During her time in society, Ivy had spent many hours sitting with the other wallflowers watching. She knew a great deal about people, even if they didn’t know anything about her.
“Isn’t that an absolutely stunning tiara?” Theodora whispered.
It was, Ivy conceded, her eyes going to the adornment on Lady Osborne’s head. It seemed a little excessive to wear for the morning meal, but she thought if anyone could get away with this, it was that woman.
“I’ve always wanted a tiara,” Miss Wainwright added.
Ivy’s eyes went back to Mr. Nightingale. He was greeting people; most were happy to see him, unlike his mother and brother.
Picking up her fork, Ivy poked at her eggs rather than watch him. He had no knowledge of what he’d done for the silly, gullible fool she’d been four years ago.
“Hello. Is this seat taken”
Her eyes shot to her right. He was pulling out the chair next to her.
“Ah.”
“I am Mr. Nightingale. Lady Osborne insisted I sit here with you, and I have to say, the company down this end of the table is a great deal more agreeable than the other end.”
“Isn’t that where your family is sitting?” Ivy said, looking left.
“It is. Those eggs look good.” He smiled at her, and it added another layer of disturbing. The man was far too handsome.
“Miss Birdwhistle,” she said quickly. “I am she.”Idiot.She shot him a look to see if there was any recognition on his face. Thankfully, there was none.
“Are you really? What an outstanding name. Do you?” He smiled again, and she saw the creases at the sides of his mouth.
“Do I what?”
“Bird whistle?”
“She does actually, and is quite outstanding at it,” Thea said, looking around Ivy. Clearly, she had been eavesdropping.
“My cousin, Lady Dorothea Stanton,” Ivy rushed to add, wondering if she’d committed some society no-no by introducing her cousin. The rules were vast and confusing, and in her first season she’d muddled through until she hadn’t, but she’d never quite perfected them. “And Miss Wainwright,” she added hastily as the lady peered around Thea.
“Ladies.” He nodded. “Give me your best bird whistle,” he then said to her.
“I’m hardly about to do it here,” Ivy said, her eyes shooting left once more to find most of the guests looking her way, which made her uncomfortable. Ivy liked her invisibility status.
“It’s been a while since I was in polite society. Forgive me, I should not ask that of you.”
She nodded.
“And how did the archery practice go last night?” he continued, this time in a softer voice so only she heard. “I understand there is a competition starting soon, and I have to warn you, it’s likely I will win.”
There was no point in denying it had been her last night. “I am not competing.” Ivy forked eggs into her mouth and watched out the side of her eyes as he signaled that he wished for tea.
“Why not? You must be proficient.”
“You don’t know that,” she said after swallowing.
“I saw you sneaking out of this house last night with your quiver. To me that would suggest you wanted to either kill or maim someone covertly, or practice. My hope is that’s it’s the latter.”
She wanted to snort out a laugh at that but managed to swallow it down along with more eggs. There would be no snorting or laughing, only small smiles and a sentence or two. She was not here to impress people, but blend into the background and then never have to do something like this again.
Hopefully.
CHAPTER5
