Mr. Cole, meanwhile, had found his tongue, if only barely. “Miss Lockhart,” he murmured, “I confess I did not recognize you.”
Verity turned to face him squarely and was rewarded with even greater surprise in his eyes and mouth, both opening more fully at the entire sight of her. She silently blessed Hope for the sophistication of her dress and the nimble hands of her lady’s maid, who had managed her hair. She knew she looked her absolute best. She had seen herself in the mirror before she’d left home this evening and recognized the look of amazement that was currently fixed upon Mr. Cole’s face, for she had borne it too.
“Good evening, Mr. Cole,” she said with a confidence granted her by her style of dress and hair alike. “Or should I call you ‘Lieutenant Cole’?”
“Mr. Cole will do, thank you.”
“Of course. Mr. Cole. I am…”
Whatwasshe? Relieved to see him, to have a chance to heal wounds? Happy, even, to be in his company? Hopeful for a rekindling of a friendship that had scarcely begun? Which of these, if any, could she say aloud?
“…happy to see you again,” she decided. “It seems a world away from the simple life of our little village.” She cast a pointed look at Mr. Trenton. “And,” she added quickly, “we are both wearing entirely different feathers.” She smiled down at her skirt, which she displayed by pulling it to the side with one hand.
Mr. Cole hesitated but a moment, then appeared to take her cue. “Why, yes, Miss Lockhart,” he answered, brandishing his uniformed arms in an open “T. “We both display well indeed. Do you like my dress sword?” He put his hand upon the hilt and struck a pose.
Verity tapped the lacy tip of her closed fan to her mouth and pretended to give the question serious consideration. “I am in two minds as to how I should answer,” she said after some thought. “If I speak true and say that you are particularly well suited to the uniform, I am sure to be seen as flirting with you. And you know I do not encourage this type of thinking. However, if I say you are but a man dressed for dancing and deserve no further compliment, I will have done the truth of the matter an injustice. So you see, sir, it is better I say nothing.”
Charlotte Trenton clapped her hands. “Ah, William, Miss Lockhart has you well in hand, I see! Take her dancing, dear brother, for she knows no one else here but Mr. Sinclair and Dr. Westbridge, and the latter has already had the privilege.”
Dr. Westbridge made a small bow. “It was a privilege indeed, Mrs. Trenton. Do not allow the opportunity to pass, Mr. Cole. The lady is a fine dancer.”
Verity felt her cheeks grow flushed. “I am really only able to attempt a country dance. Also, I cannot converse well while dancing, as I must concentrate on the figures they have called. And my stepping is labored at best. It is only fair that you should know my limitations before you make the invitation.”
“It is well we are honest in this way,” agreed Mr. Cole, furrowing his brow into a frown that was contradicted by the mischievous twist to his lips. “For example, I am not permitted to wear my sword while dancing. Alas, the thrill of dancing with me must therefore be somewhat reduced. However, my appearance, being thus diminished, will provide less distraction from the minutiae of counting to which you are bound. So you see, we are a disappointing pair and would be better suited to dance together than burden any other with our company.”
“I accept!” Verity laughed. “As always, Mr. Cole, you lack neither eloquence nor wit. At least while we stand and talk—and do not dance—we shall have a commendably good time of it.”
Oh, it felt so good to banter with him again! Mr. Cole, while not a good match pragmatically, brought out a side of her she revealed with no other. Although, now that she thought on it, Dr. Westbridge had managed to perform similar magic earlier. Granted, he had a milder form of humor. More… appropriate. Safer. He had managed to distract her from her insecurities with a gentler wit, one that would not appear unseemly. Mr. Cole, on the other hand, was a shameless Don Juan. She would have to be cautious not to give the impression she was encouraging him. Perhaps she had already erred in this way. She would need to take greater care. There was little wisdom in denouncing his informal suit before, while welcoming his flirtation now. That was not the sort of reputation she wanted. She would ratherbe known as a strange, quiet sort of character, misunderstood and possibly avoided, than a woman who appeared trivial in her mores.
With her thoughts settled thus into a clearer path forward, she joined Mr. Cole on the dance floor in a rather more subdued fashion than she had done with the good doctor.
Verity noticed far more eyes upon her now than there had been when she’d danced with a more innocuous partner. Mr. Cole, no doubt, had already made his mark with the ladies of Munro, and they must have been wondering at his connection to Verity. Was she competition for his attention? Was she the sort to invite it?
“You can feel it, can’t you?” Mr. Cole asked suddenly.
“Pardon?”
“The stares that are hidden behind fans and the whispers cupped behind gloved hands.”
“Yes,” Verity answered truthfully. “It is very discomfiting.”
“As it should be.”
Verity looked at Mr. Cole pointedly. “I would think you were used to it. In many ways, you choose a behavior that provokes it.”
An arched eyebrow was followed by a slow, spreading smile. “Ah, Miss Lockhart, I have missed your candor.”
“Perhaps,” she said, venturing toward the topic she had long hoped to broach with him, “I wastoocandid at our last meeting.”
His face clouded but less than she’d thought it might have. “I’ll admit,” he replied, “your response to my gift was… surprising. But I have had time to reason further. I understand now where I went wrong. Your letter made it clear.”
Pain shot through Verity’s heart, so strong, it must surely have shown upon her face. “That was not my intention! I was trying to apologize, not attribute blame.”
“And so you did, Miss Lockhart, to my shame. That you should apologize when it is I who hurt you is not something I can be proud of.”
“But you meant well. And I was terribly ungracious in my reaction.” Verity shook her head slowly, her heart pinched with remorse. “You must have been hurt too. I had fully intended to explain myself at your next visit.” She grew quiet. “But… there wasn’t one.”
Mr. Cole’s expression softened. “I am sorry. It was badly done.” He raised his eyes to hers. “Would it help you to know I’ve done a little growing up since then?” He grinned. “Why, I’ve even come of age!”
