“That is dreadful. How could he think to say such a thing?” Lady Alice took a step closer to Joy, her eyes searching Joy’s face. “And your response to him was that you did not think that a concern, given that you would not be drawn to him either.”
“It was something akin to that, certainly, though said with a good deal of emphasis.” Slowly, Joy’s embarrassment faded to nothing, a kinship beginning to soften her heart and a slow growing sense of understanding settling her upset. “But now what is there for me to do, but stand here, alongside all of you, and wait until society decides to forgive me for my supposed mistake.”
There came a few nods, and one sorrowful sigh, though Lady Frederica – who had released Joy’s hand – shook her head firmly.
“No, I do not agree. We continue to do our best and to stand in amongst society whenever we have the opportunity. I will not permit myself to be pushed away, to be squashed by the weight of whatever society wishes to throw upon me. I think that deeply unfair and I, for one, am determined to stand against it.”
A faint flurry of hope ran through Joy’s heart.
“I should like to do so too, but, given that my very reason for being placed in this position in the first place has been my own hasty speech and blunt manner, I am not certain of what I should, or ought to do.”
Lady Frederica smiled.
“You will find opportunity and when it comes, you must grasp it with both hands.”
“And do not let this circumstance alter you in any way,” Miss Simmons said, coming to stand beside Lady Frederica. “You say that you speak bluntly and with too much haste and, were that a true difficulty, one which caused a good many problems then yes, I would encourage you to curb such behavior as best you could. But given what I have heard, it does not seem as though that is a great concern. Instead, it appears that society has treated you unfairly, while allowing Lord Dartford to do as he pleases! Therefore, I would not attempt to do anything to alter yourself, for there is no need.”
“Not unless you wish to find a husband,” Lady Alice interjected quietly. “That is what we are all here for, is it not? We all wish to find happiness.”
Joy, looking from one face to another, took a long breath, and then let it out slowly, thinking through what had been said before she spoke – something which she did not do very often.
“I have already told my mother that I want to marry a gentleman who knows me as I am, not someone who thinks I am a quiet mouse of a lady who does not dare open her mouth unless someone has spoken to her. Lady Halifax, my mother, insists that I need to be so to even attract the attention of a gentleman and I confess, after this incident, I have begun to wonder if she is right.”
Lady Alice smiled gently.
“I do not wish to insult your mother, but in this situation, I think it is wrong to tell you not to be who you are. To hide your character for, not only this moment but potentially for the rest of your life, would not bring you any sort of happiness. No, Miss Bosworth, if you can, then remain just as you are and know that you have friends here who will support you with that.”
“Thank you.” Joy took a breath, smiling as she released it, feeling a good deal better than she had done in some days. “I am certain that I will come to value your support a great deal.”Looking around the group, her heart lifted a little and her smile grew. “How glad I am to have been able to find friends here. It is going to make the situation a good deal more tolerable, at least!”
The ladies all smiled their agreement and Joy turned back to look out at the ballroom again. If society did not like her as she was, then she would stand here with the other wallflowers but quietly refuse to change who she was to appease theton.
Whether she would find a suitable match, however, Joy did not know. Considering this, her smile faded quickly. Would she be left standing here until the Season came to an end? Or was there even the smallest hope thatsomeonemight allow her to catch their attention?
Chapter Four
Henry looked around the ballroom, a faint smile on his lips. Surely there had to be some young ladies here who might be of interest to him?
“You are smiling to yourself again.” Lord Falconer nudged him. “What is it that you are thinking of?”
“Whether one of these young ladies might become my bride.” When Lord Falconer snorted, Henry shot him a hard look. “You may laugh, but I am quite serious about my determination to marry this year. It is my duty.”
“And mine also, but I am not as eager as you to find the most perfect, the most correct young lady,” came the reply. “I believe that should someone be of interest to me, they will come into my sphere and I will take notice of them. I do not have to go searching, nor do I have to be as considered in my thinking as regards the young ladies of theton.”
Henry sniffed and shook his head in disagreement.
“I am very different from you in that regard. I will not merely wait in the hope that someone comes into my sphere, as you say, but rather I must search for them and make certain that they are the most suitable of young ladies for me.” He shot his friend awry smile. “After my experience with Lady Judith, I realize now how cautious I must be!”
Lord Falconer chuckled.
“All the same, you need not betoocareful. What if someone unexpected makes themselves known to you? What shall you do then?”
With a grin, Henry shook his head.
“I hardly think that will happen. All the young ladies of thetonare very similar in most ways. It is not as though any of themcanbe unexpected!”
Screwing up his expression, Lord Falconer opened his mouth to speak, only for his eyes to catch on something which he had not previously noticed, his eyes sharpening a little.
“Yes, I am wearing my late father’s talisman,” Henry said, seeing Lord Falconer’s expression and speaking before Lord Falconer could remark on it.
