me.â
Hampton grunted and nodded toward a flock of young gentleman. âWilkens and Prescott are over there. Friends of yours, are they not? There is still a good while until supper, though the ball shall begin soon.â
Ben barely managed a nod before his host was off to welcome another guest, if âwelcomeâ was the proper term.
âBennet Lane, there you are. I thought you would never arrive!â
âOhâ¦ahâ¦â He could feel his neck flush as he turned to find Elizabeth Shirley, one of the prettier young ladies heâd met, standing before him, her fan hardly covering the coquettish tilt to her lips.
âIâ¦that isâ¦â Blast. His tongue felt thick and boorish, to match his addled brain. Think, man, think .
Whom did she look like? Her noseâit was the same shape as Daniel Cliffordâs, and Daniel was a fair-minded fellow. He had a taste for the ridiculous, though, that could certainly reveal itself in a smirk not unlike Miss Shirleyâs.
Daniel. Daniel stood before him now, undoubtedly preparing for some hideous play, given the frippery heâd dressed in. That was it.
Ben cleared his throat. âI do hope you are enjoying a pleasant Christmas?â
Daniel swished his fan. âI am indeed. Mrs. Hampton has paired us for supper, you know. I look forward to it.â
Daniel dissolved fully back into Miss Shirley, and Ben could manage no more than an âAhâ¦yes. Well, then.â He nodded as he edged away.
He drew in a sharp breath. Deuces and blazes, why couldnât he act the part of a normal young buck? At least every now and again. But no, Providence had seen fit to reserve such gifts, which wasnât very Providential at all, now was it? Ben ought to do them all a favor and mire himself with the other gentleman, thereby sparing himself and every female in the house a goodly dose of embarrassment.
His gaze tracked to the corner of the room, where Miss Reeves stood at the window. Theodosia Parks and Emeline Barton sat on the settee beside her, but she seemed oblivious to her friendsâ chatter. She stared out the window as if the skiff of snow covering the gardens had some magical secret hidden within its crystals. For the first time since the night they met, he noted the stiffness of anxiety in her neck and shoulders.
Miss Parks directed a question her way, and yet again he watched her assume a facade of ease that obliterated the telltale tension. Her smile was of perfect brilliance, and whatever she said had the girls tittering, though the look they exchanged between them seemed to also say they thought her dimwitted, however delightfully. When Miss Parks turned from her again, Miss Reeves let her eyes slide shut for half a moment, and then she turned toward the door.
He was following before he could consider the wisdom of it. They had been at many of the same functions in the preceding weeks, but not since that first one had he seen her slip away from the gathering.
Perhaps Providence was with him today after all.
âNot running away, are you, my dear?â
Winter had to bite back tears at the unwelcome voice, though she pasted on a bright smile. âColonel Fairchild. I will be back directly.â
The colonel grinned and took her hand, pressing a kiss to it. âI am sure you will be. I have barely had a chance to enjoy your company this afternoon, so busy have you been with your friends.â
Busy. With her friends. Those silly girls interested in nothing but fashion and beaux, who made an art of insulting her in subtle ways that they assumed she didnât understand.
She swallowed the sob that threatened her throat and prayed her grin was convincing. âTheyâve been regaling me with descriptions of the lovely gifts their parents gave them for Christmas.â
Concern flickered in Fairchildâs eyes as he studied her. âHave you a headache, Miss Reeves?â
Regret mixed with the sorrow
R.L. Stine - (ebook by Undead)