Chapter Thirteen #2
He followed her gaze. With a start, he recognized the man who’d been at his table the prior night—the one who had a habit of being underfoot.
He was not in the flow of horses and carriages but walking along the grassy path beside the road. He appeared to be lost in thought as he passed. Caroline continued to stare after him.
“Caroline?” Adrian prompted.
Her head snapped back. “Pardon?” She blushed. “Did you ask me something?”
“No, but, as a matter of fact, there is something I’d like to ask. I invited Harbury to bring the Misses Wainwright on our trip to the Royal Academy. The eldest have come out this year and, I believe, there are three younger sisters, too. One is of age with Emily. Do you have an objection?”
“Please, Mama?” Emily asked. “I would like to become acquainted with other girls closer to my own age.”
Redver exchanged a bemused glance with Caroline.
Neither were more than ten years Emily’s senior. Then again, at Emily’s age, a difference of ten years might as well equal a lifetime. And Caroline had been “Mama” to Emily since Emily was in leading strings.
“Harbury and the Misses Wainwright?”
He nodded. Clearly, she’d heard gossip, too.
“If you’ve no objection, I won’t offer one either,” she answered finally. “Only I’ve not been introduced to the Misses Wainwright.”
“Nor have I,” Redver said. “Easily and quickly remedied, however. Harbury has just gone over to speak with them. Shall we join them?”
By intent, Adrian led Caroline and Emily toward the opposite side of Lady Asquith’s carriage than the one Harbury occupied.
Adrian assumed the young lady sitting directly opposite the dowager was the one Harbury must court, in part because Harbury was looking down at her with an expression of consternation, and in part because Harbury had described her as meek.
The other sister, the one who’d given Harbury a very deliberate cut, well, there was nothing meek about that one. Though some of her expression was concealed by the bonnet, her lips were puckered in a way he interpreted as scorn for the condescension of her peers.
He’d felt the same often enough.
An odd, protective sense of affinity warmed him, strangely like what he’d felt for the Blackbird. He understood what it was to be adjacent to scandal and yet suffer under suspicion. Still, if this young lady didn’t soon learn to hide her less acceptable emotions, the ton was going to eat her alive.
Perhaps they really could help one another.
He exchanged the necessary greeting with Lady Asquith. In turn, albeit reluctantly, Lady Asquith presented him to her wards. The bravest, as expected, turned out to be the eldest Miss Wainwright.
Adrian attempted to catch and hold her eye, but, after the too-brief introduction, she kept her gaze fixed on her hands. Why? She’d been bold enough to cut Harbury earlier.
By contrast Emily was the picture of effervescence. She immediately drew the Miss Cassandra into conversation, discovering in short order that the three younger Misses Wainwright were in search of a dance master.
“Oh, Mama! Might the Misses Wainwright join my lessons? It would be ever so much more fun with four of us!”
“I’ve no objection,” Caroline said.
“Nor I,” Adrian added. Emily was, of course, acting exactly as he’d predicted.
Lady Asquith eyed Adrian with suspicion. But then, her gaze settled on Miss Wainwright. He could see the wheels turning.
“I had intended to employ a dancing master myself,” Lady Asquith said. “But I am not so old as to have forgotten my youth. Miss D’Acre is correct, dancing lessons are infinitely less tedious with friends. Asquith will of course, bear a portion of the expense.”
“How kind,” Caroline replied.
“And completely unnecessary,” Adrian added.
“You know perfectly well I cannot place my wards under obligation to a gentleman. Lady Redver, you will be sure to send the bill?”
“Of course, Lady Asquith. Shall we expect the younger Misses Wainwright tomorrow?”
The bold sister raised her face. “Don’t you think we should first ask Millie, Lenora, and Annette?”
At the sound of her voice, an odd sensation skittered across Adrian’s skin—not the familiar, irritating itch but something equally disturbing—a cold recognition more akin to having crossed paths with a wraith or spirit. And yet, he couldn’t recall ever having heard a precise match.
He studied her face. No. They’d never been introduced.
What, then, had he felt?
Was the strange sensation simply because her voice and appearance were nearly identical to Miss Cassandra? Equally doubtful. Something about Miss Wainwright was very different from her sister and, in an unidentifiable way, familiar.
Miss Cassandra ignored her sister’s protestation and held out her hand to Emily. “I feel absolutely certain Millicent, Lenora, and Annette would be delighted, Miss D’Acre.”
The rug over their laps rippled and the shy sister jumped as if she’d been pinched.
Adrian stifled a chuckle. She had spirit. Courting Miss Wainwright was going to be less of a chore than he’d imagined.
“How wonderful!” Emily replied. “And have you been to the Royal Academy?”
“We haven’t,” Miss Cassandra answered for them both.
Miss Wainwright lifted her head. “We hope to soon.”
The two sisters had the same brown hair, the same delicate eyebrows, the same cheekbones, the same chin. The most pronounced difference was in the eyes.
Miss Wainwright’s eyes were incisive, honed with quick judgment while Miss Cassandra’s, though guarded, were kind.
“Lady Redver, Miss D’Acre and I will also be attending a private showing at the Royal Academy early next week,” Adrian offered. “We would be delighted if the three of you would join us. Harbury, will, of course be there, too.”
The elder Miss Wainwright stiffened. Her gaze flew to his, landing like a breath-taking punch. He was accustomed to being disliked, but what had he done to provoke the heightened ire of this young woman he’d never met?
“What a kind offer,” Lady Asquith glanced between himself and Harbury as if weighing the disadvantage of himself against the advantage of his friend. “I believe we must accept.”
He inclined his head. “I look forward to seeing you there, then.”
Surprisingly, he spoke the truth. Getting to know the reluctant and extraordinarily prickly Miss Wainwright was something to anticipate.