“I’m so glad you asked, Joan.” Mimi’s eyes twinkled. “Everywhere I look I see the opportunity for love. The possibility for love, marriage, a future…it’s all around us. Any one of these gentlemen could be yours.”
Joan could almost hear the words as if they were coming from a hawker on the street. Someone selling a tincture that could heal gout, relieve a fever, erase all a person’s debts, and make one fall in love.
If one simply bought it. And drank it.
Her skepticism must have been showing.
“You may laugh at me. On the inside. But I can assure you. Gentlemen are just as willing to fall in love as women are. They just don’t know it. And if perchance they do, they will definitely not admit it. There’s nothing so debasing to a man as sharing his feelings, especially pertaining to love.”
“What about poetry and all the men who write it?” Joan challenged, just to amuse herself.
“Pseudonyms.” Mimi didn’t even blink, which caused Joan and Nobi to chuckle behind their fans. “It’s really written by women.”
Mimi swept her arm out to showcase the dancers, “Now tell me what you see.”
“Dancing,” the two said together.
Mimi rolled her eyes. “Let me tell you what I see. I see love taking aim. A man approaches a woman. Curious. Obliged. Or otherwise. And love is watching. Waiting. She’ll take aim and if she has a good shot, she’ll let her arrow fly.”
“Ah, I see where this is coming from now,” Joan sighed. “You are the archer. Perhaps you relate to cupid more than I would have predicted.”
“Perhaps,” Mimi volunteered noncommittally as her eyes surveyed the room. “Look over there. See those two men.”
“Don’t point, Mimi,” Nobi said.
“Just follow the line of my fan. Better yet, look for James. See who he’s standing with?” When Joan nodded with Nobi, Mimi continued, “That’s Lord Jacob Fenway.” The two nodded again waiting for further explanation on Mimi’s tangent.
“He’s pining over our dear friend, Lady Sally Prohope. But, as we all know, Jacob is too shy to approach Sally on his own. Ahh…what tragedy, that two people so close to love might not find it. See how Jacob has enlisted James to help him? At least he has that much sense. Now the question is…who will go help Sally say yes to love?”
“How do you know Sally wants to find love?” Joan regretted the question immediately after she asked it. Surely Mimi would whip around and a long rant onlove for everyonewould ensue. Surprisingly, Mimi maintainedher vigilant scanning of the ballroom. When she spoke, it was calm, albeit a touch patronizing.
“There are two universal truths to humankind. We all want to be loved. We all want to belong. Mark my words, Sally is looking for love. And if neither of you are willing to help her, then I’ll—”
“No, no, no. I’ll go help her.” Joan volunteered before Mimi could finish her threat. Because really, it was a threat. If Mimi, in all her assertiveness (one might call it), went over to assist the soft, timid, fragile Sally, who knows what kind of love she might find herself in?
Mim practically pushed Joan in her direction. “Go on then.”
“You do realize you’re the youngest, don’t you?”
“Argh, such is my cross to bear. But bear it, I shall. Now go.”
“I’m going,” Joan insisted.
“Good luck,” Nobi whispered in parting.
“Pfft…luck. She won’t need any luck.” But Joan didn’t stand around and ask what Mimi meant by that. She took a few brisk strides and found herself at Sally’s side.
When Joan stopped, she almost said,Sally, I’m so glad you could make this event. It’s been too long since I’ve seen you.But then the conversation she just had with her sisters floated through her mind. If Sally wanted to be loved and was actively looking for love, perhaps she couldattempt a more coy greeting. They were close friends after all.
So instead of the casual bland greeting she would usually use, she asked, “Do you see him watching you?”
Sally started.
And for a split second Joan thought she asked the most addlepated question of her existence. But then…as Joan watched Sally’s face, she saw a timid half smile tempt her lips. And if that wasn’t enough of a giveaway, her cheeks flushed. When Sally brought her fan to her face and fluttered it a couple of times, Joan knew that she had hit her target.
And when Sally uttered a breathless, “Yes,” well, then Joan knew a few more things. Sally noticed Jacob watching her. Sally enjoyed that fact. Jacob, with enough courage from James (the rake!) would approach and ask for a dance. And Joan would be there to support Sally in saying yes. It was all so simple.
Joan’s heart almost clapped in joy. Love could be a beautiful, simple thing. It could just be one (or two, if one insisted on counting James) person helping a friend find courage to love.
