They were just passing Lady Arabella and her friends, when Clarissa heard it. Her name.
Lady Arabella seemed to have said it louder than necessary as she passed, but when Clarissa looked over, the woman seemed to be oblivious that she was near as she continued on.
"One can hardly blame the clergyman." Lady Arabella's voice was musical and perfectly pitched to carry. "If a marquess didn't want her, why should he?"
Laughter followed. Titters of cruel laughter from the crowd around her. "Oh, Lady Arabella, stop. You're too much," one of the women said.
But the tone said, Go on. This is too amusing.
Clarissa's feet refused to budge as the dark-haired beauty continued with a sigh. "Poor Cast-Off Clarissa. Thrown over twice in one Season." A pause, expertly timed. "One does start to wonder if the problem isn't the men."
Cast-Off Clarissa.
Clarissa's feet kept moving. Her chin stayed up. She had to hurry to catch up with John, who'd made progress through the crowd.
They found Miss Hale near the far wall, wearing a rose gown and standing with her terrifying fiancé. Thankfully, he wasn't her terrifying fiancé.
Cast-Off Clarissa or not. She had no desire to stand in the way of true love, and that's exactly what she would have done if she'd let their parents force their match.
"Lady Clarissa." Miss Hale took her hands, her smile warm. "I'm so glad you're here."
"As am I." Clarissa's smile was firmly in place. New Clarissa, she reminded herself. Composed Clarissa.
Cast-Off Clarissa, a small voice mocked.
"How lovely to see you both," she said.
Lord Blackwood inclined his head. "Lady Clarissa."
Miss Hale considered for a moment, and then took her arm. "Come. Walk with me."
Clarissa could hardly refuse.
"I heard—" Miss Hale started, then stopped. "I feel terrible, Lady Clarissa. If Sebastian's refusal somehow caused?—"
"It didn't." Her smile felt brittle as she repeated the practiced line. "Edmund made his own choices. It all worked out for the best."
For everyone but me.
Miss Hale studied her for a moment longer, but then nodded. "Very well. We won't speak of it any longer."
Clarissa let out a long exhale.
"I know this might seem strange, given how we met…" Miss Hale had the good grace to wince slightly, the only acknowledgement of how curious it was that they'd ever so briefly both been attached to the same marquess. At the same time.
"But I do hope we can be friends." Miss Hale turned to her with a beaming smile. "I don't have nearly enough female acquaintances here in London, and I just know that we would get along."
Clarissa's smile felt genuine for the first time all night. "I would like that, Miss Hale."
"Estella, please."
Clarissa laughed. "Then you must call me Clarissa."
"It is settled." Estella's eyes sparkled. "Come to dinner this week. You must meet my friend Thea." She craned her neck, looking around for someone. "She was here tonight but now I can't find her. She must have found the library."
"Any young lady who prefers libraries to the ballroom is likely to be someone I admire," Clarissa said. "I'd like very much to meet her."
Estella patted her arm. "You'll adore her."
