“Though I am certainly not the very best of company,” Lord Yarmouth added with a smile, though his eyes lingered on Joy’s. “I shall take my leave of you now. Good evening, Miss Fairley. I look forward to our walk together tomorrow, Miss Bosworth. I hope you have an enjoyable evening.”
“Thank you, Lord Yarmouth. Good evening.”
Smiling, Joy let her gaze linger on him as he walked away, finding herself rather excited and this time, the feeling didnotfade.
“You have found yourself back in his company, then?” Miss Fairley leaned against her for a moment and when Joy looked, Miss Fairley was smiling warmly, her eyes twinkling. “I presume you are very glad to have been speaking with him again.”
Joy let out a low groan and closed her eyes.
“Am I truly so obvious? So apparent?”
“You are,” came the reply, “but I do not blame you. Lord Yarmouth did seem to show you particular interest, and I am glad that he is continuing to do so. You are to walk with him, then?”
“Yes, tomorrow. In the park.” Clasping her hands tightly together, Joy fought back the swell of anticipation which threatened to overwhelm her. She wanted to clap her hands and jump up and down at the same time, such was the strength of feeling within her heart. “It is all most unexpected! I am to walk with his cousin also, Mr. Brackwell, but he has not written to me as yet to arrange it.”
Miss Fairley’s eyebrows dropped, her mouth puckering.
“And would you be glad of his company?”
“Of Mr. Brackwell’s?” When her friend nodded, Joy lifted her shoulders. “It would be pleasant company, but it would not be of as much interest to me as Lord Yarmouth’s company, if you understand what I mean.”
Miss Fairley’s smile quickly returned.
“I certainly do understand,” she agreed, taking Joy’s hand and squeezing it gently. “I do hope that all goes as you wish. Who knows? You may find that Lord Yarmouthisa gentleman willing to consider a wallflower.”
Hope seared through her, and Joy caught her breath, imagining herself walking arm in arm with Lord Yarmouth as they wandered through the park. Was it too much to let herself hope for? Or was she finally to find a little happiness?
“Whatever areyoudoing walking about here?”
Joy stopped quickly as a lady stepped directly into her path, her eyes flashing. Joy looked first to Miss Fairley, wondering if her friend was acquainted with this lady, only to see the widening of her eyes.
Evidently not.
“Good evening.” Battling to hide the surge of frustration that overtook her, Joy bobbed a curtsey. “We are walking through the house, as I believe guests are permitted to do.”
“But not you.” The woman’s lip curled. “You ought to be standing overthereand not letting yourself be seen.”
Joy was about to exclaim aloud that simply because she was a wallflower, it did not mean that she should have to stand in the shadows, only for Miss Fairley to speak up.
“And why should we do that?”
There was a note of confusion in her voice and Joy immediately smiled to herself, seeing now what her friend was trying to do. By pretending that she did not understand what the lady meant, she was forcing her to speak aloud of what she thought – and not every refined young lady would do such a thing. While society recognized them as wallflowers, very few would be as specific as to point it out directly, especially not in good company.
They would have to wait and see whetherthisyoung lady was such a person.
“Because that is where you aremeantto stand.” The young lady’s eyes narrowed, perhaps aware now of what Miss Fairley was trying to do. “You understand what I mean, I am sure.”
“I do not think that we do. Unless dancing is about to take place and we are standing in the way?” Joy frowned and looked around her before shaking her head. “Alas, I am not certain that there will be dancing this evening.”
The other young lady’s eyes flashed dangerously, but Joy only smiled.
“Youwere speaking at length with Lord Yarmouth.”
Joy’s interest piqued. Was this the young lady’s true concern, then? Was she upset that Joy had been speaking to Lord Yarmouth when she was nothing more than a wallflower?
“Yes, I was. He is an excellent gentleman, I must say.”
The young lady hissed out a breath, her face red now.
