I hoped he did.
I wore the right color, a beautiful airy cream dress with an overdress of sky blue. Nothing about me was mournful. My spirits rallied. I would indulge in now and accept his proposal.
My eyes locked with Daniel’s.
As he started for me, Lady Shrewsbury scooped him up and led him to widows who’d brought their daughters, then to other members of the Widow’s Grace.
Then to Lady Lavinia.
The mean woman towed him off to dance.
I thought Daniel was coming for me.
I thought we’d finally dance in the open.
Jealousy spread like a slow rolling boil in my stomach.
Patience tugged me toward the desserts. “You look angry. Are you all right?”
“I think I just made a decision.”
“You’re staring at Ashbrook. Are you back to being enemies?”
“No. I just hoped I haven’t waited too long.”
She put an arm about me. “What is for you is yours. No Lavinia can take it from you.”
I shrugged. With everything being stripped from me, I simply didn’t know.
“Still looking for the earl?”
Mr. Willingham stood beside me. “You should choose better than him.”
“Who do you think I should choose? A man who treats me with dignity or one who thinks he can push me to marry him?”
He rubbed his jaw. “You’re fiery. Maybe a bit crazed. I hear you do crazy things outside of Sandlin too. Perhaps the earl can explain it. Perhaps he should suffer for encouraging you.”
Patience pulled me from Willingham before I slapped him. She must have sensed that I’d do something rash.
“Be careful, Jemina. I think the duke has men here spying. The last thing we need is for a brawl to start and more rumors to fly.”
Fear struck my middle, not over making a scene but that something bad would happen. Willingham was baiting me on purpose. Why?
Lady Bodonel came to us. “Jemina, I want you to come and meet some people. I think they could be good candidates for you. Then you can have your own house and move on from the duke’s.”
“No, Lady Bodonel,” Patience said, “it will be you moving on, not visiting. I thought I could stand your sniping for the duke’s sake, but you’ve pushed too much. Jemina is always welcome. You’re not, not anymore. Return to your paint fumes.”
I couldn’t let my friend’s evening be ruined because of me. “Lady Bodonel, the Lord Mayor has come. You should go meet those important people. I think he knows the peers who’ve been recently widowed.”
The lady turned without uttering another word and disappeared in the crowd.
“Jemina, is that true?”
“It’s a rumor. One I just made up.”
Patience smiled, but her face looked very green. “I need some air.”
“I should come with you.”
