“Doesn’t it suit her?” asked Felicity with a nod. “My curls are far too opinionated to gather up in such an elegant manner.”
Before the others could leap in with their own kindly meant flummery, Violet hurried to add, “Osborn sent the flowers over, and I thought I would put them to good use.”
“The ladies do adore a posey,” said the fellow in question, glancing between Violet and his sister, whose own hair was similarly decorated. But Osborn spoke with a distracted tone that she recognized all too well. Now that he’d asked his favor and flattered her a touch, he would drift off in search of his other friends.
“I see Mr. Henshaw has arrived,” murmured Osborn as he stretched his head to gaze across the room. “I must speak to him. Please excuse me.” Freeing his arm from Violet, he turned away, but paused to add, “I will be on your doorstep at ten o’clock tomorrow—if that is not too early for you.”
“For me? Goodness, no,” she replied. “Though I will be greatly surprised if you manage it.”
Osborn chuckled and gave her a slight bow before hurrying away. That rascal.
“I am so glad you decided to host a concert,” said Violet, turning her attention back to the others.
“I had thought of holding a dance, but I fear my sister-in-law would’ve fainted dead away should I have suggested such a strenuous activity,” said Felicity with a laugh. “Though I do appreciate any excuse to hear my husband play. He has such a way with music.”
“Are we to hear you perform, Miss Templeton?” asked Dr. Vaughn.
“Goodness, no. You may have convinced my mother to participate, but I assure you I haven’t any musical skill worth displaying,” said Violet with wide eyes and a shake of her head. “My mother despaired over my lack of talent, but it isn’t my fault that my brother inherited all the musical abilities in the family.”
“Then might I be so bold as to ask if I might sit with you?” he asked.
“If you wish to,” she said with a smile.
“I wouldn’t have asked otherwise—” But Dr. Vaughn’s words were cut short when Mr. Biddlesby called to him.
“There you are, sir. Been looking for you,” said the gentleman whilst motioning for Dr. Vaughn toward the other end of the gathering. “I am desperate for your opinion.”
Dr. Vaughn glanced at Violet. “I shall return before the performance begins.”
She nodded, though she didn’t understand the determined edge to his tone, as though he was expecting her to disappear. But whatever his reasons, he accepted her assurance and followed Mr. Biddlesby as the gentleman began describing the urgent matter concerning his wife’s health.
Once more, it was the three ladies, but when Violet’s attention turned to them, she found the pair watching her with raised brows and giddy smiles that were steeped in speculation.
Chapter 22
“Ihave to admit, I was ready to despise the interloper,” said Diana. “But I think he is rather sweet on you.”
“More than ‘rather,’ if I were to guess,” added Felicity with an impish gleam in her eyes. To which Violet couldn’t help but respond with a scoff that was far louder than intended and drew a few curious looks in her direction.
“Don’t be ridiculous. What man would have the slightest interest in courting a lady with two and thirty years to her name?”
“My husband did,” said Felicity with an arched brow.
Violet’s expression didn’t soften as she shook her head. “Yes, but you are adorable and have many fine qualities that are bound to attract a gentleman—even if most of them are too dense to look past an imperfect complexion.”
“My complexion is a good deal worse than ‘imperfect,’” replied Felicity in a dry tone. “And I have my garishly red hair as well.”
Shaking her head, Violet said, “Men only see me as a sister. Or a friend at the very most. I am a spinster through and through with no hope of that changing.”
Diana placed her hands on her hips. “None of your spinster talk—”
“An unmarried lady of more than thirty years is by all accounts a spinster, so I see no reason to fear the label. Why not embrace the truth of my status for what it is?” replied Violet with a dismissive wave of her hand.
“Might I point out that almost all the princesses are unwed, and the youngest is nearly your age if I recall correctly, and I doubt anyone would dare call them spinsters,” said Diana with a scowl.
Violet took a deep breath. There was no point in arguing further, for she knew it was a battle her friend would not surrender. For all that they had many aspects in common, it was impossible for Diana to fully understand the importance of that distinction. At seven and twenty, she was only a little beyond the average age that many ladies married and still some years from spinsterhood. To Diana, the possibility of matrimony still existed.
There was peace in embracing whatwasrather than focusing on what onewishedher life to be. Spinster was just a word. Though others mocked it and shuddered at the sound, being unmarried was simply her lot, and accepting it caused far less pain than continuing to hope for something that would never be.
