Algenon’s face hardened. His shoulders tensed as his eyes snapped to the lady at his father’s side. “Miss Weston, might I claim your next set?”
The smile that bloomed on Miss Weston’s face was practiced. It reminded Javenia of a wax figure, frozen in perfect lines, yet somehow not reaching her eyes.
“I would like nothing more than to dance with you.” Miss Weston batted her eyes and moved to stand closer to him.
“Good, I will find you when it begins.” Then he whirled on his heels and left.
Javenia stared after his retreating form. It wasn’t quite the firmnoshe’d hoped for, but at least he wasn’t giving Miss Weston any more time than was necessary. Then again, he’d leftherto deal with the aftermath.
Nessa blinked at her friends a few times before subtly motioning with her head for them to move somewhere else. She had the right idea of it. While Lord Roberts would not hurt any of them, he was likely to say unpleasant things about Algenon’s behavior. Javenia was self-aware enough to know she shouldn’t be around when that happened unless she wished to widen the gaping hole in all of their relationships with Lord Roberts.
Before she could make her excuses, however, Lord Roberts spoke directly to her.
“Miss Harris, might I have a moment of your time?”
Ice slithered up Javenia’s spine and she knew something was amiss. A voice in her head screamed no at the same time she said, “Yes, of course.”
He gestured away from the gathered group, not bothering to offer his arm. “If you will excuse us, Miss Weston.”
This time, the lady’s smile was genuine, if not a bit cruel in its execution. There was a hardness in her gaze that let Javenia know she was right to be worried over whatever Lord Roberts wished to say.
She moved in the direction Lord Roberts indicated until he stepped in front of her to lead the way. When they reached the edge of the floor where few people mingled, he stopped and turned to face her.
“Miss Harris, until now I have not interfered with your acquaintance with my son, but I feel it my duty as his father to ask you to keep your distance. If you care at all for my son’s happiness, you will find other young men who are at liberty to offer you the attention you deserve.”
The music ended for the set Javenia should have been dancing with Algenon. She glanced around as the dancers dispersed to find other partners, knowing Algenon would be required to return to Miss Weston’s side even if he did not wish to. Lord Roberts’s words had not been necessarily cruel, but the meaning floating under them was demeaning. He didn’t see her as being worthy of his son.
Lord Roberts was a pompous lout. How dare he tell her with whom she could and could not associate? Algenon was in his majority, as was she. He was a baron’s son and she a baron’s daughter. So far, they were equal. She tried to relax her stiff arms and balled fists at her side.
“Your son and I have known each other from our infancy. How do you expect me to simply walk away from all those years of history? Algenon would never stand for it.”
Lord Roberts pursed his lips and clasped his hands behind his back. “See, this is what I am speaking of. You are no longer children. Men and woman do not resort to first names in sucha casual fashion. You have been creating quite a stir with your familiarity, and nothing can come of it.”
She wanted to scream ‘why not’,butshe knew better than to cross the man. If she ever hoped for Algenon to stand up to his father, she couldn’t make an enemy of Lord Roberts before she’d even had the chance to find out exactly where Algenon’s heart lay. She would need to play her cards carefully, or all her work would be for naught.
Clasping her hands in front of her, she took a submissive stance. “I can see what you mean. I will endeavor to call him Mr. Roberts from now on.”
“Good. I am happy to see you can be reasoned with. Perhaps if you remember your place more often, you will finally make a decent match.”
Javenia bit the tip of her tongue to keep from saying something she would regret. If it weren’t for this man, she’d have made that match years ago. At least she’d like to think so.
Doubt nibbled at her mind like a mouse at cheese as words from the past haunted her. Algenon had declared her unfit for marriage moments after the one glorious kiss they’d shared in their youth. While years had elapsed, she worried he still might feel the same way. Why else would he not stand up to his father?
Her stiff stance dissolved, and her shoulders drooped.
Lord Roberts shifted as if he would go, then stopped. His features softened. “I am sorry to cause you pain. You have been a good friend to my children. Perhaps if your father had not been so spiteful and sold me Hazelwood years ago, before Penwick of course, things might have been different.”
Javenia swallowed hard at the mention of Lord Penwick. Lord Roberts’s obsession with owning Hazelwood she understood, but what of her unfortunate relationship with Duncan Boleyn had the man discovered?
Her chest tightened. Even from the grave, Duncan was still ruining her life. Why had she believed he’d changed, that he’d actually been serious when he’d started courting her? In a breath, she knew the answer.
Naivety.
Well, she was not naïve anymore. Duncan had taught her to guard her trust—the little that was left of it.
Lord Roberts’s gentle pat to her upper arm caught her off guard and she winced.
“Thank you for thinking of my son’s happiness. I wish you well.” Then he walked away.
