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“It is something you will learn quickly now you are to attend all the events of the Season,” Peggy made a point of whispering to her. “Just because you introduce someone as your friend doesn’t mean they necessarily are.”
“I see. It is to be polite.”
“Precisely.”
Annie was not convinced the favour was returned. She glanced across the room to where she found Lady Isabelle and Miss May still standing. They had found some new ladies to chatter to and were pointing in Annie’s direction, sniggering.
“Good lord,” Annie muttered, turning back to Peggy. “This gossip is not going to go away very quickly, is it?”
“Well, it doesn’t seem to have reached one man’s ears.” Peggy began gesturing behind Annie with her glass.
“Who do you mean?” Annie asked, turning round in time to have her question answered by the mentioned gentleman’s arrival. Mr Jacob Knight was making his way toward her, and Annie could see plainly what had caught Peggy’s interest about his approach. His eyes were fixed on Annie, completely, as if there was apparent intention there as he walked toward her.
Annie couldn’t help sighing with relief that a gentleman may have been unmoved by her dancing with a known rake. When he reached her side, he bowed to the two of them.
“Good evening, Miss Storey, Miss Grove. If you are not engaged for the next dance, Miss Storey, may I have the honour of your hand?”
“Yes, of course,” Annie said quickly, finding her answer coming fast, for her eyes had flicked across the room to see Lord Yeatman was looking at her and seemed to be approaching in her direction again. Annie pressed her glass into Peggy’s hand, who took it with equal eagerness and waved her away.
“That man is persistent,” Peggy whispered to her about Lord Yeatman so only she could hear before Annie turned away.
He’s a rake. I suppose it is in his character not to take no for an answer.
Annie smiled and placed her hand in Mr Knight’s, allowing him to escort her away to the dance floor. The moment she moved off, her eyes flicked back toward Lord Yeatman again, seeing his path had stilled, for he had evidently realised she already had a dance partner.
As the music began for a new number, Annie found she summoned another one of those polite smiles as she curtsied to Mr Knight.
“How do you enjoy the evening, Mr Knight?” she asked conversationally as they began to dance.
“Well enough,” he answered her, but he said little more. Startled to find he was not interested in much conversation at all, Annie chewed her lip, struggling. She attempted a few more pleasantries with him as they danced, but she soon gave up. It was a difficult discussion, and if she was being honest with herself, she would acknowledge the dance was rather boring.
It was a far cry from the excitement of dancing with Lord Yeatman. The mere thought made her glance away from her partner at the end of the dance, looking for Lord Yeatman, but she had lost him and was rather glad that he had not seen her give in to the temptation of searching for him. Annie and Mr Knight curtsied and bowed to one another before he escorted her off the floor again.
“Thank you, Mr Knight. It was a very enjoyable dance.”
“Thank you, it was,” he said with equal lack of fervour and glanced away. She looked in the same direction, half thinking he was searching for someone, but he turned back to her quickly enough and wished her goodbye before he moved on, leaving Annie standing in the middle of a crowd, rather startled.
That was a little odd.
“Mr Knight confuses many ladies he dances with,” a cheery voice said, catching Annie’s interest and making her turn round. She was startled to see Lady Shrewsbury approaching her with a kind smile. “Try not to take it too much to heart, Miss Storey. He is a quiet soul. I do not think many people know what thoughts and feelings are truly felt within that man’s heart.”
Strangely, Annie was comforted by the words.
“Oh good,” she said with a sigh. “For a minute, I was thinking my company must have bored him entirely.”
“Ha!” Lady Shrewsbury laughed warmly and then hid that laugh behind one of her gloved hands. “Do not think such a thing,” she said quickly. “Just because he is a quiet man, do not think ill of yourself. Ever.”
“Thank you,” Annie murmured softly. By now, she was usually hurrying away from Lady Shrewsbury. After all, she was a woman tinged by scandal, and Annie knew what her mother would say to see her talking with such a lady, yet Annie was too touched by the words to consider moving away. “How do you like the evening, Lady Shrewsbury?” Annie asked. At once, the lady smiled as if being asked such a question was a surprise.
“Not as well as I should,” she confessed, before leaning forward and whispering conspiratorially. “People like to whisper and gossip. Some evenings it’s hurtful. Though other times I think it rather amusing, I like to play a game where I try to spot how many people are whispering about me in one night.”
Lady Shrewsbury laughed and nodded her head at a group of ladies who were whispering, trying to hide their whispers behind fluttered fans though they looked in Lady Shrewsbury’s direction.
Annie felt the guilt at once.
How many times have I whispered about poor Lady Shrewsbury?
“My husband insists on me coming, though.”
