“Ithink I may have made an error.”
Joy blinked.
“Good evening, Lord Yarmouth.”
“Good evening.”
The gentleman appeared flustered, his cheeks a little flushed, his gaze darting all over the place as he repeatedly pushed one hand through his brown hair, shifting from foot to foot as he did so. She was standing at the back of the drawing room as the other guests mingled, a little upset that none of her friends were present as yet. Miss Fairley was due to attend but had not appeared thus far, leaving Joy friendless and alone. Her mother had, as usual, taken her leave rather quickly and Joy’s only companion, until this moment, had been the dull shadows of the room.
“What is the matter, Lord Yarmouth?”
Joy tried her best to keep a neutral expression, preventing her true feelings from showing on her face. The nearness of him – so near to her that she could feel his breath rushing across her cheek – was sending every part of her into flurries of excitement, as though she were anticipating something wonderful.
He may be here to tell me that asking me to walk with him was a mistake.
At that thought, her excitement faded almost as quickly as it had come.
“Are you quite alone this evening?” Lord Yarmouth frowned suddenly, his hand dropping to his side as he looked around the room. “You have no companions? No friends?”
“Miss Fairley is due to attend.” Resisting the urge to ask him what it was he wanted to say to her, Joy forced a smile. “I will have a friend soon.”
Lord Yarmouth clicked his tongue, his expression one of distaste, and Joy’s tension faded a little. Clearly, he was still displeased about society pushing her away from them, and that was something, at least.
“I will stand with you until Miss Fairley arrives, I think.” He looked at her then, beginning to stammer. “Oh, I – I quite forgot. I was to – to say something.” Closing his eyes, he took a long breath and steadied himself, seeming to grow outwardly quieter as he let it out again slowly. “Miss Bosworth, it is not that I wish to walk with you simply to talk about the disappearance of my father’s ring.” Opening his eyes, he looked into her face, his voice quiet now, a gentleness in his expression as he took a small step closer. “That is not why I wish to be in company with you, I can assure you of that. Forgive me for my foolishness.”
“There is no foolishness to be had here, Lord Yarmouth.” A tide of happiness sent warmth all through her, pulling the worry from her heart and washing it away. He was not about to tell her that he did not want to walk with her after all, as she had feared. “I quite understand that you would like to know what has taken place.”
“I would, but I should also like to be in your company, simply because I wish to be… in your company.” With a groan, Lord Yarmouth rubbed one hand over his face and then threw backhis head for a moment. “I am not a gentleman used to expressing myself, it seems, Miss Bosworth.” When he looked back at her, there was a rueful smile on his face and Joy’s heart softened all the more. “Forgive me for that.”
“Whereas I am much too bold in what I wish to express!” Laughing wryly, Joy shook her head and then let her hand touch his for only the briefest of moments. “I should like that very much, Lord Yarmouth, just to walk with you. Though if you would like to discuss your father’s ring and the loss of it twice over, then I would be glad to do so.” Her smile grew as heat flared in her cheeks, though she refused to permit herself to look away. “I confess that the mystery does capture my attention somewhat.”
Lord Yarmouth’s eyes flared.
“Then you think it is deliberate?”
“Yes, I do now, since it has been taken from you twice,” Joy agreed, quickly. “But perhaps that discussion can wait for another time?”
“Tomorrow?” The hopeful hint in his voice had her heart catapulting across her chest. He truly was taking an interest in her, wanted to spend more time in her company… and she could hardly take it in. “In the afternoon? Unless you are already engaged.”
Joy laughed softly and shrugged.
“I am a wallflower, Lord Yarmouth. It is not as though my time is precious. I think you will be the very first gentleman I shall walk with this Season, in fact!”
His brow furrowed.
“Save for Mr. Brackwell.”
“Though he did not do so deliberately the first time,” she reminded him, wondering if there was a hint of envy there, or if he and his cousin were simply a little at odds over some othermatter, given the change to his expression. “And he has not yet written to me to arrange the time, so you are the first!”
This sent such a broad smile across Lord Yarmouth’s face, Joy could not help but laugh, though he then flushed and ducked his head. When he lifted it, however, he was still smiling and Joy returned it, a silence growing between them, but one which held no tension or awkwardness. It was as if, finally, they understood each other and were contented with what each desired, given it was the same as their thoughts.
Her happiness could not have been greater.
“I am sorry for my tardiness.”
Another voice came between them, and Joy jumped in surprise, turning to see Miss Fairley curtseying to Lord Yarmouth. In talking with Lord Yarmouth, she had quite forgotten that Miss Fairley was also to join her. It was interesting just how quickly all thoughts of her friend had faded from her mind.
“Good evening, Miss Fairley.” Putting a smile on her face, Joy waved away Miss Fairley’s concerns. “Please, do not worry. I had Lord Yarmouth for company, did I not?”
