten.
Me, too, said Debo, rising to join Kick.
Jane, Sissy, and Jean also got up, and Jane said, Lets make it a fivesome.
None of us are far from the others.
The boys looked up from their sport and political pages, and Bertrand said, Tallyho, ladies.
Congratulations on becoming the latest batch of royal leeches.
You are too kind, sir.
Reprinted with permission fromThe Kennedy Debutanteby Kerri Maher from Berkley Publishing Group, copyright 2018.
