Rachael nodded slowly, aware of the slow curling warmth in her chest as she considered Lord Blackmore.
“I would agree, of course.”
“And there is already a connection spoken of between you,” Lady Frederica added, making Rachael frown. “Might you thinkthat there could be… something of a profound connection there between you?”
Immediately shaking her head no, Rachael tried to push away the idea which had come rushing into her mind the very second her friend had spoken.
“No, I cannot think so.”
“And why not?”
Lady Frederica’s blunt question had Rachael stumbling, trying to find an answer.
“Because… because he has come to me for help, not for anything else! Yes, I might think him handsome, and he is certainly kind, I will not pretend he is not, but I cannot let myself think or even imagine any other such thing!”
Lady Frederica and Miss Fairley shared a glance – a glance which had them both smiling broadly.
“And why ever not?” Miss Fairley asked, though with a good deal more gentleness than Lady Frederica. “There is nothing wrong with considering a connection to Lord Blackmore. If he is a good gentleman, which you believe him to be, then what could be your reason for pushing that away?”
Rachael threw up her hands, all too aware of the twisting tightness in her chest which was threatening to overwhelm her.
“Because I cannot! I am much too focused on what there is threatening him – threatening me also – to permit my mind to think on any other thing.”
“That does not mean that there is not a flicker of interest in your mind, however,” Lady Frederica laughed, though Rachael blushed furiously. “If you find him an interesting gentleman, if you are drawn to him, then there is no need to make a secret of it. We shall not think worse of you for it.”
Rachael shook her head.
“Truly, I am only thinking of these rumors and how best to free ourselves from them,” she promised, though neither of herfriends appeared to believe her, given the looks on their faces. “It is a concern! After all, that is why I am a wallflower.”
This brought the smiles on her friends’ faces crashing down and, though Rachael did not like to see it, she looked back at them steadily, the truth burning through the air between them and severing all joviality.
“I do not say such a thing because I am overly sorrowful,” she continued, quietly, “as I am grateful for what I have been given. I have friends and I have found a new, slow-growing courage thanks to Miss Bosworth – and to all of you. But I would much prefernotto be looked upon in such a way, especially given that I have done nothing to deserve it.”
“I can understand that.” Miss Fairley smiled gently, no doubt to reassure Rachael that she did not feel any upset whatsoever. “There must be a strong desire to remove these rumors from you so that you can regain your standing.”
“And find a good match,” Lady Frederica added, though the glint in her eye remained. “There is a gentleman within your sphere who might very well alreadybea good match for you, my dear friend. All you have to do is consider it.”
With a wry smile, Rachael said nothing but turned her head to look out at the small, gathered crowd. They were not at a ball this evening, but rather a soiree, though they were just as ignored as usual. Much to her surprise, her thoughts lingered on Lord Blackmore. Even though she had told her friends that she had no time nor inclination to think about anything aside from how to remove these rumors from both herself and from Lord Blackmore, she found her thoughts lingering on him, thinking about the way he had smiled at her, the softness about his green eyes as he had watched her.
A delightful shiver ran through her frame, and she closed her eyes as if to hold the vision to herself, to cling to it a little longer.
“Is he here this evening?”
Rachael opened her eyes and was about to tell her friend that she did not know whether or not Lord Blackmore was present as yet, only to realize that it was not one of them who was speaking.
“I do not know.” Another lady’s voice, a little higher pitched than the first, was clear to Rachael’s hearing and she slowly looked all about her, only to realize that the two ladies speaking were standing only a short distance from them all, though they were separated by a bookcase which sat flat against the wall beside them. Sighing to herself at how quickly and how easily a wallflower could be forgotten, Rachael went to turn to her friends to suggest that they take their leave, only for Lord Blackmore’s name to catch her attention.
“It was said that Blackmore was found with Lady Duthell, though there were other gentlemen there also.”
A snort came from the second lady.
“A most unfortunate incident. They ought to have been a good deal more careful.”
Frowning, Rachael glanced at Lady Frederica and then to Miss Fairley, but both looked as confused as she felt. Either these ladies, whoever they were, might be speaking in connection with the gentlemen who had attempted to trap Lord Blackmore into a situation with Lady Duthell,orthey were speaking in support of Lord Blackmore.
As yet, she did not know.
“There is also the suggestion that he is poverty-stricken, though I do not think that can be true,” the first said, sniffing. “It seems that this ball is to be the most wonderful, ostentatious affair of the Season thus far! And someone who was poverty-stricken would be sunk in despair, not holding extravagant balls!”
