Miss Matthews might not be a beauty, but at least she had something interesting to say. He supposed she had given up trying to lure a husband with all the usual feminine wiles. She was settling into the life of a spinster, no doubt.Though he must not be unkind.She could not be older than five-and-twenty at the most.Perhaps no older than Susan would have been.Yet he could not imagine Susan having matured into a life of quiet good sense.
Fairfax raised his hand in the direction of JosephSedgeworth, who had just entered the supper room with a young lady on his arm. That same young lady who had been at his godmother's two days before, if he was not mistaken. His friend led her toward the table. Fairfax got to his feet.
"Miss Crawley," he said with a bow, "how good to see you again. You are looking very lovely."
The girl blushed to the roots of her red hair before he turned away to present his friend to Miss Matthews. Before they could all sit down, Miss Jamieson had also arrived at their table on the arm of a young man whom she introduced as Ambrose Leighton.
Miss Jamieson did most of the talking for the rest of the supper. She was indeed very lovely with her dark hair and creamy complexion and very shapely figure. And she was very well aware of her own beauty and charm. He should be enchanted, Fairfax thought. In fact, he was attracted. There was a sparkle and an animation about the girl, although it was somehow counteracted by her obvious vanity. But he was also amused. The little chit was all the rage, his uncle had said. Yet she seemed such a very young girl. Had Susan been like this when he had fallen so headlong in love with her five years before? Probably she had, though physically the two girls did not resemble each other except in size.
Fairfax found that his amusement grew during supper. Miss Jamieson was clearly setting her cap at him. Indeed, Miss Crawley seemed very aware of him too, though she was blushing and tongue-tied and looked anywhere but at him. He felt so much older than he had five years before. He had lived through what seemed like a lifetime of experiences since then. He had not expected to draw female attention with as much ease as he had as a younger man. He had expected that the very young girls, at least, would look on him as an older man not worthy of a second glance. It might be amusing to find that he still had the old power to attract.
"Miss Jamieson," he said as the guests around them began to stroll back toward the ballroom, "I suppose it is too much to hope that there is any space left on your dancing card?"
"By coincidence, I have not promised the next set to anyone, my lord," she said, glancing coquettishly at him with her large dark eyes."The reason being that three latecomers were arguing over which should be granted the last dance on my card.I was so cross with them that I told them that they might all take themselves off and quarrel elsewhere. I wanted nothing more to do with them for this evening."
Fairfax found that he had to make a great effort not to laugh aloud. This little creature was quite delightful. She lied without a flicker of guilt showing on her face. Who was the poor fellow that was about to be thrown over for him?hewondered.
"Then might I have the honor, ma'am?" he asked, pushing back his chair and rising to his feet.
"Oh," she said, "how wonderful! I must confess that I was not looking forward to the next dance. I was afraid that some people might think I was a wallflower."
"Wallflower?"Fairfax repeated."You?Never, ma'am.I am sure anyone with any sense would have divined the truth immediately."
She blushed becomingly and placed a hand on his.
Sedgeworthwas soliciting Miss Matthews' hand for the set, Fairfax noticed. In fact, the two of them had been talking quietly for the last five minutes or so.
"What a perfectly divine ball!" Honor said with a sigh in the carriage later.
"You enjoyed yourself, did you, puss?" her father said with a chuckle. "I should think so too. You seem to have all the young bucks in London chasing after you."
"Oh, they don't signify at all," Honor said with a dismissive gesture."All mere boys.Now, Viscount Fairfax is what I call a man."
"And it is said he is in search of a wife," Lady Jamieson said. "His poor first wife died, you know."
"Don't you think he is just divine, Jane?" Honor said. "And will you not change your mind now and wager with me on which of us will get him?"
"Get him!" Jane repeated with a laugh. "As if we would be the only two contestants, Honor. The man danced with at least half a dozen other ladies tonight."
"We must not be daunted by the fact," Honor said. "After all, we were his first choices. And you were his very first, Jane. Maybe he already has atendrefor you and I shall have to fight desperately to win him from you."
Jane laughed outright. "Honor," she said, "you are so delightfully transparent. The idea of Lord Fairfax's developing atendrefor me is so absurd that you know I am bound to disclaim the truth of any such suggestion and assure you that he must prefer you. And we both know that I was not really his first choice. The poor man did not have much alternative but to ask me, if he did not wish to appear ill-mannered."
"Do you really think he preferred me?" Honor asked eagerly. "Indeed it would not be so very strange if he did, would it? All those horrid plain men seem to prefer me to any other girl. It would be just too rotten if the only handsome man in town were to prove the exception. Do you think I may expect a visit tomorrow afternoon, Jane?Mama?"
"I should not be at all surprised, my love," her mother assured her. "You are easily the loveliest debutante this year and he must have an eye for beauty, for apparently his first wife was very pretty. Not that Jane is an antidote, of course. In fact, Jane, you look quite well in that particular shade of green. You should wear it more often. You could easily pass for twenty."
"Should I accept an invitation to go driving, do you think?" Honor asked in some anxiety. "Or should I appear more aloof at first?"
Jane burst into laughter. "Honor," she advised, "why do you not let the viscount put in an appearance before you face tricky problems like that?"
"Oh, but one must be prepared for any eventuality," Honor said. "Don't you agree, Papa?"
"Am I going to have to spend a fortune on a grand wedding this summer already, puss?" Sir Alfred Jamieson asked with a chuckle.
"Oh, Papa!"Honor protested. "Do not tease. I am very serious."
"Jamieson, I do wish you would have a word with the coachman about the mad way he turns this corner into the driveway," his wife said crossly, swaying against him as the carriage turned.
