David couldn’t see the man’s face but knew who inspired such trepidation. As he rose to his feet, the others cried out for his forfeit, but he waved them away without glancing backward. With quick steps, he moved to her corner, but he was not quick enough.
“There you are, my dear!” said Mrs. Rosanna Tate, sweeping in and taking Flora by the arm. “There is someone I wish you to meet.”
“Do excuse my frankness, Mrs. Tate, but I was speaking with Miss Flora,” said Mr. Kellen with a smirk.
Mrs. Tate turned her gaze to him with such utter surprise that David could almost believe she was truly shocked to see him, despite the fact that the gentleman had been standing there when she had approached.
“Oh, Mr. Kellen,” she said with a laugh before patting him on the arm. “I do apologize, but you must excuse me. And I am certain you won’t be alone for very long. I heard Mr. Jemmet was in attendance tonight and quite keen to speak with you.”
Tugging at his cuffs, Mr. Kellen glanced about, his eyes darting as though the gentleman might appear that very moment. “Is that so? I heard he was still in Bath.”
“I assure you he is not,” said Mrs. Tate. “My husband spoke with Mr. Breadmore to ensure he was invited to tonight’s festivities, and I believe he arrived home early for that very purpose—as he’s had trouble locating you in the past. He is quite eager to speak with you.”
Despite her smile never faltering, there was a thread of steel in that last statement, and David couldn’t help but grin as Mr. Kellen blanched. Without another word, he turned on his heel, and though David wouldn’t say the gentleman scurried away, he certainly moved with purpose towards the exit.
“Do not fret, my dear Miss Flora,” said Mrs. Tate, patting the girl’s arm and then leading her in the opposite direction. “Now, I would be grateful if you could assist me with a young man. He’s a cousin of my husband’s and has come to stay with us for a few weeks, but I fear he is overwhelmed by all the strangers, and I know you are the perfect companion to help him feel at ease.”
Flora blinked at the lady, though a small smile crept across her lips as her cheeks pinked. David stood there staring at the pair as they moved away, quite at a loss to understand just what had happened. Oh, it was clear that Mrs. Tate had managed to thwart Mr. Kellen’s advances and find Flora a pleasant distraction, but David didn’t know when or how his sister had come under Mrs. Tate’s protection.
Despite his friendship with the Leighs, his sisters were not acquainted with them—especially the Tates, who were well beyond the Archers’ station. That social disparity was the very reason why David hadn’t used his connection to Benjamin to foster the introduction; he didn’t want to be numbered among the obsequious toadies, desperate to use the Leighs to gain access to the Tates and further their standing in town.
But then, the answer to that mystery was easy enough, for there was now a second connection between his sisters and the Leighs.
David turned his gaze out and spied Miss Leigh standing on the far side of the room. Despite being alone, she did not look like the other wallflowers, who held themselves with the fragility of a wilting blossom about to lose its petals. Miss Leigh stood with a straightened spine, looking out at the room like a queen gazing upon her subjects, appearing to all the world as if the solitude was self-imposed and to her liking. A blooming rose amongst wildflowers.
There was no need to ask, for it was clear she had fostered the connection between her elder sister and his younger one, for that was just the sort of thing Miss Leigh was wont to do. David would wager a hefty sum that she’d felt Flora’s discomfort as though it were her very own and did what she could to ease it; Miss Katherine Leigh was no social butterfly who could aid his sister’s entrance into society, but she had a close connection to one.
David’s heart burned at the thought. The heat spread through him as he watched Miss Leigh. Why could others not see the treasure she was simply because she had a few thorns? Everyone did.
“Are you going to do something about your young lady?”
David jerked, though he kept himself from doing something entirely embarrassing like squawking, and he turned his gaze to his mother, who had somehow snuck up to his side. He stared at the lady, but she simply took his arm.
“You are rather preoccupied tonight, aren’t you?” she asked, giving him a pat.
“I have much on my mind at present.”
“No doubt.” The lady nodded and gazed out at the gathering, though her brows drew together. “I am proud of you, David. You know that, don’t you?”
“Of course,” he replied, though his throat clamped shut on the last syllable. He couldn’t say his response was entirely truthful, but then, neither was it a lie. Never would he have claimed his mother was embarrassed by or disgruntled with him, but that was a far cry from being proud.
Mother glanced at him from the corner of her eye, and that furrowed brow deepened. “I know I do not say it enough, David, but I am. You do so much for us. I wish I could do more to aid you, but I fear I am such a useless creature.”
“Nonsense,” said David, turning to face her once more—but her head lowered, her eyes falling to the ground.
“Ignore me,” she said, waving it away and taking his arm once more to turn him towards the crowd. “I didn’t come here to speak of myself. I want to know what you are doing with your young lady.”
“I do not have a young lady—”
But David’s protests died when his mother gave him a raise of her brows.
“I am quite optimistic.” Though he spoke the words and believed them, they rang a touch hollow even to his ears. “I like Miss Sheridan, and I think she may very well be that lady from the masquerade.”
With a furrowed brow, she shook her head. “Not that nonsense. I was speaking of your Miss Leigh.”
Chapter 30
David stiffened, his gaze darting across the room to where she stood. “She is not my Miss Leigh.”
