Her face still hot, Emma shrugged lightly, seeing that she had no choice but to explain.
“I have trodden on someone’s foot and stumbled into the arms of a gentleman during the dance,” she explained, all the more embarrassed when the young lady’s eyes flared. “Though I will say that someone stood on my heel and tugged my slipper which was why I then lost my footing.”
“How dreadful!” the young lady exclaimed, making Emma smile at her fervor. “That is utterly disgraceful. I do hope that you were able to explain that to the gentleman. It is not fair ifyoushould take the blame for that.”
Emma gave a quiet, tight laugh.
“I am afraid that there was no opportunity for explanation. I found myself embarrassed and too ashamed to speak. Besides which, everyone dancing – and everyone watching – saw it and I could not explain to each of them that what I had done was not my fault!”
The young lady smiled in sympathy.
“I suppose so. All the same, you must know that it is not your doing, and you cannot feel guilty for such things. I would not have you hide away with the wallflowers when there is no need.” Her smile grew a little sorrowful. “It is not as though it is a particularly happy situation.”
That gave Emma pause. She had always noticed the wallflowers but had never once considered their feelings about being treated in such a way. That was sorrowful indeed, and she could well understand the young lady’s disappointment. However, was she not also struggling? Was she not also being shunned by society, being pushed away from those who surrounded her? Their whispers and laughter were almost too much to bear, and her fear when she stepped out into society was growing with every opportunity that came to her. There was almost a pull towards the wallflowers, she had to admit. A pull that was growing, despite the sorrow in the lady’s voice.
“I am not in a particularly happy situation myself,” she murmured, seeing the young lady’s eyes flicker. “Though I am sorry that you are in such a position. I am sure it is not as you thought the Season would be.”
The young lady sighed and shrugged.
“It is as must be, I suppose,” she said, softly. “I cannot help it. My situation is such that such things are simply meant to be.”
“Well, if things continue as they are, I may find myself present here next Season,” Emma said, quietly, sharing a smile with the young lady. “But for the moment, I shall have to do myvery best not to cause myself any more embarrassment… though whether I shall succeed remains to be seen.”
The young lady smiled softly.
“I will pray that I will not see you here next Season,” she said, making Emma smile back in appreciation at the kindness of her words. “My very best to you. Despite this, may you have the most successful Season.”
Chapter One
One Year Later
“Your dance card, Miss Fairley?”
Emma watched as her sister handed her dance card to Lord Wellbridge, wondering if this would be the Season when Lord Wellbridge would propose to her sister. Last Season, they had shown a good deal of interest in each other, but Lord Wellbridge had never once suggested courtship or the like though, given that this was now their third ball of the Season and he had danced twice with her at each one, Emma hoped it might soon come about.
She did care for her sister, and did hope that she found happiness. At the same time, there was a faint hope that she might be given a little more attention by their mother, once her sister was betrothed. Thus far, out of the three balls they had attended, Emma had been given very little attention, had barely danced, and had done nothing whatsoever to garner interest from anyone. It was as though her mother had decided that her sister was of greater importance than Emma – though mayhap,she was also still embarrassed by all that had followed Emma last Season.
“And you, Miss Fairley? Should you like to dance?”
Emma smiled in surprise, appreciative of Lord Wellbridge’s consideration.
“Yes, that would be wonderful. I thank you.”
“You will have to be careful with my sister, however,” Martha interjected, as Lord Wellbridge took the dance card from Emma, a laugh in her voice. “She is not inclined to dance with any particular grace!”
Heat rippled up Emma’s chest and into her face as she looked directly at her sister, seeing the way that Martha flushed red, catching Emma’s eye, and then looked away. Why had she said such a thing as that?
“I am sure it will be a lovely dance,” Lord Wellbridge replied, still signing Emma’s dance card – much to her relief – and then handing it back to her. “The cotillion, Miss Fairley? I hope that is satisfactory.”
“More than satisfactory, I assure you.”
Emma managed to smile and then put the dance card back on her wrist, keeping her gaze away from her sister. There was another brief conversation and, shortly thereafter, Lord Wellbridge took his leave.
“Whatever did you say such a thing as that for?” The moment the gentleman stepped away, Emma turned to her sister, the heat in her face turning to tears. “I am aware that I may have been a little clumsy in the previous Season, but I have danced many dances without any difficulty! Why should you say such a thing as that to Lord Wellbridge? You embarrassed me a great deal.”
“Indeed, Martha, that was a little inconsiderate,” their mother said, quietly. “I am surprised at you.”
As Emma watched, her sister closed her eyes and then dropped her head, though heat still lingered in her cheeks.
