Rosalind’s face burned so she directed her attention to the passing scenery, letting the two cousins converse. Why had she spoken? Why had she purposely drawn his attention? She should be happy he was leaving her be. She was merely a paid companion, after all, certainly not his equal in station nor circumstance. She was not here to enjoy the evening, but rather to keep her employer company.
But perhaps if she had not already been the recipient of Tristan’s polite, gentlemanly ways, perhaps if she had not known what it was to be treated with deference by him, it would not sting as much as it did now. And she realized in that moment that, though he had not been required to, he had not treated her as one would a servant. No, he had treated her as if she was on the same level as him, as if she belonged to his world. It was not something she had experienced in all her time in service. And it made her homesick in the worst way.
They arrived then. Rosalind forced herself back to the present. No good could come of thinking of the past. Or of pining for the attentions of a man who she had no intentions of being friendly with in the first place. It was time to focus on her job.
She managed to do so beautifully. For all of five minutes. She stuck to Lady Belham’s side like a burr, helping her with her outer things, seeing she was seated in a prime spot, securing her a drink. She might have gone on doing a proper good job for the remainder of the evening.
…Had she not spied Tristan and Lord Kingston making their rakish way toward Miss Weeton.
That was the only adjective she could think to use. She narrowed her eyes as she watched them. There was an easy grace to the way both men moved, a kind of loose-limbed surety. There was no doubt in either of their minds that they would be welcomed by the young lady, no doubt that anyone they wished to talk to in that infernal room would greet them with joy.
And, as suspected, Miss Weeton and her parents were only too happy to have them join their small group. The quintet soon fell into happy conversation and remained that way for the next quarter hour.
Rosalind seethed the entire while. Could the girl’s parents not see what a danger those two men were to their daughter? Did they not comprehend what they were about? Men like them did not pursue shy debutantes without ulterior motives in mind.
“Darling,” Lady Belham murmured, “I do think I’ll take myself off to the ladies’ retiring room.”
Rosalind started guiltily. She had only given the barest attention to her employer since her watch on Tristan and his unsavory friend began. Lady Belham had fallen into conversation with an older gentleman when they’d first arrived, but the man was gone now. How long ago had he left? Damn, but she was the worst companion in the history of the world, to ignore her employer so completely.
“Do you wish for me to accompany you?” she asked, desperate to make up for her inattention.
“No need. For what I have to do does not require company.” With a wink and a grin Lady Belham was off, threading through the growing crowd, disappearing out into the hall.
Rosalind sighed morosely. If she wished to keep her position she had better start focusing on her duties rather than worrying about what one handsome baronet was up to.
She clasped her hands in her lap and purposely turned her head to the side, assuring herself Tristan was nowhere in her line of sight. She would not have the man lose her a second position. Granted, it was her own fault this time, for she could not seem to put him from her mind. But still.
Time passed slowly. More than once she glanced to the small clock above the mantle. At five minutes she began to grow restless. At ten, she began shifting in her seat. And at fifteen she had to battle with herself to keep from turning her head. Her neck began to ache, her eyes to strain as she focused with all her might on the decorative carvings that adorned the massive marble fireplace beside her. She would not look at Tristan, would rather die than lose this battle.
But when the hands of the clock moved past the twenty-minute mark, concern reared its head. For it came to her in a flash that Lady Belham had still not returned.
She frowned. No, surely she could not have been gone that long. But the hands of the clock did not lie. Rosalind stood and marched for the door. Mayhap Lady Belham was in some distress. She’d best check on her straight away.
She hurried down the hall and quickly found the small room set aside for the ladies. But once within, Lady Belham was nowhere to be found.
“Excuse me,” she said to the young maid stationed there, “but has Lady Belham come this way? She is tall, with black hair, wearing a sapphire blue gown.”
“Yes, miss,” the maid piped up with a grin, looking up from her kneeling position as she hemmed with quick fingers an elderly woman’s gown. “That is, she was here, oh, about twenty minutes past. Left right quick, though.”
“Thank you,” Rosalind murmured, her brow puckering as she turned back toward the door. Where had Lady Belham gone?
So distracted was she, she stepped out into the hallway—and nearly ran Miss Weeton over.
“Oh! I am terribly sorry, Miss Weeton. I was not looking where I was going. I was searching for Lady Belham and have been unable to locate her.”
The young lady dipped her head, an embarrassed flush spreading over her cheeks. “Please think nothing of it. And if you are looking for Lady Belham she has just returned to the drawing room.”
Relief poured through Rosalind. That at least answered that, though where her employer had been for nearly half an hour was still a mystery. But as Miss Weeton made to go around her Rosalind stepped in her path, halting her. She might not get another chance like this to befriend the girl. She had better take advantage of their chance meeting.
“It is so lovely to see you again,” she said with warmth. “It was such a pleasure to meet you at Lord Avery’s. Are you a great fan of music?”
Miss Weeton looked at her with uncertainty. “Yes, I suppose I am.”
“I love it as well, though I have no talent for instruments. Do you play?”
“Yes.”
“And what is it you play?”
