He was also so uninterested in Grace Yardley. All those ladies he led around had been chosen by him.Shehad been chosen by his aunt.
Would anybody know it? Would they sense it? Would they see in his demeanor that he’d been pressganged by his aunt? Her embarrassment would be tenfold if that were the case.
Well, she would just get on with it. He did his aunt a favor and she would express her appreciation for it and make him know he need not feel obligated to do so in future.
Yes. That would be best. Just face the thing head on and be certain thatheunderstood thatsheunderstood the real case of things. She was not flattered, only thankful of the favor and not requiring another.
If he wished to approach her at some other ball, well that would certainly be fine, but not expected. In truth, it would be more than fine, but she would not let him know it.
“Miss Yardley,” Lord Gresham said, holding out his arm.
Chapter Five
George had spentthe preceding sets half listening to what was said to him and half rehearsing what he would say to Miss Yardley to put her on her guard.
Apparently, Langley and his wife had no plans to set up a house of their own and would stay on with his parents. George thought it was deuced odd, but then they were an odd pair to begin. Seemingly happy with each other, but odd.
Lady Annabelle, who he’d really had no intention of approaching, had somehow practically handed him her card. Much to his relief, she had seemed to have given up her relentless fishing for compliments and only spoke of Mr. Pottsgrove, her new husband. It appeared that Mr. Pottsgrove provided plenty on the flattery side of things and George was also to know that he regularly assisted her upon her horse with one hand. George was not sure where the charm in that was, but equally sure Lady Annabelle was suitably satisfied by the habit.
Now he led Miss Yardley to their place on the ballroom floor and he could not avoid noticing the looks of envy from various gentlemen. He was particularly irritated to see Jacobs and his callow friends eyeing the lady. Jacobs was well-known as a hopeless flirt who had led more than one lady into that embarrassing state called disappointed hopes. He was also an inveterate gossip worse than anybody’s spinster aunt. He was an irritating and immature person who had likely never done a kindness to anybody in his life, but he was rich and so mamas were always pushing their daughters forward. At least his aunt would have more sense.
Perhaps more worrying than Jacobs, Skeffington seemed to have his eye on Miss Yardley. That man was more subtle in his stares, and far more dangerous. It was well-known that Skeffington was currently hosting an actress in his very house and there had been some talk a few years back that he’d meddled with a government clerk’s daughter. It was said he had charge of a ward somewhere that he paid shockingly little attention to. George thought that was very good news for the ward, whoever he or she was, as nothing suitable would ever be learned from that gentleman.
The quadrille commenced and he stood next to Miss Yardley awaiting their turn. Determined to do his duty, he said, “Miss Yardley, I hope you do not think me too direct, but I would wish you to understand that in London, a gentleman’s attentions may signify nothing.”
She turned sharply toward him and seemed shocked to hear it. Clearly, she had not considered the idea.
He nodded knowingly and was glad to have warned her. He’d gone back and forth on the idea of informing her of this fact, but now he felt confident he’d chosen correctly. It was well that she was now apprised of the dangers lurking round her.
*
Grace had rehearseda speech in her mind that she would say at her first opportunity. She would allow Lord Gresham to understand that she knew her situation and did not read more into his attentions than were really there. He had done his aunt, and her, a kindness in agreeing to escort her into supper at her first ball. And a favor was all it had been taken for.
It must be said carefully and delicately to be able to get her exact point across. She was thankful, and yet not deluded. If she said it well, he would feel her appreciation of his courtesy without feeling as if she attempted to put it in a false light.
Now, she practically recoiled from him. How stupid she had been! She had taken him for a gentleman. Instead of waiting one blasted minute to be thanked for his courtesy, he’d rushed in to tell her that he assumed shehadmisread his attentions for actual interest and that she must give up the idea.
I would wish you to understand that in London, a gentleman’s attentions may signify nothing.Indeed! And then he wondered if she would think him too direct!
She was insulted. She may have admired his person, but she had not given herself away. Of that, she was sure. It was not her actions that prompted him to warn her off, it was his own self-importance.
If she might say or do what she liked, she would have quite a lot to say to the gentleman now. She would disabuse him of his self-congratulations and help him to understand that not all the world adored him.
As it was, she could not say what she liked. She had been well-trained by her father. His counsel had always been to retain one’s self-control and exact payment through composure. Composure, more than anything else, was a silent slap. It told the other party that one was so little affected by their opinion or action that one could not be bothered to react.
She would require every ounce of her composure at this moment. She would be calm and unruffled.
“Now that you’ve had a moment to parse my warning, you do see what I say?” Lord Gresham asked.
Good Lord! Now he was wondering if she had the mental acuity to understand words!
Grace felt her composure leaving her like a bird taking flight.
“Lord Gresham, I may have lived a life in the countryside, but I am not a dolt. Further, I would wishyouto understand that, in the country and no doubt here, agentlemanmay also delude himself into seeing admiration where there is none.”
Lord Gresham seemed entirely confused and Grace was very tempted to inquire if he, himself, was having trouble understanding words. She did not, though. Her father had also taught her that sometimes it was just as satisfying to think a thing, as to say it.
“I am sure there might be cases of a gentleman misreading a lady’s inclinations. I only think ladies are more…likely to be deceived, or to deceive themselves. I only say, you must be on your guard.”
