Robert allowed himself to be drawn away and introduced to the group surrounding Miss Collins. He had been at Cambridge University at the same time with several of the men, but others had only come to London after his departure. Though he made the first overtures of conversation, it was hard to concentrate after he saw Mrs. Blake enter the room.
She walked without the aid of a cane, just occasionally ran her hand along the wall or across a piece of furniture. He noticed she stayed along the walls and wondered if that was so she wouldn’t accidentally bump into a guest. She inspired head turnings, and more than one of the men asked who she was. He felt bothered on her behalf that even her brother’s friends didn’t know her identity. She found the chair she was looking for and sat down.
“She’s my blind sister,” Edwin Collins said. “She insists on doing everything on her own, so you don’t need to worry about her.”
She didn’t rate an introduction? Robert thought in astonishment. He was about to excuse himself and join her, when Miss Collins called his name.
As if Mrs. Blake had realized his intent, he saw her don the faintest smile—or did she simply understand that her sister would want his attention?
Miss Collins offered her hand, and he bent over it. She wore her hair in the most elaborate dark brown curls, shiny and smooth. She had her sister’s pixie chin but was of a more delicate frame. Instead of her sister’s golden eyes, hers were light brown, but they sparkled with pleasure on being the center of male attention. She was young yet, he knew, so he could not fault her for enjoying herself.
“Good evening,” he said smoothly.
“I am so glad you agreed to stay, my lord. Did my brother introduce you to everyone?”
“He did indeed. I look forward to the challenge of testing their marksmanship against my own.”
“Those poor birds,” she said, almost giggling. “But I must confess—they do taste delicious.”
He smiled. “Then I shall do my best to make sure your dinner table is full of good things to eat.”
“I imagine you are quite the marksman after serving in the army. My brother can use a good challenge, since he always bests his friends.”
“Ah, but he’s my host. I’ll try to be fair.”
He glanced once again toward Mrs. Blake, who sat very still, a serene expression on her face, her head cocked forward as if she were listening to everything going on around her. Still, no one had approached her.
“Miss Collins, shall I bring your sister to you? I’m not certain you can see her from here.”
Something dark flashed in her eyes. “Audrey doesn’t enjoy crowds the same way we do, my lord, so please forgive her shyness.”
“There’s nothing to forgive. I can imagine how difficult it is to see only blackness, to be at a disadvantage to everyone else. Yet she moves about so easily.”
“She knows every space in this house,” Miss Collins said. “Heaven forbid we move a piece of furniture.”
“That is a sensible precaution, of course, and good of you to consider her situation.”
He almost missed the brief wince, but it was there. Miss Collins was obviously not ignorant of the situation. But growing up with a blind sister, it was probably easy to imitate the way one’s father treated her. Easy, yes, but disappointing, especially when age, maturity, and sympathy should have made her behave otherwise.
“Still, I cannot enjoy myself knowing she is alone,” he said. “Excuse me, please.”
He bowed, and this time she wasn’t so careful about hiding her anger, as if she were jealous of her own sister. But then he did the math in his head. Blake had been recently married when he’d arrived in India, so that had probably put Miss Collins on the cusp of coming out. Had she been newly on display, only to find her blind sister snaring a wedding proposal instead of her?
Robert moved through the small crowd and reached Mrs. Blake. She was obviously aware of his arrival, for she lifted her head expectantly.
“Good evening, Mrs. Blake,” he said.
“Good evening, Lord Knightsbridge.”
“My voice gives me away?”
“And your courtesy,” she reminded him, lowering her voice. “I trust you see that I was not exaggerating my dilemma.”
She needed help—he could see that. But how to know what was best for her? Robert disliked feeling indecisive.
Before he could speak further, the butler announced that dinner was served. Mrs. Blake rose smoothly to her feet.
“Shall I escort you, ma’am? I believe the order of precedence will be satisfied that way.”
