"More south than west, I think," Prudence told her."But a viscount, Alex."
Alexandra sighed.
"When are we likely to meet this Adonis, do you think?" Honor asked."ThePendletons' ball tomorrow night?"
"Very probably," Prudence said. "Lady Pendleton is his aunt."
"If he is as handsome as you say,Prue," Honor said, "he will be easily recognizable. But do tell his name."
"Oh," Prudence said, "how foolish of me. Viscount Fairfax."
"Never heard of him," said Honor.
"Oh," Jane blurted, "I have." She flushed when all eyes turned her way. "He was in London during my first Season. And I assure you that everything Prudence has said is true. He is certainly the most handsome man I have ever seen."
"And why did you not attach his interest then?" Honor asked.
Jane laughed. "Lord Fairfax?" she said. "He did not even know I existed, Honor. He had eyes only for Lady Susan Richardson. She was themost lovelycreature. And is she now dead? They had a whirlwind courtship. They were wed before the end of the Season."
"He is the impulsive sort, then," Honor said. "I am beginning to really like what I hear. But were you very in love with him, Jane? Confess."
"I doubt if there was a lady below the age of thirty who was not," Jane admitted. "And I doubt if there was a gentleman below the age of thirty who did not dislike him heartily."
"A wager!"Honor said, snapping shut her parasol and regarding her three companions with sparkling eyes. "Let us wager on which of us will have him. We will refuse to accept competition from anyone else, of course. What shall we wager?"
"Now you are being ridiculous, Honor," Prudence said gloomily. "You know very well that you will win. There would be no competition at all."
"Rubbish!" Honor said kindly. "None of you are antidotes, even Jane with her advanced age."
"Not me," Alexandra said sadly. "I do not believe Mama would accept the South Country."
"Jane?"
Jane laughed. "Of course not, Honor," she said. "Why would someone like Lord Fairfax even look at a rather plain woman of advanced age, as you put it, when he might have his pick of all the lovely debutantes?"
"Jane," her cousin said crossly, "you might as well take to wearing caps. You certainly behave like a dried-out old spinster already."
"Besides," Jane said, "the viscount would not fit my requirements at all. How could one possibly be comfortable with a man like him? I should be in a constant state of anxiety whenever another female was within five miles of him. No, my dear cousin, he is all yours. If you can catch him, that is."
"Oh, I have no fear of that," Honor said, speaking with characteristic lack of modesty.
She really thought she had carried it off quite well, Jane thought when she was alone in her own room later. She had been so shocked when Prudence mentioned the name of the man she had been describing that she had been unable to stop her reaction.
She had admitted that she had been in love with Viscount Fairfax five years before, but only in a general way, in the way that any woman might be in love with an extraordinarily handsome man. They had not suspected that her love for him had in many ways ruined her life. That was perhaps a little exaggerated, but maybe not. Had it not been for her painful infatuation with the viscount during that Season, she might well have accepted Mr. Saxton's offer and been living quite contentedly with him ever since in Oxford, where he had accepted a lecturing position at the university.
None of that was Lord Fairfax's fault, she had to admit. He really had not known of her existence. Even without the presence of Lady Susan and his great love for her, he would not have noticed Jane. Even now she was no beauty. But when she was eighteen she had really been very plain. Mama had lived in Yorkshire since her marriage and had little idea about London fashions. Yet she had had all of Jane's clothes made at home instead of waiting to engage a Londonmodiste. Her clothes had been almost embarrassingly unfashionable. And her hairstyle! She still shuddered at the memory of the masses of ringlets that Mama's dresser had thought so becoming. She had also been somewhat overweight at the time and the ringlets had only served to accentuate the plump roundness of her face.
And she had been very eager and hopeful of finding love and of making a good match. Poor young Jane, the older Jane thought now. She had fallen painfully and hopelessly in love with Lord Fairfax. Not that she had ever held out any hope of attracting his notice. She had resigned herself to worshiping from afar. But even so she had cried and cried the night after the announcement of his betrothal appeared in theGazette.
After the Season was over, she had been very depressed for several months before giving up forever all the fond hopes of romance she had taken to London with her. Love was not for her. Neither was glamour of any sort. She would consider herself lucky to make a marriage with a very ordinary gentleman. Contentment was what she would aim for. And that surely would not be beyond her grasp if the gentleman she married was amiable. All she asked for was her own home to manage, companionship, a few children.A dull prospect, perhaps, but very practical.Jane soon came to pride herself on her good sense.
And was that good sense now to be put to the test? She was to see the viscount again, and by Prudence's report he was as handsome as ever. Would her stomach stay in place when she first saw him? Or would it turn over rather painfully as it had always used to do?
She would find out the evening of the next day, she supposed, provided he really did put in an appearance at thePendletons' ball. But she must not dwell on the thought. She must concentrate on the hope that Mr.Fafordwould sign her card. He was a gentleman whose interest she might fix if she set her mind to it. She had realized that fact for a few weeks now. He was neither handsome nor wealthy nor particularly young. But he was kindly and he was attainable, she believed.
Chapter Two
Honor was surrounded by her customary court of admirers. She looked extremely beautiful, as usual, Jane thought. Despite her comments of the day before on the plainness of all the gentlemen she had met thus far during the Season, she appeared to be enjoying herself immensely. Her cheeks were flushed a becoming shade of pink and her eyes sparkled. She waved a peacock fan before her face. It matched exactly the shade of her slippers and gloves and highlighted the gleaming white of her lace-covered gown. Jane stood on the outer fringes of the group, talking to a young man who had just done her the courtesy of signing her card for a country dance later in the evening.
