Whoosh.
The warmth and security disappeared in one fell swoop. Any mention of St. John, or the events of last summer, never failed to drop Rhoda’s heart into the soles of her shoes. The edges of her vision clouded, and the world tilted awkwardly.
“I still cannot believe Miss Beauchamp landed the title. A duchess! You were so very close to having it yourself!” Rhoda wished her mother and sisters would forget about St. John. She wished even more that she could.
Nearing a cluster of guests, Mrs. Mossant patted Rhoda’s gloved hand as though she were a child. “There are Mrs. Potter and Mavis Torrey. I simply must express my regrets to them. Both are hosting parties next week that we’re going to miss. An apology is always best made in person.” She then pressed Rhoda onto a nearby bench and took her leave.
Mrs. Mossant had never made for a very good chaperone. She was too much of a socialite herself. Rhoda sighed and gazed around at the lovely setting. Lady Snodgrass had obviously planned her soiree so that it coincided with the blossoming of the most colorful flowers in her garden. Pink, purple, deep blues, and golden yellows matched the colorful bows tied to the canopy that had been set up a ways from the manor.
Rhoda didn’t know the actual names of the flowers. That was her mother’s particular talent.
Despite the sun, the stone bench felt cold on her backside. She pressed her knees together and studied some of the other guests. With Cecily and Sophia married, Rhoda found herself regretting the fact that she hadn’t attempted to make many other friends. Even the few ladies she’d conversed with on occasion didn’t seem to recognize her.
Which was odd… because, whereas none of the women met her gaze, a considerable number of the gentlemen present seemed to be brazenly staring at her.
An ominous shiver ran down her spine, and she swallowed hard.
Suddenly, despite sitting in the sunshine, on the edge of Lady Snodgrass’s exquisitely decorated courtyard, in the presence of over a hundred reputable members of theton, Rhoda felt ill at ease. Frightened, somehow.
And Rhoda was never frightened.
Foolishness! Nonsense. Likely, she was imagining things.
“Miss Mossant.”
Rhoda jerked her spine ramrod straight when she realized Lord Kensington had crept up behind her. “Fortune is shining upon me today! How is it that I am so lucky as to find you sitting here alone? And looking so fetching?”
Surely, he wouldn’t! Not after his actions the other night. He moved around the bench to stand directly before her and presented a stockinged leg.
She’d not acknowledge him. Blond hair, perfect features, and sparkling blue eyes—such looks were wasted on the lout.
She’d give him the cut direct.
His arrogance, hisnerve, knew no bounds.
“Come now, Miss Mossant. Surely, you don’t fault me for being overcome by your beauty.” Lord Kensington turned and dropped onto the bench beside her. He then had the audacity to attempt to take her hand in his.
Rhoda was no weak-willed simpering young miss.
Not anymore.
She snatched it away before he could wrap his fingers around hers, but he persisted. “A diamond such as yourself mustn’t ruin your countenance with such an ugly scowl.”
She would not be pleasant to this… person. She couldn’t even think of him as a gentleman. “If you do not enjoy seeing my scowl, I suggest you find another lady to harass.” She spoke in polite tones, staring straight ahead.
And then his hand landed on her leg.
Enough!
Bolting off the bench as though burned, she’d like to have called him out for his audacity. Unfortunately, she knew these people. They’d look the other way. As an earl, Lord Kensington would escape censure. As always, thetonwould take his side.
She’d been lucky to escape him before. She’d not make the mistake of being alone with him ever again. She covered her mouth briefly, stifling the gagging sensation the incident provoked.
She hated this. Why was everything so… off?
Fighting the inclination to run away, to have their carriage brought around, Rhoda lifted her chin and stifled her urge to sprint in theoppositedirection. To sprint away from all these people who suddenly acted like strangers.
But she could do no such thing, so she strolled in a leisurely fashion through the small clusters of people. She simply needed to find her mother.
