by Alec, Joyce
“Ah, Miss Winters.”
Thankfully, his thoughts were caught up by the arrival of Miss Winters, who had seemed to appear out of nowhere, perhaps not wanting to miss even a moment of their dance. She accepted his greeting with a quick curtsy and bestowed an even brighter smile on him when he turned to offer her his arm so as to lead her out to the middle of the dance floor. As the music began, he bowed quickly and stepped forward to start the dance.
“And so, my opportunity finally presents itself!”
Daniel could not help but chuckle at the quizzical look Miss Smallwood sent him as he bowed before her.
“To prove to you that I am not a clumsy oaf,” he explained, seeing her eyes flare with a sudden understanding. “I know that we have already enjoyed one dance but that was the quadrille and certainly a good deal less was required of me compared to this particular dance.” He tipped his head, hesitating for a moment. “You are permitted to waltz, are you not?”
Miss Smallwood blushed furiously but did not drop her gaze. “I am, of course,” she told him unequivocally. “Else I would have told you from the start that such a thing would not be permitted.”
He inclined his head. “But of course.” Holding out his arm, he waited until she had settled her own upon it before making his way to the floor where so many other couples stood. “I must pray that my steps will be sure and that I will not stand on your toes, Miss Smallwood, for what then will you think of me?”
She did not laugh, however, as he had expected. Instead, she merely looked up at him, her gaze questioning. “My companion has reservations about you, Lord Williamson,” she said honestly. “I do not know of them precisely, but—”
“Have you had your companion long?” he asked, as the music began. He stepped forward and took her carefully in his arms, moving quickly across the floor. “Has she been with you throughout this Season?” He knew full well, of course, that Miss Martin had not been with Miss Smallwood for long, given that she had been the companion of another, but did not want Miss Smallwood to be aware of his prior knowledge.
“No,” Miss Smallwood replied, a touch uneasily. “This is the first outing we have gone on together and I have been a little surprised at her… firm direction.” These words were obviously chosen carefully and Daniel suppressed a smile as he twirled her about the floor. “Although,” Miss Smallwood continued, “I shall, of course, listen to her concerns when she comes to share them with me.”
“Indeed,” he replied, suddenly hearing a warning ringing in his mind. “But you must also remember, Miss Smallwood, that such concerns may not be entirely factual.”
She looked up at him, moving easily with him as they waltzed, her steps never faltering as they conversed. “You mean to say that my companion might be unfairly prejudiced against you?”
He nodded, surprised at the openness that was growing between them. It was not something he had ever experienced before with a young lady of the ton and, as such, he was not quite certain what to do with it.
“That is something I must consider, I suppose,” Miss Smallwood murmured, her eyes still latched onto his, framed by dark eyelashes that seemed to beg for his attention. “As I have said, Lord Williamson, I am a little confused as to my companion’s sharp tongue and resolute decisions. I thought her to be rather gentle and kind, but it appears that I may have misjudged the lady.”
Daniel wanted to say that, yes, she had misjudged the lady entirely and that underneath the gentle expression that could appear on Miss Martin’s face, there was a shrewd and often harsh character, but to speak such things aloud would be to inform Miss Smallwood that he already had a prior acquaintance with Miss Martin and that was not at all necessary.
“I do hope, Miss Smallwood, that you might permit me to dance with you again, at another ball or some such thing,” he found himself saying, although whether it was from a true desire to dance with the lady or to merely prove to Miss Martin that he was not a dangerous cad, he could not quite say. “I know that Miss Martin thinks poorly of me and will inform you to stay far from me, but I must beg of you to make your own decision on the matter.”
Miss Smallwood hesitated, turning her gaze away for a long moment. “I am not of a particularly strong character, Lord Williamson,” she told him, showing her vulnerability without hesitation. “I do not much like being told what to do or whom I should or should not speak to, but I must admit that it takes a good deal of strength on my part to do such a thing. It will be difficult to continue arguing with Miss Martin, when she may have good reason for her request.”
“Reason which you can listen to but not necessarily believe without evidence,” he stated, not wanting Miss Smallwood to believe that he was a cad simply because Miss Martin thought him so. “Seek things out for yourself, I beg of you. Do not allow rumors to bind your hands.”
Much to his surprise, Miss Smallwood laughed, her eyes brightening and her whole expression filling his heart with an unexpected delight.
“I know very well that rumors are not to be trusted,” she told him, her eyes twinkling. “Lord Marchmont and Miss Grey are my very dear friends and I was with them during what was a very difficult period that was filled with swirling rumors and the like. So you are correct to state, Lord Williamson, that I should not give any weight to rumors without evidence to back them up. Have no fear.” She dimpled at him again. “I shall not do so.”
The relief that filled Daniel’s chest surprised him. He had hoped that Miss Smallwood would not allow Miss Martin’s judgment of his character to hold her back from what might be a charming acquaintance, but to feel such an overwhelming sense of relief was quite unexpected and unexplained. The music, as though sensing that he was ready to bring this dance to an end, began to slow and within a few minutes, he had released Miss Smallwood and was bowing before her.
“Good evening, Miss Smallwood,” he said, seeing how she smiled at him. “I look forward to seeing you again.”
A faint pink appeared in her cheeks as she rose from her curtsy. “As do I, Lord Williamson,” she replied with evident honesty. “Thank you for your conversation and your company. I have enjoyed both.”
As have I, Daniel found himself thinking, as he led Miss Smallwood back to the visibly angry Miss Martin. As have I.
4
“Miss Martin.”
Louisa walked into the drawing room and came to a sudden stop, seeing Miss Martin standing just in front of the hearth, her arms crossed over her chest and her chin lifted. Her eyes were ablaze, her lips pulled taut and her cheeks quite pale.
“Good morning, Miss Smallwood,” Miss Martin replied, her voice thin and lacking warmth. “You appear to be in fine spirits this morning.”
Louisa held Miss Martin’s gaze, still questioning her companion’s strange demeanor. “I enjoyed myself last evening,” she answered, seeing how Miss Martin’s frown drew low, as though she ought not to have done such a thing. “Therefore, I am quite contented this morning.”
Miss Martin drew in a sharp breath and turned her head. “You mean to suggest, then, that you will dance and converse with Lord Williamson again, should he ask you.”
“Of course,” Louisa replied calmly, moving towards a seat and, only after tugging the bell pull, plumping down into it. “Lord Montague also stated that he would be glad to seek me out on our next social occasion and I accepted that compliment gladly as well. I can see no difficulty in accepting either such compliments, Miss Martin.”
Miss Martin turned her head back towards Louisa with an almost pitying expression on her face. “I think, Miss Smallwood, that it would be wise for me to tell you everything that I know of Lord Williamson, else you may—”
Louisa, recalling what Lord Williamson himself had said only last evening, and well remembering the sorrowful look on his face as he had spoken of rumors and the like—a look which he had quickly tried to hide—held up one hand, silencing Miss Martin at once.
“I think that unless you can speak to me with facts and truths
as regards Lord Williamson, then I am not at all inclined to listen,” she told her companion, seeing how Miss Martin’s eyes flared with evident anger. “I will not listen to rumors and gossip.”
“He is a cad!” Miss Martin exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air. “It will do your reputation no good if you go near him.”
Louisa blinked in surprise. “My reputation?” she repeated, arching one eyebrow in Miss Martin’s direction. “What is so very wrong with Lord Williamson that my very reputation will be tainted if I dance or converse with him, Miss Martin? What is it about him that makes him a cad? If you will tell me of it all, without hesitation or basing your convictions upon rumors, then I shall be glad to listen.” She shrugged. “Else, I would rather you keep such considerations to yourself, for I will not be glad to hear them.”
Miss Martin drew herself up to her full height. “I have been employed by your father to guide you through society and to find you a suitable husband,” she stated coldly. “If you will not accept my advice, then I must go to your father.”
Louisa’s heart quickened but she showed no outward signs of concern. “Please do,” she replied with a small shrug. “In fact, I—”
Her sentence was cut off with the arrival of her father, who suddenly entered the room without so much as looking up from the letter he had in his hand. He did not even notice Louisa or Miss Martin, his brow furrowed low as he read the lines on the page.
“Ah, Lord Churston.” Miss Martin’s voice was high and shrill. “How good it is that you have arrived at the very moment we require you.”
Louisa got to her feet, her father’s eyes catching hers as he looked up, startled.
“Oh, good morning, Louisa,” he stammered, not so much as looking at Miss Martin. “My apologies. I was reading something of great interest and I came in here to…” Looking about him, he scratched his head, clearly having forgotten why he had made his way into the drawing room. “I meant to go to the study, I think.”
“It is good to see you, Father,” Louisa said quickly, before Miss Martin could say more. “Miss Martin and I were discussing the merits of one Lord Williamson, just as you came in.” She flashed Miss Martin a quick smile but saw that she was merely standing quietly, her arms folded and her eyes resting on Louisa with what appeared to be an expression of triumph. “Viscount Williamson, I believe.”
Lord Churston cleared his throat and dropped his hand to his side. “Viscount Williamson, eh?” he repeated, looking at Louisa with interest. “He was with you last night, I believe.”
“Yes,” Louisa said, smiling at her father. “We were introduced, in a manner of sorts, and Lord Williamson danced with me twice. He hopes to do so again, at the next ball.” She held her breath, waiting for her father’s reaction. “Does that please you?”
Her father frowned, glancing at Miss Martin. “Lord Williamson danced with you twice?” he asked, looking back at Louisa. “That shows a flicker of interest, does it not?”
“He was just being gentlemanly, I am sure,” Miss Martin interrupted, but Louisa took a step forward, drawing her father’s attention again. She did not want Miss Martin to unjustly prejudice her father’s opinion of Lord Williamson, especially when she did not know the truth about his character and wanted very much to decide for herself.
“He did ask if we might dance again at our next social occasion,” she said quickly. “I wanted to ensure, Father, that you were aware of such a thing. It is to show you that I am making progress, as you had hoped.”
Lord Churston nodded slowly, looking at his daughter and then at Miss Martin, who, thankfully, had decided to remain quiet as Lord Churston made his deliberation.
“I know Lord Williamson has a decent fortune,” Lord Churston began, a small smile beginning to spread across his face. “Better than that of Sir Walton, at least!”
“Yes,” Louisa murmured, not at all interested in how much someone had or did not have. “That is indeed true.”
“And a better title, too,” Lord Churston finished, looking quite delighted at the prospect. “Then yes, of course, Louisa! You must accept any attentions he throws at you.”
Miss Martin took a step forward, clearing her throat. “My lord, if I might, I do have some concerns about Lord Williamson.”
“Oh?” Lord Churston swung back around to face Miss Martin, his brows rising. “And what might they be?”
Miss Martin blinked, lifting her chin and holding herself almost taunt. “I have heard rumors that he can be something of a rogue, Lord Churston. You must know that—”
“Pshaw!” Lord Churston exclaimed, throwing his hand in Miss Martin’s direction. “All gentlemen have something of the rogue about them! Just so long as his reputation is not one of utter disgrace, then I can see no reason not to allow my daughter to accept his attentions. After all, it is not as though she has a good deal of time left with which to find someone now, is it?” He waggled a finger in Louisa’s direction, although a smile split his features. “There shall not be another Season for you, so you must make the most of what is given to you, Louisa. Yes, by all means, yes, accept Lord Williamson’s attentions—although if there is some deep, dark secret that he hides, then you have my agreement, Miss Martin, that Louisa should be taken from his side at once. But,” he finished, walking towards the door and bringing an end to the discussion, “I do not think that such a thing will occur. Do let me know if there are any further developments.” Throwing open the door, he turned around and looked over his shoulder at Miss Martin. “And my congratulations on being so successful thus far, Miss Martin.”
Louisa looked back at Miss Martin as Lord Churston closed the door behind him, feeling a big sense of both triumph and relief settle over her. Her father had given his support for Lord Williamson’s attentions should they occur, and Miss Martin would not be allowed to prevent it either.
“You are making a mistake, Miss Smallwood,” Miss Martin replied with a toss of her head that did not move her chignon even an inch. “Lord Williamson is not a gentleman worthy of your time.”
“But why?” Louisa insisted, moving closer to Miss Martin and trying to see into the depths of the lady’s eyes. “If it is only rumor that makes you fearful of him, then I cannot believe that such a thing is all you base your concern of him on.” She arched one eyebrow towards Miss Martin, feeling as though the lady had a great depth to her that Louisa had not yet even had the chance to see. It had all been so sudden. Miss Martin had appeared in her house and in her life and all had seemed to go well for the first few days. And then, at the ball last evening, everything had changed, and for Louisa, there was no explanation.
Miss Martin drew in a long breath, turned her head, and looked away from Louisa. “You will not listen to me, it seems. Therefore, Miss Smallwood, I do not think that you shall be successful with this Season. You shall not find a suitable gentleman for a husband.” She sat down on her chair, stiff-backed and still not looking at Louisa. “I shall not say that you will not get married, for that may yet happen, but you shall not be happy. You shall not find joy with such a gentleman as Lord Williamson. I will continue to warn you, shall continue to try and dissuade you for that is my duty as your companion, but I fear that your stubbornness and arrogance will bring it all to a sorrowful end.”
Louisa blinked rapidly, looking at Miss Martin and seeing the slight flush of her cheeks. “You have not yet told me, Miss Martin, why you believe Lord Williamson to be so much of a cad,” she stated, trying to keep her mind on Lord Williamson and not the many questions about Miss Martin herself that flew about her head. “Is it rumor only?”
Miss Martin closed her eyes, turned her head and opened them again, so as to look at Louisa. “I have had charges before, Miss Smallwood. Do you believe that I have not had the measure of some of the gentlemen here in London?”
“How many charges have you had, Miss Martin?”
Miss Martin blinked. “Two.”
“And you have found them both suitable husbands?”
“Yes.”
“And you have ensured that they avoided Lord Williamson?”
Miss Martin nodded. “Of course. They did as I instructed.” Her chin lifted, a slightly arrogant look in her eyes.
Louisa took a breath. “You will discover, Miss Martin, that I am not as obliging as your other charges. I do not base my consideration of someone based on rumor or gossip.” She lifted her chin a notch herself, matching Miss Martin. “Should you have been my companion last Season, or even earlier this Season, then I might have done as you asked, might have agreed without question, but thankfully I have discovered a new sense of determination and courage within myself of late.” She gave Miss Martin a half smile, which the lady did not return. “So therefore, I shall dance and converse with any gentleman I wish, unless I learn that their reputation is unequivocally stained.” With a sense of pride growing within herself at her newfound resolve, she let her smile spread all the more. “Do we understand each other, Miss Martin?”
“Yes, Miss Smallwood,” Miss Martin replied, her voice quiet and yet filled with a sternness that told Louisa she was not about to give up yet. “I believe we do.”
“Good,” Louisa replied with a small sniff, turning her head away from Miss Martin and feeling a sense of unease settle over her. She did not think that Miss Martin would end her attempt to convince Louisa that Lord Williamson was a cad and a rogue and wondered just how easily they would be able to progress if she continued to behave in such a manner. “Now, I am to go out walking this afternoon, Miss Martin. Do you intend to accompany me?”
