“Oh, none in particular, although we’ll probably invite some young men down from London. It’s high time someone showed an interest in you girls, before you’re left on the shelf completely.” Lady Abernathy chuckled somewhat mechanically, to show it was just a joke, while Lady Smithfield bristled.
“It just so happens, Lady Abernathy, that Lydia’s received—”
“Mama,” Emily interrupted, while Lydia could only look on, terrified. “It was to be our little secret, but now that you’ve begun, I suppose we dare not leave our friends in suspense. Mama’s referring to our new dressmaker, from whom Lydia commissioned a dress and has just received it. Now she’ll be able to wear it to your ball.”
“A new dressmaker. Here in Stonehurst?”
“No, no, I have already said too much, you shall just have to wait until your ball to hear the rest. Lydia would not want all the young ladies from miles around copying her dress.”
Lady Abernathy looked satisfied, while Lady Smithfield was forced to swallow the news of Lydia’s engagement once again. But she looked forward with pleasure to crowing about it to Lady Abernathy as soon as Lord Wesleigh arrived from London. If he ever did arrive.
The Abernathys were the highest ranking of the nobility in the parish, with the largest estate, Rothergate. They had one son, Viscount Farnwright, who would be attending the ball although he had already married and spent most of his time in London. Alexander was slightly acquainted with Farnwright, and was grateful that as a lowly curate no one would care whether he attended the ball or not. He noticed Emily’s delight at the prospect of the ball and smiled to himself. She was a taking little thing. He hoped that she would make it to London one day for a season of her own. It was too bad his mother was not still living or she might have offered to take the girl under her wing. He dismissed that thought and pondered instead the little scene he had just witnessed. It seemed as though Lady Smithfield had been about to announce the news of Lydia’s engagement before Emily interrupted. He was thankful, of course, as he had no desire to publicize the betrothal, but he wondered that the Smithfield family didn’t shout it from the rooftops. It would be to Emily’s advantage if her sister married well. It would put her in the way of meeting eligible gentleman. But, from her behavior earlier that evening, it was obvious she had different plans in mind for her sister. Just what was the little minx up to?
He noticed all of a sudden that Lord Abernathy was staring at him, and he racked his brain to think of any way he could have drawn attention to himself.
“Where’s your living?” Lord Abernathy asked.
“I am sorry, my lord, I don’t have one at the moment. In between positions, you might say.”
“I know of one in the next county over that’s vacant. Should talk to Lord Billingsworth about it.”
“Thank you, my lord, I’ll consider it.” There was no way Alexander would speak to Billingsworth. He and Billingsworth, while not intimates, both belonged to the same club, and Billingsworth would be sure to recognize him.
“What’s there to consider, young man? Positions don’t grow on trees. You should jump at the opportunity.” Lord Abernathy was looking at him strangely, and Alexander realized a penniless young curate with no living would not have dismissed his offer so cavalierly.
“You are right, my lord, of course. I will be sure to look into it at the earliest opportunity.”
Abernathy nodded in satisfaction, and Alexander mentally chided himself for slipping out of his role so easily. It was a good thing he hadn’t posed as a servant. Apparently he had no talent for acting. He needed to accomplish his goal, so that he could return to London as soon as possible and quit this stupid charade. His father would certainly never expect him to pursue a lady whose affections were already engaged by another. He just needed to verify his suspicions and present his father with the evidence. Miss Emily Smithfield would be the perfect accomplice in his endeavor. Not to mention a most attractive one.
Emily was at that moment peering speculatively across the room at Alexander, thinking much along those same lines herself. She was very conscious of the fact that Lord Wesleigh could appear any day, and there was still nothing resolved between Lydia and Sedgewick. If he were to arrive tomorrow, Emily doubted she could do anything to prevent the match from proceeding as planned. And in addition to her own selfish reasons for wishing to stop her sister’s marriage, she truly loved her sister and did not want her marrying one man when she loved another. But Emily was accomplishing nothing on her own. She needed Mr. Williams’s help. He was Sedgewick’s good friend and could ascertain if Sedgewick returned Lydia’s regard. He had told her earlier that evening he had no experience with matchmaking, but Emily was sure he was a quick learner. He didn’t seem the sort who was unfamiliar with romance. She would wager he’d been an eager participant in quite a few
“I have another treat in store for you, young lady.”
“Oh, really?” Emily replied absently, still watching Williams’s progress across the room. “What is that?”
“I am having a a visit from my niece, Lady Cynthia Sommers. You will want to meet her. She could definitely smarten you up.” Emily wondered that Lady Abernathy dared to criticize her appearance, as Lady Abernathy was no nonpareil in that area, either. Her favorite color appeared to be a quite unbecoming mixture of brown and gray. “Quite the fashion plate, my niece,” Lady Abernathy continued in her stentorian voice. “Has all the London bucks chasing after her. She could definitely teach you a thing or two, young lady.”
Emily was embarrassed to have Lady Abernathy proclaim in front of Mr. Williams that she needed someone to help her attract beaux, but he hardly seemed to have heard. At the very mention of the name Lady Cynthia, a dismayed look appeared on his face, and he halted abruptly. He regained his composure almost immediately and took the seat next to Emily.
Alexander was quite perturbed, however, to hear that Lady Cynthia was coming to Stonehurst. They had enjoyed an enjoyable flirtation last season, until the lady had made it very clear she would not be averse to something more. He had spent the end of the season last year and the beginning of this one avoiding her. He assuredly had not expected to run into her in this little backwater. He assumed she would be enjoying the height of the season. Could she have heard somehow he was in Stonehurst? It was not an impossibility. He had sent his father a note before he left, explaining that he was leaving for Stonehurst at the earliest opportunity to make Miss Smithfield’s acquaintance. It was entirely conceivable that the news had spread. He would have to think later how he would deal with her presence, but, for now, Lady Abernathy had resumed conversation with Lady Smithfield, and this was his opportunity to speak to Emily.
“I found our earlier conversation very interesting, Miss Smithfield.”
“As did I, Mr. Williams. I wished to discuss the matter with you further.” Emily felt she might have been a trifle bold, but Mr. Williams just smiled.
“Good. For I must admit I had a similar goal in mind when I approached you. I feel that a gentleman such as my friend Sedgewick, a gentleman with such serious responsibilities, could only benefit by having a partner and helper. A proper wife can be the making of a man, don’t you agree, Miss Smithfield?”
“I am in complete agreement. Your friend needs a compassionate and caring wife, who will assist him in his parish duties and provide a good example to others.”
“I take it from your matchmaking attempt earlier this evening you feel that your sister meets those qualifications.”
“Well, perhaps I should not say so to a near stranger, but I must admit they seem well suited.”
“You can trust me, Miss Smithfield, for I have Sedgewick’s best interests at heart. And somehow I feel that I know you very well, although our acquaintance has been of short duration. There is a candid, honest quality about you that is quite refreshing.”
“Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Williams, but my mother is more forthright in her description of me. The quality you describe so prettily as ‘candid and honest’ she more accurately characterizes as ‘a sad lack of delicacy.’”
“Then your mother does you an injustice. Please believe me when I tell you that I do not find you lacking.”
Emily was so unused to compliments that she barely knew how to react. She decided it would be best just to change the subject, although she meant to hone her skills at flirtation before the marquess arrived. That thought reminded her of the goal at hand, which she had been in imminent danger of forgetting. Mr. Williams’s gorgeous brown eyes were proving a formidable distraction. “As you appreciate candor, I will tell you truthfully that I wish to
