Lanora forced a smile. “Thank you.”
Joseph bowed, then left the parlor.
Grace turned to Lanora. “Who do you suppose was following your Lord William?”
“You know he is not, nor ever will be, my Lord William. Really, Grace, of all the men to pin your hopes on.”
“He did come to teach you to waltz and asked you to ride in the park. That’s romantic.” Grace let out a dreamy sigh.
Lanora shook her head. “As to who else followed him, I’m sure it was the footman of some other poor, besieged lady, or a jealous lover, or an even more jealous husband. Nothing we want to involve ourselves in, certainly.”
Grace’s sigh was more forlorn this time. “I suppose you’re correct. Still, coming here to dance with you was romantic, and I know you, Lanora. You aren’t as disinterested in him as you wish me to believe.”
Lanora pressed her lips together, considering her answer. Grace did know her, and she was correct. “He’s very charming. Too much so. It’s difficult to ascertain if any emotion one feels toward him is real, or if anything he says is.”
“Then there’s nothing for it. Before this gets out of hand, you shall have to kiss him.”
“I beg your pardon?” Lanora stared at Grace, shocked.
“It’s the only way to know for sure. If you kiss him, you will know if you care for him and if he cares for you. I’m certain of it. Then you can plan accordingly. A man can always be separated from his mistress, after all.”
“You’re daft.”
“It’s true. He can be weaned from her, as well as from his gambling. Men are malleable creatures. How do you think women manage? Men have all the power, yes, but we slowly mold them to our will. It’s for our own survival.”
“Grace, that’s so…mercenary.”
“I didn’t shape the world, Lanora.” Grace’s expression softened. “For all your learning, you’re terribly naive about some things.”
“Well, naive or not, I will hold out for a gentleman I actually care for, just the way he is. Your way sounds like an awful lot of trouble, and has the chance of failure.” It also sounded rather unfeeling.
“All the more reason to kiss him. Only once, mind you. Don’t permit it to get out of hand, and don’t forget you’ve hairpins for a reason.”
Lanora shook her head. “I will not kiss Lord William.”
“So you say now, but I know you would rather have questions answered than not.”
“If someone saw, I would be made to wed him.” Grace’s vague promise of an answer seemed hardly worth the risk of being forced to marry him should they be caught.
“He’s a rake. He will arrange for you to be unobserved.”
Lanora shook her head. She turned the topic to other things. Soon, they retired for the night. Try as she might, though, as she lay in bed seeking sleep, she could not dispel from her mind the idea of kissing Lord William.
