The second lady murmured something which Rachael could not make out and, though she strained to hear, there was nothing in particular which could be overheard. The first ladylaughed – though it was not a kind sound – and then moved away from the bookcase, ready to walk past Rachael and her friends without seeing her.
Before she knew what she was doing, Rachael stepped forward, out of the shadows, and almost collided with the lady in question. The first lady’s eyes flared wide.
“Do forgive me! I did not mean to step into your path.”
The first lady recoiled, while the second let out an exclamation of frustration and stepped back, though her brown eyes narrowed, and her jaw tightened as she glared at Rachael.
“You should watch where you are going! How dare you think to–”
“If you are looking for Lord Blackmore, I have not yet seen him present here this evening,” Rachael interrupted, her stomach twisting this way and that as she spoke with both boldness and courage, making it quite plain to the ladies that she had overheard them speaking. “Because of our standing as wallflowers, we do tend to see who comes into a house and who takes their leave, and we have not seen him as yet.”
She smiled in what she hoped appeared to be a rather innocent manner, but the two ladies only blinked, with the second one slowly beginning to turn a little pale. Her blonde curls bounced gently as she looked to the first, clearly considering what it was that they would say in response.
Perhaps their remarks had not been meant to be overheard.
“I – I do not think–”
“I thank you.” With a smile that did not send any light up into her eyes, the first lady moved a little in front of the second, who was now beginning to bluster and nodded to Rachael. “You are very kind.”
“We did not mean to overhear, of course,” Lady Frederica added with what was clearly meant to be a charming smile. “It is one of the downfalls of being forced to stay at the back of everyroom. We hear a good many things without ever having intended to do so!”
“We quite understand,” the first lady said, with what sounded like a trace of warmth in her voice, though the second lady appeared to be furious, given the redness in her cheeks. “It does not matter. We were only speaking of Lord Blackmore due to the gossip which has been spreading through society about him of late.”
Lady Frederica glanced at Rachael though she kept her smile pinned in place.
“Most understandable. Should you like us to inform him that you were both looking for him, should he arrive? I do not think that he would mind a wallflower telling him such a thing as that.”
The lady’s eyes flared, and she shook her head, pressing her lips tight together.
“No, thank you. That is not necessary.”
“Not necessary in the least!” the second exclaimed, as Rachael kept her smile fixed, wondering at their sudden, forceful reaction. “Good evening to you!”
The first lady did not rush off as quickly as the second had done, however. Instead, she murmured her good evening and inclined her head before stepping away, though Rachael narrowed her gaze just a little as she watched them both walk away.
“That was a little unusual.” Looking at Miss Fairley, she watched her friend nod slowly, with Lady Frederica doing the same. “I wonder what they meant.”
“It is a little unusual for them to be speaking of Lord Blackmore and Lady Duthell,” Lady Frederica murmured, her forehead still puckered. “Not a great many gentlemen or ladies knew of that – or at least, I thought they did not.”
Rachael caught her lip between her teeth for a few moments, considering.
“It may be that Lord Elmsford, Lord Kelling, or Lord Richmond have said something to others and thus, the news has spread around society… though I would find that a little surprising, given that they are his friends and would know that he is doing his utmost to keep gossip away from him.”
Miss Fairley nodded.
“Precisely.” She looked at Rachael, one eyebrow lifting. “Will you inform him?”
“Inform who?”
“Lord Blackmore. I think that you should tell him what it is that you have overheard. He might know one or both of these ladies and, even if nothing comes of the conversation, he should know of it at least.”
Rachael considered and then agreed.
“I shall have to find him first! It is as I said to those two ladies, I have not seen him yet.”
“You have been looking for him though, yes?” Again, came the twinkling smile to Lady Frederica’s face and Rachael blushed, though again, chose to say nothing and permit her silence to be the answer she gave. Lady Frederica laughed softly and then looped her arm through Rachael’s. “There is nothing you need be embarrassed about and, indeed, I will stop teasing you now. Forgive me.” With a smile, she nudged Rachael lightly. “Should you like to take a walk around the house? Mayhap we shall see him that way.”
“Very well.” It did not take a lot of persuasion for Rachael to agree, and whether Lady Frederica recognized that or not, she said not a word. Together, with Miss Fairley with them, the three ladies set out for a short walk around the house, with Rachael still thinking of all that she had heard from those two, asyet unknown, ladies… and wondering just what Lord Blackmore would make of it all.
