“I believe that a mother would say anything to remove any hint of shame from her child,” she said, coldly. “Now, do excuse me. I must return to my daughter, now that she is finished dancing with Lord Wilcox.”
The group quickly dispersed as if, with Lady Hastings taking her leave, the rest of them were required now to do the same. Hugh, pausing for a moment, made to step forward, closer to Lord and Lady Grant, but the gentleman was clearly too angry to speak. With a jerky nod, he turned on his heel, away from Hugh, and his wife followed him, though she sent a brief, tight smile back in Hugh’s direction first.
“At least you said something.”
Hugh turned to his friend and grimaced.
“It was not done well. I should have spoken sooner. I should have spoken with greater clarity.”
Lord Elmsford did not disagree, and Hugh winced, passing one hand over his eyes.
“As I have said, you spoke up when you could have remained silent, and that was well done, at the very least.”
“I thank you.” Speaking with a great irony filling his voice, Hugh shot Lord Elmsford a quick look. “Perhaps there is more that I can do. More Ishoulddo.”
“And what would that be?”
Thinking quickly, Hugh waited for some idea to strike him, something obvious and actionable, but nothing came. Looking around the ballroom, he paused for a moment, his eyes catching the small group of wallflowers as they stood together, huddled as though they were helping to protect one another from the cold, icy glares of theton.
“I – I should dance with her.”
Lord Elmsford blinked.
“I beg your pardon?”
“I should dance with her. And you should too!” The first threads of an idea began to come to him, and he nodded to himself, smiling broadly now. “Yes, that is what must be done. We should show thetonthat Miss Simmons ought to be considered a valued member of society. It is only in keeping her in our company that such a thing can even begin to be considered! Yes, that is what I shall do. I shall ask my friends and those I consider trustworthy to make certain to dance with Miss Simmons and, in that way, we will begin to encourage her back into society.”
A slow, dawning light began to grow in Lord Elmsford’s face.
“I see. I understand your plan. Initially, I thought that you alone intended to step out with her, and that, I fear, would have brought a great many questions and whispers with it!”
“No, that is not what I mean,” Hugh clarified, quickly. “If I have a few of my friends dance with the lady – and mayhap withthe other wallflowers – thetonwill begin to think a little more highly of her than they do at present. After all, gentlemen will not dance with ladies they think unworthy, will they?”
“Not unless they seek to gain something from them,” Lord Elmsford remarked, making Hugh scowl, his smile shattering quickly, “or if they have a connection with them which is a little less than proper.”
Hugh rolled his eyes.
“You know very well what I mean! Come now, tell me if that is not a good thought! I think that it is, and I am certain that there will be many who will be willing to sign her dance card.”
Looking directly at his friend, he waited until the dawning realization came into Lord Elmsford’s eyes.
“You wish me to be the first?”
“Whyever not?”
Lord Elmsford hesitated, a line pulling his brows lower.
“Because I am not certain that I wish to dance.”
Hugh’s shoulders dropped.
“You do not wish to be spoken about by theton, is that not so?” The lack of response from his friend gave him the answer to his question and, with that, came a flurry of irritation. “My friend, a few moments ago you were congratulating me on saying something to defend Miss Simmons, even though I knew I ought to have said more, but now, when I have asked you to do something to support the lady, you pull back?”
Shrugging, Lord Elmsford looked away.
“I have had nothing to do with Miss Simmons,” he said, as though this was some kind of explanation. “I am only just acquainted with her. When I came to retrieve you and bring you to London, it was so thatyourname might be cleared of the rumors which had begun to assail it. I had no thought nor intention of being of aid to Miss Simmons.” With a glance back in Hugh’s direction, Lord Elmsford threw up his hands. “Andyes, I do not want thetonto speak of me, whether it be good or ill. I do not want to be whispered about. In short, I do not want to benoticed.”
Hugh closed his eyes, the first thrill of excitement beginning to fade as he let Lord Elmsford’s words sink in.
