The motion of the carriage slowed as the driver pulled it to a halt. William Cole’s head lifted and turned to the window.
“It seems we have arrived.” He looked back down the way they had come. “The lane is quite busy. Better to send Ned home and have him fetch us later. Shall we say two hours? That should give us plenty of time to satisfy even Miss Lockhart’s enthusiasm.” He turned to Verity. “Or have I underestimated your need?”
“Goodness!” replied Verity. “I wouldn’t dream of asking Mrs. Trenton to stay a minute longer than that. But thank you for your consideration, Mr. Cole.”
“Right, then, ladies,” said Lawrence Cole. “Let’s be on our way. I will let Ned know of our plans.”
They bundled out of the carriage and waited on the pavement for the elder Mr. Cole to instruct the driver.
“Oh, look!” cried Mrs. Trenton, indicating with her gloved hand at a splendid carriage waiting a hundred yards down the lane. It had a crest painted in blues and golds upon the door. “Lord and Lady Howell must be attending the same lecture. How marvelous! I’m so glad Ellena has convinced her husband to partake more in all that our fine city has to offer. I can’t wait to introduce you, Miss Lockhart. And you…” She tapped her younger brother playfully on the chest with her fan. “You will have to mind your Ps and Qs. She is no longer a houseguest you can tease. She is the finest lady of our city.”
If Verity didn’t know better, she would have quite believed William Cole had seen a ghost. The blood drained from his face and he looked as if he were ready to run.
“Are you all right, Mr. Cole?” Verity asked quickly.
“I… Yes… Something from breakfast must have disagreed with me.”
Verity was alarmed at the suddenness of his change in pallor. “Would you prefer to go home? The scent of so much camphor might not be the best thing for an unsettled constitution.”
He stood, evidently undecided, casting his gaze from Verity to the door of the Society building. His eyes came to rest again on Verity. He looked upon her with earnest concentration.
His sister came to stand by his elbow and touched his arm lightly. “If you do not feel well, take the carriage home. There will be other opportunities…” She left the sentence hanging in the air as if there were more to be understood that need not be said aloud.
Verity assumed Mrs. Trenton was referring to time spent with his brother. But William Cole did not glance in his direction even once. His eyes remained upon Verity, as if all rested upon what would become of her if he left. Perhaps he had shared their little pact with his sister. He might feel he was letting their guest down if he did not see the outing through. Had he not promised to help Verity sift only the best matches from the chaff that might distract her?
“I will stay,” he said eventually. “But I will forego unnecessary conversations and confine my energy to our little crew.”
“Very well,” his sister replied. “But don’t be surprised if Lady Howell comes to greet you. You haven’t spoken since…” Mrs. Trenton stopped and pondered a moment. “I believe it was just before her wedding. I was amazed neither of you sought the other out at the ball. Especially when one thinks what fastfriends you had become. It would be good of you to at least wish her well on her nuptials.”
William Cole nodded, though his face remained grim. “If she wishes to speak with me, I will do so gladly,” he said.
“Of course she would wish it!” Mrs. Trenton laughed. However, the sound carried no conviction. She looked at her brother with a small frown but said nothing further.
Up the stairs they went. William Cole managed them well enough. The color had returned to his face. In fact, it had returned in excess. Verity hoped he was not coming down with a fever. If he was exerting himself for her sake, she would never forgive herself. It was all very well for him to take his promise to her so seriously, but it wasn’t worth the cost of his health.
Inside, the rooms were filled almost to capacity. People mulled around, perusing the various displays. Butterflies in one room, glass vivaria in another, and so on. Down a hallway was a larger assembly room, its chairs waiting to be claimed once the lecture was ready to begin.
“Perhaps you should rest here,” Verity told the younger Mr. Cole. “We will stay with you. I can always browse afterward if you are feeling better.”
This did not appear to comfort William Cole as it should have. He shook his head slowly. “I am well enough. And if I weren’t, I would take myself home. Please, Miss Lockhart, take every advantage of your time here. I would be dismayed to rob you of even a moment of it.”
“Well…” Verity looked uncertainly upon her friend. “If you are sure…”
Mr. Cole gathered himself, standing straight and determined. Verity had to admit, he did seem to have recovered a great deal. “I am fine,” he said. “In fact, I might even offer you my arm. My sister can hover at your side so that my propinquitymight not be misconstrued by others.” He offered her a lopsided grin.
Verity breathed out a sigh of relief. “Ah, sir, I see you are indeed yourself again.” She countered his mischievous smile with her own. “And because you are, I shall rely on myself for locomotion. To be on the arm of such a charming gentleman would discourage the attentions of the very suitors you have promised to help me find. After all, is this not the perfect place to find them?”
“What is this?” asked Lawrence Cole, his blond brows lifting at his brother. “Are you to play matchmaker for Miss Lockhart?” He turned to Verity and scoffed. “It seems you are taking advice from a gentleman who has not yet secured his own partner in life. If that is the case, Charlotte and I shall have to add our efforts to the cause. With your permission, of course.”
The irony was not lost on Verity. The very family she had almost married into, the one she wished now could be her own, had—to a man—volunteered to help her find any other partner than she one she wanted. And how could she refuse?
Just look at them. Three pairs of eyes willing me to happiness. And one pair belonging to the man who could give it.
“Er… thank you.” What else could she say? William Cole was never going to be hers. She might as well explore other avenues. And what better than the support of three people who were so sincerely invested in her well-being?
A crowd began to filter into the lecture hall. Among them, Dr. Westbridge. His eyes lit up the moment he recognized Verity and her companions, and he hurried over to where they were standing.
“Miss Lockhart! So glad you could come!” He acknowledged the rest, then turned his attention back to Verity. “Have you seen the mounted large blue in the butterfly room? It was donatedto us anonymously this week. Isn’t it funny that we just spoke about it at the ball? Do you think your friend has had a change of heart?”
