He likes me,she thought wonderingly.My first real outing into Society, and I found a man I like.
How lucky I am!
Almost immediately, anxiety swept in.
What if I make a mistake? What if he gets tired of me? Or mayhap these are just Society manners, and he is simply being kind, and I have misinterpreted it? Oh, heavens.
Or what if he is simply a flirt? I know that some gentlemen do that, and toy with ladies’ hearts. Would I be foolish enough to fall for such a trick?
“Tell me, Miss Randall, do you like music?”
“Hm?” she blinked, feeling a little dazed. “I am terribly sorry, I was not paying attention.”
He only laughed, not seeming offended at all. “I was speaking of music, Miss Randall. It’s a very proper subject for a dinner party, you see.”
She gave a huff. “Well, I told Lady Henrietta Barwick that I played the violin, and she deemed it an unladylike instrument, and thought that I should have learned the pianoforte or the harp instead.”
“Oh, dear. Well, the Dowager Lady Barwick is known for her sternness and strict opinions. I think that the violin is a wonderful instrument, and a difficult one to learn. I hope I have the opportunity to hear you play sometime.”
Warmth spread through Pippa’s chest.
“I… I should love to play for you. My father loved to hear me play. He loved music and played several instruments himself.”
Lord Whitmore nodded, glancing her way. Their eyes met, and he held her gaze.
“He sounds like a most interesting man. I should like to hear more about him.”
A lump formed in Pippa’s throat.When was the last time I could talk about Papa?
“Really?” she found herself saying.
Lord Whitmore nodded again, a shy smile spreading across his face.
“Yes. I should like it very much, Miss Randall.”
***
Supper flew over. Pippa had expected the endless courses to drag on, while she smothered yawns and tried to feign interest. What a change from her expectations! Instead, she and Lord Whitmore talked incessantly about everything and nothing. Conversation was soeasywith him. Pippa found herself noticing how his eyes lit up when he talked, and the way his brows waggled when he told a story that wasmostendearing.
I like him,she thought, hiding a smile.I like him very much, and I am well on my way to caring for him more and more.
Her thoughts, of course, ran straight to love. Naturally, it was far too early to think of such a thing. She was still unsure whether hedidlike her, or whether their conversation had simply been a friendly one.
But there was hope, wasn’t there? There was something to explore.
When Katherine got to her feet and announced that the ladies would withdraw to the drawing room, Pippa felt more disappointed than she could possibly have known. She rose reluctantly to her feet, and the gentlemen all rose too. Feeling eyes on her, she glanced across the table to find Lord Barwick staring at her.
“I suppose I shall see you later, then,” Lord Whitmore said, smiling hopefully. “When the gentlemen join the ladies in the drawing room, that is. I believe there’s talk of a billiards game, but I shall try to get out of it.”
He wants to talk more with me,she realised, with a jolt of excitement.That’s promising, isn’t it?
“I shall look forward to it,” she heard herself say, then hurried to join the queue of ladies filing out of the supper room.
Out in the cool, dark hallway, Pippa was still blinking and trying to adjust her eyes to the gloom when somebody snatched up her arm.
It was, of course, Bridget.
“Oh, Mama, you made me jump.”
