“Yes, it does seem so. I do wonder who has done such a thing and why.” His eyes glittered. “You say you have danced five dances already?”
Henry nodded, not understanding his friend’s questions.
“Then you know the ladies you danced with.” Speaking slowly as if he were explaining things to a child, Lord Falconer spread out both of his arms wide. “Those are the young ladies you must suspect!”
Blinking, Henry’s eyes flared.
“I must suspect them of stealing my talisman ring?”
“Why not? That is what would make the clearest sense, would it not? You must look at them, one by one, before attempting to understand what has taken place and why.Thatgives you the beginning of solving this mystery.”
Henry’s stomach knotted. He did not want to even think that one of the young ladies he had danced with had taken his ring from his finger but, then again, if he had no one else to consider, then his friend was right, they were the most likely.
“Except,” he said slowly, wincing as Lord Falconer frowned, “for two of the dances, I was in amongst the other dancers, moving between them and, on occasion, turning a different lady to the one I had stepped out with.”
“Oh.” Lord Falconer’s voice lost all excitement. “That is rather difficult, then.”
“Yes, it is.”
Taking in a deep breath, Henry looked out across the ballroom, taking in as many faces as he could and wondering just who would have taken the ring from him. The lights from the candles seemed to grow dim, darkness creeping into the edges of his vision as his spirits sank low.
Where was he meant to go from here?
Chapter Eleven
Joy’s heart sank as she watched Lord Yarmouth walk across the ballroom without so much as a glance in her direction. It seemed as though she and her friends had been quite forgotten by the gentleman and, though she told herself that she ought not to expect attention from him, there was still disappointment lingering in her spirit.
“Who is it that you have been watching so carefully?” Miss Simmons came to stand next to Joy and quickly, Joy tugged her gaze away from the gentleman in question. “You need not be afraid to tell me, it is not as though I am about to speak of it to anyone else.”
Her gentle voice and kind expression had Joy’s eyes swelling with sudden tears, but she kept them back, refusing to permit herself to give in to any emotion as pertained to Lord Yarmouth.
“It is foolishness and nothing more,” she said, aware that Miss Simmons’ eyes were searching her face, concern lighting them. “I had thought… I hadhopedthat there might be something more to Lord Yarmouth’s interest in the wallflowers, but it seems there is not.”
Miss Simmons smiled gently.
“I understand. He did seem to be a very kind gentleman and indeed, I still believe that he is. No doubt some other young lady has caught his attention, and that is to be expected.”
Because a gentleman, such as he, would not look at a wallflower.
Her heart ached terribly, and Joy looked away, embarrassed by her strong reaction. She had only danced with the gentleman on two occasions and yes, she thought him handsome and kindhearted to the point that her thoughtshadbecome a little tangled up with him of late.
“I think I shall walk around the ballroom again.” Taking in a breath, she set her shoulders and tried to push all of her feelings as regarded Lord Yarmouth away. “Should you wish to join me?”
Miss Simmons chuckled.
“If you are to be bold then I think I can be too!”
Joy smiled at her.
“You still feel a little reluctant?”
Miss Simmons’ smile faded.
“Yes, I confess that I do. It is rather unusual for a wallflower to step out in the way that we do, and I am aware of the interest that we have garnered. That being said, I am determined not to be held back, for you are quite correct when you state that thetoncan do nothing more to us! I am already a wallflower with very few hopes, and nothing can be gained from standing at the side of a room, desperate for evenonegentleman to look at me. No, in this regard, I am a good deal more determined than I have ever been before.”
Joy’s heart softened.
“I am glad to hear you say that. My mother has been less than pleased to see me behave so.”
