“Permit me then to step in where you cannot,” she said, quickly. “I should be very glad to offer my aid to Lady Elizabeth, if you would be satisfied with that?”
“I would be so very grateful.” Pulling out her fan, Lady Longford waved it vaguely in front of her face. “I do not think myself capable of the task.”
“Then allow me to begin by taking Lady Elizabeth for a short turn around the ballroom.” Lady Yardley smiled widely and then turned to Elizabeth, a question in her eyes. With a nod and a smile to her mother, Elizabeth followed Lady Yardley quickly, along with the rest of her friends, uncertain whether to feel embarrassed or relieved at the strange situation which she now found herself. To her mind, her mother was more than capable, but clearly, Lady Longford had decided otherwise. Her mother had, on occasion in the past, taken to her bed over some trifle, but it had never been for long. It seemed now that she was to do the same here. “I take it that the last sennight has been a little… trying?”
Thinking that it was best to hide nothing from Lady Yardley, Elizabeth sighed.
“Yes, it has been very difficult. My mother has insisted that she remain in her bed and, despite my encouragement, would not move from it. I feared that we might have to return home and, truthfully, Lady Yardley, I had no expectation of her asking such a thing of you. I do hope that you do not mind becoming my chaperone, even though my mother is more than capable of filling that role, in my opinion.”
Lady Yardley smiled sympathetically but then touched Elizabeth’s arm for a moment.
“Do be gentle to your mother,” she advised quietly. “A highwayman is no laughing matter, and the shock of being set upon in such a way must have been very great indeed. She may find herself truly upset by it, to the point that she does not feel that she is able to do as she ought, for you. Her concern is touching, is it not?”
Elizabeth hesitated before she replied, considering all that Lady Yardley had said, and finding herself with a sense of being a little admonished - justifiably so, perhaps.
“Mayhap I have been a little harsh in my frustrations.” She smiled ruefully as Lady Yardley looked back at her. “I will do as you suggest. I am very grateful to you. I do not think I would be able to traverse society without your help, for I would otherwise have to cling to my mother!”
“And I am truly contented to assist you. I am certain that, this Season, we shall find both yourself and Miss Millington very happily settled.”
Elizabeth lifted her shoulders gently and then let them fall.
“I am still quite determined. I will not settle for a gentleman who does not care for me, and for whom I care very little in return.”
Lady Yardley nodded and smiled, and her response was something of a gentle relief to Elizabeth, who thus far had found herself battling against Lady Longford’s response to her desire.
“That is just as it should be, and I do admire you for that.” Gesturing to the room in front of them, Lady Yardley chuckled. “However, I am sure that in amongst all of these very fine fellows, there will be someone who is more than half in love with you already – or who will be quite ready to fall in love with you the moment you meet.”
Elizabeth, liking the idea but thinking it a little implausible, found herself laughing.
“That would be a very fine thing indeed, Lady Yardley,” she admitted. “Ah, how good it is to be back in company again.”
“It certainly is.”
A gentleman Elizabeth did not recognize responded to Elizabeth’s remark, smiling first at Lady Yardley, and then to her.
“Forgive me for the interruption.” Inclining his head, he looked at Lady Yardley. “Good evening, Lady Yardley. I see that you have returned to London for this Season. Is your husband here with you?”
Lady Yardley smiled.
“He intends to join me very soon. There are a few affairs at the estate which require his attention.”
“A most responsible fellow, as he always has been.”
The gentleman shot an inquiring glance towards Elizabeth as he spoke. She took him in, looking back at him and seeing his amiable smile and his eyes which swept down her form and then rose to her face again. Her skin burned, and a flush rose to her cheeks. Most gentlemen were not as unguarded as this fellow, although she could not distinguish whether her response came from anger or mortification at being looked at in such a way.
“Allow me to make the introductions.” Lady Yardley tilted her head towards Lady Elizabeth. “This is Lady Elizabeth, daughter to the Earl of Longford. And this,” she continued, gesturing to the gentleman, “this is Viscount Winterbrook.”
She dropped into a curtsey.
“I am very glad to make your acquaintance.”
“As I am to make yours.” He dropped into a low bow, then smiled back at her. “You must forgive me for interrupting your conversation with Lady Yardley. It is only that I am acquainted with her husband, and wondered if he too was in London for the Season. Permit me to step back and allow you to continue.”
“There is no need to do so.”
Elizabeth spoke quickly, finding that Lord Winterbrook was a very handsome gentleman, and that she was eager for his company. He had an easy smile, which always seemed to be present, regardless of what they were speaking of, and green eyes which flashed from place to place without hesitation. He did not seem to care that she had noticed him watching her and was, she considered, rather bold in his manner. Elizabeth was not certain if that was something she liked.
“And are you dancing this evening?” A hopeful eagerness lifted his voice a little. “It would be very uncouth of me to be introduced to such a beautiful young lady and then choose not to request her dance card.”
