Lord Pleasance nodded.
“The footman and the plate which slipped.”
“I took responsibility for it, for if I had not, the blame would have fallen on Miss Fairley. Even though the footman would have been chided about being a little less than careful, the others at the table would have suspected that Miss Fairley had done something which had upset the plate.”
“Because she is a little clumsy, yes,” Lord Gibson said, though without malice. “The time the tray of drinks fell from the footman’s hand was only becauseshereached for a glass and then–”
“And then what?” Frederick challenged, quickly. “What was it that you saw her do? What was it that she did that caused that entire tray to come crashing down?”
Lord Gibson hesitated, opened his mouth, and then closed it again.
“You see?” Frederick said, quickly, “You do not know. You cannot say what it was that she did, because she did not do anything. There is someone else, someone attempting to make it appear as though she is nothing short of awkward and graceless when, in truth, she is just as poised as any other young lady.”
Lord Pleasance frowned heavily.
“I do not understand. She is a wallflower. Why would anyone demand that a wallflower appear so?”
“That is the reason shebecamea wallflower,” Frederick explained, bringing understanding to them both. “The incidents which occurred last Season, and then again this year, seemed to be reason enough for her to be set aside, to be pushed away. Once she was set at the sides of the ballroom, once she was no longer in society’s view, those incidents stopped. But,” he finished, his stomach tightening as he recalled what had happened, “once she began to step forward into society again, those incidents have begun again.”
“I see.” Lord Gibson put out both hands. “I must apologize, then, for what I was led to believe. I ought not to have said that she was this or that way, if it was not her own doing.”
“It seemed as though she was as you described, so I do not hold anything against you,” Frederick said quickly, though silently relieved that his friend had accepted his explanation so quickly. “However, as I have known her a little better, I have seen just how badly someone is seeking to have her removed from society. Last evening, for example, someone pushed a hairpin into her sides, one at a time, so that she cried out so loudly, half the guests became aware of her!”
“Goodness.” Lord Pleasance’s eyes widened. “Is she quite all right?”
Frederick nodded.
“Later that evening, after consulting with Miss Simmons, she informed me that they had found a hole in either side of her gown, where she believes the hairpin would have been pushed into her sides. It did not do her any lasting damage, however, for which we are all grateful.”
“Though that does sound rather serious,” Lord Pleasance continued, quickly. “What is it that can be done to prevent this? Surely her parents–”
“Lord and Lady Follet have repeatedly pushed her back into being a wallflower and they do not believe that she is not responsible for what has happened,” Frederick explained, quickly. “They will do nothing.”
“Then you feel responsible.” Lord Gibson’s expression had become a little darker, perhaps a little guilty over what he had expressed about Miss Fairley previously. “You want to be of aid to her.”
“Of course I do!” Frederick exclaimed, “Though my trouble is, at present, that I have very little thought about what Icando.” Looking at each friend expectantly, he saw them both shake their heads and let out a small sigh of his own. “I wanted to be of aid to her. I wanted to help her and now, though we have discovered something significant, I cannot do anything further to assist her.”
“Mayhap what you decided to do only a few minutes ago would be enough,” Lord Pleasance said, quietly. “Have you thought of that?”
“I do not know what you mean.” Confused, Frederick looked back at Lord Pleasance. “What was it I decided?”
“To consider courting Miss Fairley,” came the reply. “That might be a support enough.”
A smile tugged at Frederick’s features as he thought of asking to court Miss Fairley. It would bring him a good deal of satisfaction and happiness, certainly, and he would have to hope that she felt the same way too.
“It is a good thought, certainly.”
“She will feel a good deal of support from you in that regard, I would agree,” Lord Gibson remarked. “You are showing her that you do not think of her as a wallflower – though you are doing that already. You are proving it, mayhap, and showing thetonthat you think her worthy of attention.”
“That is true,” Frederick considered. “Though I would do it primarily for myself. I do care for the lady, and I cannot see what reason I have to step back from that. Thank you both for bringing that awareness to me.”
Lord Gibson and Lord Pleasance both smiled and for the first time since he had stepped into White’s, Frederick let a broad, contented smile settle onto his face. As soon as he had the opportunity tomorrow, he would go to call on Lord Follet and, thereafter, speak to Miss Fairley. He could only hope that she would accept him.
“Lord Yeatman,how very pleasant to have you call.”
Frederick smiled and inclined his head.
“I thank you.”
