“I can’t say that I agree with that. If you were by my side, I would ensure you travelled the world and saw all of the sights and wonders that one could behold.” Frederick winked at her with a teasing tilt of his lips.
Charlotte couldn’t help feeling intrigued; travelling had long been an aspiration of hers. She yearned for new adventures that would take her far away from the memories that plagued her late into the night. Her attention was suddenly drawn to the side as Jameson Sinclair glided past her and Frederick with Henrietta Carter in his arms.
“I know that I must be boring you with all my questions, but I was hoping that you would answer just one more.” Lord Dunham’s mouth tilted into a lazy smile that wasn’t unattractive to Charlotte.
“And what would that be, Lord Dunham?” she asked with a light smile, hoping that the question didn’t include her uncle.
“Would you do me the honour of saving a second dance for me?”
Charlotte smiled at him with a polite nod before watching the graceful way that Jameson Sinclair spun Henrietta in his arms.
***
Jameson briefly glanced at the mysterious woman in the arms of the stranger before being drawn back into the conversation with Henrietta. Her insistent manner of talking of nothing other than dresses and which women had fallen from grace in the past season left him wishing that the song would end.
He found himself wondering what the strange man was saying to the hazel-eyed woman that made her smile in the delicate manner she was.
Why do I find her so intriguing?
“Did you not see the loose-fitting dress that Lady Templeton’s daughter was wearing? I doubt we will be seeing much of her over the next nine months,” Henrietta sneered in a nasty manner that made Jameson’s blood boil. Her eyes wandered to a shy young girl at the back of the room who kept to herself with a lost look in her eyes.
“I do not think that I quite understand your meaning, Lady Henrietta; perhaps she has taken a liking to tarts. I hear that the Templetons’ cook has quite the reputation for her tarts.”
He clenched his jaw and resisted the urge to spin her right into a group of her peers who were giggling like a bunch of children while looking at the girl in question.
“Don’t be so naïve, Jameson. It is obvious that the poor girl has gone and got herself into a spot of trouble,” Henrietta cooed seductively at him.
“Poor girl, I hope her family is able to offer her the necessary help if, in fact, she is in trouble.” Jameson clenched his teeth in an attempt to hide his anger and distaste for the amount of gossip that Henrietta spewed at every turn.
Henrietta rolled her eyes in a very displeasing manner and tutted. “You are such a bleeding heart, Jameson, of course. The Templetons do not have the wealth or even the connections to be able to help her. They will more than likely have to send her away somewhere far where the child can be given to a loving family.”
She sighed as if the notion of giving up a child were bothersome to her.
“Well, I just hope that she has supportive friends on her side who will be able to show her the love and support she needs during this difficult time,” he said, trying again to lead Henrietta in the direction of compassion.
Scoffing, Henrietta shook her head at him. “I highly doubt that she has a friend to her name; just look at the old dress she is wearing. If she had any friends at all, they would have told her that rags are out of fashion.” She laughed in a cruel manner that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
“I guess it’s safe to say that we shouldn’t be expecting you at her bedside with flowers and support,” Jameson said coolly, failing to hide the irritation that Henrietta brought out in him. How was it possible that his sister could still be friends with someone as self-absorbed and materialistic as Henrietta? He made a mental note to discuss their friendship with his mother at a later stage.
“Do not accuse me of being uncharitable; there are many poor families on the streets that I help, just like every other young lady of the ton. We are nothing if not charitable.” She pouted slightly in an attempt to display her displeasure with his opinions.
“I see; let us then hope that the Templetons end up on the street if they are to benefit from your more charitable side,” he remarked, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he spun her around for the final notes of the dance. His head was beginning to throb from all the insufferable chattering he’d had to endure in the space of a single dance.
“Will I be seeing you on the dance floor again this evening?” Henrietta batted her eyelashes hopefully at him.
“I’m afraid that I have already promised the rest of the evening to other eager young ladies. I wouldn’t dream of keeping you away from all the other suitors who have undoubtedly already booked your time,” Jameson lied and hurried away before she could protest.
He kept an eye on her as he hurried from the floor, seeing the tantrum she was throwing in his sister’s presence, balling her fists at her side as Elizabeth did her best to calm her friend. Jameson swore under his breath; he hadn’t thought it possible, but the woman was even more insufferable than the previous time he had spoken.
Deciding that he needed a drink to cool off, Jameson made his way to the table of punch, halting behind a pillar when he spotted Michael talking to the dark-haired girl.
“I want to thank you for being kind to my sister; I hadn’t realized that you were the Isabella that Rose spoke of,” Michael thanked her gallantly with a hint of hesitation in his voice. There was clearly something brewing between the couple as they glanced at one another in turn, averting their eyes if either side lingered for too long.
“It was nothing but my pleasure; your sister is more than welcome to come to tea with me and Charlotte, the friend I mentioned before. It’s never easy being out in society for the first time; we would be glad to offer our help.” The woman tucked a strand of black hair behind her ear.
“Thank you, Lady Isabella, that would be most helpful; things have not been easy for us since our mother passed.” Michael began to guide her towards the table of punch with his hand on her elbow.
Is Michael finally opening up to an amiable young woman?
