The pair stopped when they reached Algenon and Javenia. Phillipa glanced between them, a question evident in the set of her shoulders and the way her lips twitched.
Javenia smiled and stepped away from him. Algenon wanted to throw a childish fit. Why couldn’t Phillipa have waited a few moments longer? They hadn’t even settled on a time to meet.
“Are you ready?” he asked instead.
“I will be.” Phillipa motioned for a footman and the man brought forward the cloak she’d asked for earlier. “I do hope you enjoy your time at the opera, Lord Hamdon. We too, will be there that night. Perhaps we shall see one another.”
Lord Hamdon nodded. “I shall look forward to it.”
Algenon didn’t have time to ask which night she referred to as their stepmother had scheduled multiple trips to the opera over the next few weeks. Nor did he particularly care which night the man went, as long as he kept his attention away from Javenia.
As if Lord Hamdon had read Algenon’s thoughts and immediately discounted them, he turned to Javenia. “Might I escort you back to the party?”
She smiled. “In just a moment. Let me say goodbye to my friends.”
Stepping forward, Javenia hugged Phillipa. She returned the embrace, lamenting that they had to leave so soon. Then her face brightened.
“Will you come during calling hours tomorrow?”
Javenia’s smile faded, and she glanced at him. “I cannot.”
“Fine, then I shall come to you during yours,” Phillipa announced. “Besides, Cindy and I need to plan what we will wear to the Fortescues’ soiree.”
The tight expression on Javenia’s face nearly made him laugh. She liked speaking about fashion almost as much as he enjoyed having Miss Weston forced on him. When her brow furrowed, however, he realized there was more behind her discomfort.
“I am sure Cindy will enjoy that.”
“Are you certain you all cannot come tomorrow? I hate to wait an extra day. If you are worried about Father, I am certain he can find some other place to be. He does not always hover over us, you know.”
“I am certain.” Javenia stepped back, clasping her hands together. “Mr. Roberts”—she dipped her head to him— “until we meet again, good evening.”
Then she took Lord Hamdon’s proffered arm and walked away, taking with her the light Algenon had come to depend upon. Why could fate not smile on him for one blasted moment? Had he done something so terribly wrong that everything in his life had to conspire against him?
They’d not reached an agreement on when to meet at John’s, but he had to hope she’d meant the day after tomorrow. Then again, why had she been so averse to making any arrangements with his family for the next day? Did she have plans?
As she disappeared into the rooms set up with card tables, one reason rose to the forefront of his thoughts and his heart lodged in his throat.
Was she engaged to go out with Lord Hamdon?
Chapter 15
Javenia slipped out the front door, not wanting her mother or sister to ask about her destination. It had been hard enough to avoid their questions when she’d declined going to visit the Roberts’ townhouse for at home hours yesterday.
Apparently, Phillipa had carried her point with Cindy where Javenia hadn’t been able to. It still did not signify. Lord Roberts had made it abundantly clear with his glare the evening before that she was still not welcome. It made her adventure this morning even more risky, but she would not be dissuaded.
She’d waited this long to speak with Algenon, and she refused to wait a moment longer. Since they hadn’t set a time, she went early enough that she wouldn’t miss him, yet late enough so as to not be rude. John and Susannah would not turn her away. They’d accept her in the middle of the night if she had a notion to show up at such an hour, but she didn’t want to be a burden on their kindness.
When she hailed a hackney, the driver raised a brow at her but said nothing. It was strange to see a lady traveling by herself, sheknew, but married women of her age did so all the time, and no one questioned them.
Thankfully, this driver was a regular on these streets and knew her by name. The middle-aged man with a thinning pate and scar on his bottom lip tipped his cap to her.
“Where to, Miss 'arris?”
“Newhurst House, please.”
He scrambled down and opened the door. “Off ta see Lady Newhurst again. It’s been a spell since I took ya round there.”
“Since last season, I believe.” She took his hand as he helped her into the carriage, then she smiled her thanks as he shut the door.
