The joy of it was not something she could even think to explain, and she closed her eyes as the tea tray was brought in, using the distraction of it to quieten herself as best she could, squeezing her hands into tight fists so that she might be able simply to draw breath.
“I should like to say, Lady Halifax, that I was present during the conversation between your daughter, myself, and Miss Blakefield.” Joy’s eyes flew open as Lord Yarmouth spoke, looking first at him and then back to her mother, who was still staring at Lord Yarmouth as though she expected him to vanish at any time. “I do not know who has told you that your daughter was the one at fault, but I can assure you that every word which was said was more than fair,” Lord Yarmouth continued, as Joy rose, thinking to pour the tea rather than stare at Lord Yarmouth as he spoke. Her hands trembled a little as she picked up the teapot, realizing that, for the first time, someone was coming to the defense of her behavior rather than choosing to rail at her for it.
It was a most unusual feeling – and one which Joy was not at all used to. It warmed through her and as she poured the tea carefully, a soft smile spread across her face. Lord Yarmouth thought that she had behaved well, that she had spoken clearly and without malice. He was coming to protect her, to stand against whatever rumors had been whispered about her. It was truly a wonderful sensation.
“Is that so?” Lady Halifax shifted a little in her seat, her eyes darting to Joy and then back to Lord Yarmouth again. “I am alittle surprised to hear that. My daughter is not known for her good judgment.”
The teapot trembled a little more in Joy’s hands, but she poured the tea steadily and kept her eyes fixed on it rather than look at either her mother or Lord Yarmouth. To hear her mother say such things was not unexpected, but it was painful. Did she truly think so little of her?
“And I am surprised to hearyousay such a thing,” Lord Yarmouth replied, with a firmness that surprised Joy. “I have always found Miss Bosworth considered and careful.” Smiling, he turned his head and looked at her. “To be frank, Lady Halifax, given what Miss Blakefield said and the insults she threw at your daughter, I found myself quite in awe of the restraint with which she returned those remarks.”
Lady Halifax frowned.
“Do you mean to say that Miss Blakefield insulted Joy in some way?”
Joy served the tea to her mother and managed not to roll her eyes in her mother’s direction as she did. She had not spoken of what had taken place with Miss Blakefield for she had considered that there was no reason for her to do so, not when she had fully expected her mother to neither listen nor care. It was only because Lord Yarmouth was speaking of it that Lady Halifax was willing to listen.
“Miss Blakefield suggested that I ought not to give your daughter much of my time – if any at all,” Lord Yarmouth stated, shaking his head as Lady Halifax took in a breath. “I was horrified to hear her speak so unkindly. To my mind, Lady Halifax, your daughter ought never to have evenbeena wallflower! I have heard of what took place with Lord Dartford and I can assure you, I would have said the same thing to him in return, had he been speaking to me. How could he beso insulting to not only your daughter but also to your elder daughters?”
Lady Halifax blinked.
“What do you mean?”
“To say aloud that none of your elder daughters had ever caught his interest and that now, he believed that Miss Bosworth would be unable to do so either, ismostuncouth. I am surprised that so many people within thetonbelieve it is acceptable. It seems very unfair to my mind that thetonare willing to push your daughter back, simply for defending herself, and her sisters, while permitting all that Lord Dartford says to pass by without incident. I am sure that you will agree.”
Joy took the teacup to Lord Yarmouth and smiled at him as she did so, seeing his eyes flick towards her mother and then back up to her. The gratitude in her heart was so heavy, she could not even think of how to express it, save for catching his hand in one of hers for a brief moment as, with the other, she set the tea down in front of him.
Lord Yarmouth’s eyes met hers again, and this time, he smiled softly as his fingers pressed hers. And then the moment was gone, and Joy was forced to sit back down again, away from him but the warmth of his touch lingered still.
“That is a perspective which I have not seen the incident from before.” Lady Halifax took a sip of her tea and then set it back down, looking at Lord Yarmouth as though he were a complete stranger who had only just set foot into the townhouse. “Are you quite certain that you were present with my daughter when Miss Blakefield spoke as she did?”
“Yes, I am quite certain.” Lord Yarmouth dropped his head for a moment, clearly hiding his smile before looking back at the lady. “As were my dear friend, Lord Falconer, and several others. Lord Falconer will certainly verify what I have said if that is what you wish?”
From the way that her mother’s eyes darted to Joy and then back again, Joy knew at once that this was precisely what her mother wished to do, but Lady Halifax only laughed and then shook her head.
“No, of course not. Your word is enough. Well, I shall speak to this Miss Blakefield and demand to know exactly what it was she meant by stating that my daughter ought not to be in your company, Lord Yarmouth.” A slightly triumphant smile spread across her face as Joy’s eyes rounded, a little surprised to hear her mother speak so. “And thetonwill learn that I am not about to push my daughter forward to take the blame for something she did not do.”
She thought to herself that this wasnotthe time to ask her mother why she had not done such a thing before now, or to demand to know why she had not even so much as spoken to her before deciding that thetonwere in the right about what had been said about her as regarded Miss Blakefield, Joy chose to stay silent and merely smile at Lord Yarmouth who had not, perhaps, realized just how much he had done in coming to defend her. His small smile back at her made her heart swell, and she took a deep breath, sitting a little taller now.
Perhaps her mother would not continually berate her, or even consider her a wallflower for much longer, given the way that she was speaking to Lord Yarmouth. The kind way that he had spoken of her, the sweetness with which his words had come about, meant a great deal – more than she could express – and suddenly, her hopes for the remainder of the Season drew themselves up, big and bright.
Perhaps she would find happiness yet.
Chapter Sixteen
With a broad smile still on his face, Henry walked into his townhouse, only to be met by a hubbub of activity. Footmen and maids were scurrying about, and his butler was nowhere to be seen. No one came to take his hat and gloves and, when he finally caught someone’s attention, the footman’s eyes were wide with alarm and Henry noticed how the man’s hands trembled.
“What has happened?” he asked, not raising his voice for fear of upsetting the man even more. “Where is the butler?”
“I don’t know what happened, my Lord.” The footman shook his head. “The butler was found on the study floor.”
Henry blinked in surprise, snatching in a breath.
“I beg your pardon?”
“The butler. I don’t know if he was showing someone into your study, but someone clearly hit him from behind. There’s a swelling here.” Indicating the center of the back of his head, the footman winced. “The other men have taken him to his rooms and the housekeeper sent for the physician, who arrived a short while ago. She said that you would want him to have the physician.”
“Yes, of course!” A little astonished, Henry rubbed one hand over his eyes. “You say he was hit on the head? By whom? Who came to call?”
