“Oh, nonsense,” she retorted. “If you cannot be glad of heart, then I shall seek good company elsewhere. Indeed, I think I see my beloved ladies over there! Excuse me.”
She sauntered off through the stifling crowd, opening her arms wide in greeting as her “beloved ladies” noticed her approach. The Spinsters’ Club, gathered in a circle on the other side of the room, opened their arms in kind to welcome their oldest and newest unofficial member.
Daniel watched it all with silent fury. He was not angry at his mother or the Spinsters’ Club, but at himself. He had realized, all too late, that it must have been Phoebe outside his mother’s private parlor, for as he had closed the door again, he had caught a familiar scent drifting in the rush of air. The unusual, sweet, citrusy scent of her perfume, an aroma that he could never forget.
But is this not the perfect solution?
He observed Phoebe from afar. She looked breathtaking in her mother’s gown, altered by her own hands, and though he had seen her wear it before, a second viewing had done nothing to diminish her appearance in it. If anything, it made her look more radiant, now that he knew what the gown meant to her, and how painstakingly she had restored it.
It was like the bouquet of flowers, tied with the ribbon from her hair. She did not let beautiful things wilt. She did not allow beautiful things to be discarded.
Meanwhile, the gown that he had carefully chosen for her remained in his bedchamber, hidden away in the back of his armoire. He did not know if he would ever give it to her, now that he had driven such a vast wedge between them. Indeed, even if he had not smelled her perfume in the air and put the pieces together, the increased iciness coming from her would have given him an inkling that she had been the one outside the door.
Why did you have to eavesdrop, Phoebe? You were not supposed to hear any of that.
For though he understood why he could never pursue someone like her, someone truly capable of stealing his heart, he really could not bear the thought of her hating him. Right now, she likely did.
“Are you not dancing, Daniel?” Evan swept into view. “I am just in pursuit of my wife. You have not happened to see her, have you?”
Daniel gestured across at the Spinsters’ Club, who were laughing raucously while Matilda performed some manner of charade. “Over there.”
“Why so sullen?” Evan frowned. “This would not have anything to do with the older Miss Wilson, would it?”
Daniel narrowed his eyes, puffing out a breath. “Why does everyone believe I am fixated on the older Miss Wilson?”
Evan shrugged. “Because you are.”
“I suppose there is little use in me telling you that I am not, for the hundredth time,” Daniel grumbled, hating that he could not hide anything from his cousin.
Evan chuckled. “No, there is not, but I have already told you that I shall support whichever decision you make. Still, you really ought to dance. People are watching, and you would not want them to think ill of the host, would you?”
A thought popped into Daniel’s mind, his gaze seeking out Phoebe’s radiant face once more, before flitting toward Joanna and Ellen, who stood off to the side, deep in their own conversation.
It was time for him to show everyone, once and for all, the choice that he had made. At the very least, he hoped to stop the tongues of his cousin and mother from wagging.
“Yes, a dance might be rather prudent,” he said, striding off in the direction of the twins.
Reaching Joanna, he bowed his head. “Miss Joanna, might I have the honor of dancing the next set with you?”
“That is very kind of you,” Joanna replied, with uncharacteristic shyness, “but I am not at liberty to dance, at this moment. I do not mean to be rude, but my sister and I were in the midst of an important discussion. I will, of course, dance with you later, but perhaps you ought to dance with my sister in the interim?”
Daniel frowned, exasperated. “But if you are in the midst of an important discussion with your sister, how can I dance with her?”
“Not Ellen, silly!” Joanna covered her mouth with her hand, hiding a laugh. “With Phoebe. It has been years since she has danced, and I would relish the opportunity to witness it. Please, My Lord, do this for me. Dance with her. Indeed, I believe it might help to soften the conflict between you, and that would mean everything to me.”
Daniel gaped at her. “You want me to dance with your older sister?”
“Well,Iam older,” Ellen interjected, “by about five minutes, but, yes, I think she means Phoebe. Goodness, I would love to see it, too. She so rarely enjoys the delights of these balls.”
Daniel longed to refuse, but if he stood any chance of pursuing a future with Joanna, he knew he could not deny her request. Although, this was not at all what he had planned, fate twisting things around once more to leave him disoriented.
“Please, My Lord,” Joanna repeated in earnest. “I would love to see my sister lighthearted and enjoying herself, just once.”
Daniel clenched his hands into fists, dipping his head in a small bow. “Very well. If that is your wish, I shall do it. Anything to please you, Miss Joanna.”
“Phoebe!” Joanna shouted abruptly, a grin spreading across her face.
“Do not yell so!” Phoebe shouted back. “It is unbecoming.”
