Joy nodded and watched as Lady Halifax walked away without even a backward glance, leaving Joy quite alone. Seeing that she was in the shadows and that no one was even looking at her, Joy let herself slump back against the wall, no longer standing as tall and as upright as she ought to be. Her heart grew heavy as she watched the dancing couples step out for the quadrille, her stomach twisting as regret burned a path up into her chest. Why had she been so determined not to listen to her mother’s warnings? And what was to become of her now?
“You are Miss Bosworth, are you not?”
A little surprised, Joy started and turned, seeing a young lady with dark eyes looking at her, a small smile on her face.
“Yes, yes I am.” Pushing herself up to stand properly, Joy frowned. “Are we acquainted?”
“No, but I hope it will not be long until we are friends,” came the reply. “I am Miss Emma Fairley. There is also Miss Rachel Simmons, Lady Alice, and Lady Frederica.” Twisting her head, she gestured to the small group clustered nearby, whom Joy had not noticed before this moment. “For various reasons, we are all forced to stand at the back of events such as these, watching rather than taking part.”
“Then you are all wallflowers?”
The lady did not take insult, as Joy might have expected, but instead, Miss Fairley simply nodded.
“And you come to speak with me because… you think I am a wallflower also?”
“Are you not?”
Joy opened her mouth to say in no uncertain terms that she certainly wasnota wallflower, only for her to keep such words back. Was she not just as Miss Fairley had said? Was she not a wallflower?
I suppose that I am.
“You would be welcome to join us,” Miss Fairley continued, entirely unaware of Joy’s inner thoughts. “It can be a lonely circumstance to stand here by oneself.”
She did not wait for Joy to agree or disagree, but rather simply walked back to the other ladies, leaving it up to Joy as to whether or not she would go with her. Perhaps, Joy considered, Miss Fairley knew what it was like when one was first pushed to the edge of society. It took a good deal of consideration and acceptance, for the difficulties being a wallflower presented were very difficult to take in.
“But that is what I am now,” she murmured to herself, turning her head away from the other ladies. “I have no gentlemen seeking me out. I have no acquaintances eager to be in my company. So what else is there for me?”
With a sigh, she turned to face the other ladies and, after a few minutes, made her way to them. Four smiling faces met her and, though she was not in the mood to smile – why would she be, after being demoted to being nothing other than a wallflower – Joy did her best to return them.
“Allow me to make the introductions,” Miss Fairley said quickly, gesturing to each lady in turn as she spoke. Joy did her best to listen carefully to each name, nodding and smiling at each one though her stomach still roiled with a mixture of confusion, upset, and mortification.
“And this is Miss Joy Bosworth,” Miss Fairley finished, making Joy realize that she had never once introduced herself to the lady. Miss Fairley knew precisely who she was, even without the introductions, though Joy did not ever recall being introduced. Evidently, her face was already recognizable by even the wallflowers of society.
Her embarrassment burned all the hotter.
“You will find yourself amongst friends here,” Miss Simmons murmured, perhaps seeing the uncertainty on Joy’s face. “No one will judge you, you can be assured of that.”
“Indeed.” Lady Alice smiled, and Joy nodded back at her, not certain what to say. “I am the daughter of an Earl and yet still you find me standing here, hiding myself away.”
“Though that is not your fault,” came a quick reply from Miss Fairley.
“But apparently,Iam being ignored by society simply because I am a little too outspoken.” Joy suddenly found her voice, her expression growing darker as she flung one hand out towards the rest of the room as though to blame each and every person standing there. “Though I do not think I can justify being overly upset, given that my mother warned me not to behave in such a way.”
Lady Frederica stepped forward and grasped Joy’s hand in a quick expression of solidarity.
“My dear lady, you are certainlynotto be blamed for such a thing. I heard that Lord Dartford was very rude indeed, and spoke to you in a manner which deserved such a response from you!”
Joy managed a wry smile, appreciating the support from the lady.
“Mayhap. I confess that I am not certain any longer.”
“What did he say to you?” Lady Frederica’s eyes sharpened. “Was it as I have heard?”
Nodding, Joy recalled the conversation in perfect clarity.
“First, he asked if he was correct in stating that I had elder sisters and when I said he was correct, his response was, ‘Unfortunately none of your sisters were able to catch my eye and, alas, I do not think that you will be able to do so either’.”
There was a collective gasp and Joy let her lips curve ruefully.
