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Chapter 9
Jo ended up spending the rest of the day with Lady Vane, her family, and friends. Jo was already on good footing with Millie and her lovely dog Button, but now the dog followed her around as if enchanted, while the duchess, baroness, and the marchioness acted as though Jo was their equal. They even insisted that she call them by their Christian names, which Jo could never do!
Jo rarely, if ever, got treated like that in the aristocratic homes. She was trying to be friendly with all the ladies of thetonin order to get into their good graces so that she could get the chance to perform at their functions, but at the end of the day, they always made certain to remind her that she was just hired help, a step away from the servants.
Not here. And after the embarrassing incident the night before, no less!
Selena joined them all for tea. Jo couldn’t refuse the invitation of the hostess, so she opted to bring her friend along. And as much as she wished to speak to Selena privately, she had to settle for an intimate tea party with the ladies.
Selena seemed to be in good spirits as she animatedly discussed various subjects with their new friends. Jo even began to think that she had made up all her worries in her head. Perhaps it was just the reflections of her feelings toward Mick that she saw in Selena’s earlier sour mood, while she was simply tired.
We live in the same room. If something was truly amiss, she would get the chance to talk to Selena whenever she wished.
When the time came for dinner, and Lady Ashbury’s husband escorted Jo to the dinner table, another suspicion sprouted in her mind.
Lady Vane was purposefully keeping Jo busy and as far away from her brother as she could.
Perhaps she wasn’t as fine with their liaison as she made it seem. Not that Jo could blame her.
In fact, she was glad about it.
In her moment of weakness, Jo had agreed to carry on with the affair with the viscount, but now she felt doubt and fear. Her mind and her body battled against each other as her heart tried very hard not to get involved. But it wasn’t easy. So Jo was glad for Lady Vane’s interference and the moment of reprieve she offered her.
Richard didn’t seek her out either, although he did throw dark glances her way every time she laughed at something one gentleman or another had said to her. Sometimes, she’d catch him watching her with his smoldering gaze, but other than that, she’d had no more contact with him for the rest of the night.
Disappointment gathered deep in her stomach, and Jo berated herself for being so indecisive.
Do I want the viscount or not?
She could not answer that question. She only hoped Selena would help her untangle her muddled thoughts. Except Selena had disappeared after dinner and was nowhere to be found for the rest of the night.
The next day, Jo sprung from bed in a good mood. She’d had a good night’s rest. The sun was shining through the curtains and the birds were chirping outside, making her smile. All the worries of yesterday were eliminated simply by waking up on the right side of the bed.
It was a new day, and she would try to make the best of it.
She took her morning ablutions, changed to her morning attire, and ventured out of the room. The morning meal was set out in the morning room like before. The side tables were filled with food and drinks. Every guest took whatever they wanted and either sat inside or went out on the patio to enjoy the beautiful weather.
Jo filled her cup with chocolate and sauntered onto the patio. She looked around, searching for a place to sit, when Lord FitzWalter came up to her.
“Beautiful weather, wouldn’t you say, Miss Claremont?”
Jo smiled. “Indeed, it is.”
“This weather is perfect for a jaunt outside. So many flowers are about this time of year.”
“Truly?” Jo smiled politely, pretending interest while looking for ways to escape.
“I am somewhat of an amateur botanist,” he said with a smile. Then he stepped closer. “Which is the best kind of botanist, I believe.”
Jo laughed softly. “Is that so?”
“Oh, it is so,” Lord FitzWalter confirmed, proudly puffing out his chest. “Amateur translates from Latin as the lover of… in my case, the lover of botany. Don’t you find the descriptor quite beautiful?”
Jo sipped on her cooling chocolate. “I do indeed. And that means I am an amateur actress. Or would that translate into the lover of actresses? Because that would not be a proper descriptor.”
Lord FitzWalter laughed as he placed his hand unceremoniously on her arm. He wasn’t the arrogant type, just a bit inept in social interactions. So Jo knew he didn’t mean to offend her with his gesture.
Jo tried to politely shake him off but to no avail. Instead, he stepped even closer. “Would you like a stroll in the forest? There is fascinating flora about this time of year.”
