Lady Alice nodded and stepped forward, linking arms on Joy’s other side. Looking at Miss Simmons and Miss Fairley, Joy smiled in what she hoped was an encouraging manner but said nothing, not wishing to push them to do as they were.
“Be strong,” Miss Simmons murmured, lifting her chin, and speaking half to herself before stepping forward. “Yes, I will join you and attempt to do all that I can to force society to see me, despite what they think of me and my standing.”
“As will I… though perhaps you and I should walk together, Miss Simmons? I think that if we all link arms, we will cause a great deal of mayhem and then what will become of us?”
Joy laughed, a sudden, fresh hope filling her, lifting her heart and making her smile.
“Perhaps mayhem is exactly what society needs from us!” she exclaimed, as her friends laughed along with her. “Come then, let us walk around the ballroom slowly, looking at everyone without shrinking back. Stand tall, walk with strength and determination, and show thetonthat we will not allow them to push us back into the shadows!”
“Well,this is more… intimidating than I had expected.”
Joy nodded but did not allow the light smile to pull from her features.
“Everyone is looking at us, yes, but what is that to us? It is simply a look, nothing more.”
Lady Alice drew in a long breath and nodded, coming to a stop, and then turning to face Joy.
“Mayhap we can stop here and speak together, though what we are to speak about I do not know!”
Her eyes darted left and right but Lady Frederica quickly caught her hand and squeezed it, reassuring the lady.
“Let us speak of the weather,” she said, with a quiet laugh, “or mayhap where our favorite walks are. We may feel ill at ease, may feel uncertain and confused, but we need not let those around us see such things. If society is to get used to our presence here, we must also become used to being out amongst the gentlemen and ladies of theton.”
“I think you are quite correct,” Joy agreed, quickly. “Lady Alice, which do you prefer, Hyde Park or St James’ Park?”
While Lady Alice answered, Joy let her gaze rove gently, taking in the various faces near her and wondering what each of them thought, seeing three wallflowers standing amongst them, talking together. Inwardly, she tried to shrug off her concerns, though her heart was beating a little more quickly than usual. The sidelong glances and gloved hands lifting to hide whispers were not easy to ignore.
A sudden flash caught her eye and, frowning, Joy caught sight of a small, gold ring sitting on the floor only a short distance away. It was soon hidden from her sight as the other guests moved around but, excusing herself, she hurried across the room and, despite being aware that others would notice her behavior, bent to pick it up. Without even stopping to look at it, she turned back to her friends and joined them quickly, noting their curious glances.
“I saw something.” Opening her hand, she frowned over the gold ring, noting the diamond placed within it and the crest which was engraved into the center. “This was on the floor.”
“Goodness! Your eyes must have been very keen to see such a thing.” Lady Alice wrinkled her nose as she studied it. “I do not recognize the crest, but then again, I do not have a vast knowledge of such things.”
“Nor I, though I would say that this is an expensive item,” Lady Frederica murmured, taking the ring from Joy’s hand and examining it carefully. “What will you do with it?”
It was only when Lady Frederica held it between her thumb and finger that a sudden familiarity with the ring rose in her mind. Her eyes flared, her heart thudding in her chest as she stared at the ring.
I have seen that before.
It took her a few minutes to realize where she had seen the ring before, but once it came to her, a broad smile spread across her face, and she plucked the ring gently back from Lady Frederica.
“I know who this belongs to.” Triumphant, she grinned at Lady Alice and Lady Frederica. “It belongs to the gentleman who danced with me only two days ago.”
Lady Alice’s eyes widened.
“Does it? Are you certain?”
“Quite certain,” Joy said, clasping the ring tight into her hand again. “I noticed it when he took my hand in his. That ring belongs to none other than Lord Yarmouth.”
Chapter Six
Henry yawned widely, stretched his legs out, and crossed them at the ankle. The ball had been very busy indeed and he had felt himself eager to retire from it a little early. Thus, he had come to White’s and was now very comfortable indeed, sipping some fine French brandy and enjoying every moment of the quiet that surrounded him.
It did not last for quite as long as he had hoped for, given that the door opened and three gentlemen stumbled in together, with one of them being none other than Lord Falconer.
“Yarmouth! You left the ball much too early!” Seeing him, his friend came over at once, sitting down opposite as the other two gentlemen joined them, though they had not been invited. “You are acquainted with Lord Knoxbridge and Lord Mallory, I think?”
Henry nodded, acknowledging them both with a look.
