Posing as a member of theton, especially a duke, was a crime. And if he was willing to do that so blatantly, she imagined he would have committed other crimes, too, like convincing hard-working people to extend him credit—bills she was sure he never intended to pay—fraud and theft of the worst sort.
That thought made her dizzy with disapproval.
Imagine doing such a thing!
Comfortably arranged in her father’s ducal carriage, with Hamlin, her lady’s maid seated across from her and Willa, she practiced the art of opening and closing her fan properly, nearly forgetting the secret language all ladies of worth were taught from a young age.
Willa watched her with interest, shaking her head. “If anyone has killed the art of gesturing with her fan…”
“Killed it?” Julia rolled her eyes. “Am I that helpless?”
“Follow my example, Julia.” Willa took up her own fan. “Carrying your fan in your left hand in front of your face means you are desirous of an acquaintance with someone.”
Julia mimicked her graceful movements perfectly.
“Well done. Now try this. Hold the handle to your lips, but do not touch it to your mouth.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “To my lips but don’t touch it exactly?”
“Precisely right.”
“That is utterly confusing.”
Even Hamlin could not resist chuckling lightly.
Julia gave her a chastising look but smiled fondly at her maid. “That will be enough out of you, Hamlin.”
“Of course, ma’am,” the maid said.
“No, Julia, that’s all wrong. Watch again.” Once more, Willa displayed her fan in front of her bow-shaped mouth. “You are asking for a kiss in the only way a woman can without appearing vulgar.”
“Why should I not just kiss the handle myself? That will make my message very clear, don’t you think?” She kissed her fan exaggeratedly.
“Lady Julia!” her friend admonished in a playful tone. “How will you ever charm your duke if you cannot express yourself properly?”
“He is not a duke, Willa. And the Lord blessed me with a capable mind and quite the vocabulary to communicate with.”
“I am afraid by the time this evening is over, our reputations will be forever ruined, and we will both be mentioned in the gossip pages!”
“Can you not hear it now?” Julia asked. “Lady J. and her dearest friend, Lady B…”
“Do not wish ill upon us, Julia.”
“I did no such thing.”
“By verbalizing it, you are wishing it into existence.”
Julia placed her gloved hand on her friend’s arm. “I never knew you to be so superstitious. Perhaps you have been reading too many of the books you sell in your shop.”
Willa nodded. “I admit I have a fondness for obscure manuscripts about medieval myths—magic, even.”
“I am sorry,” Julia said. “I have overlooked my responsibility to help find you a suitable husband. You have been left alone too often, I fear. Let us remedy that starting tonight.”
In response to Julia’s thought, Willa began fanning herself vigorously. “Have you any idea what I am trying to communicate now?”
“No.”
“I am letting you know I am engaged.”
