6. Chapter 6
Javenia couldn’t decide if she should laugh or cry. Algenon looked like a kettle about to blow steam. His hazel eyes grew round as his gaze darted between the ladies.
Normally, he’d have gushed about all of them by now. Their hair, their dresses, even the fine pink in their cheeks. He appeared to be holding his breath to keep the words from spilling out. At least she assumed such by the way his cheeks puffed out slightly.
Was this because of her accusation?
If so, it was impressive. She was tempted to take out her timepiece and see how long he could go before his resolve broke.
Nessa’s friend Miss Carter held out the shimmering overlayer of her dress, letting it glimmer in the candlelight. “What do you think of my new gown, Mr. Roberts?”
Algenon hit his boiling point. “It is lovely.” The words whooshed out like a gust of wind. “Organza, correct? Did Madam Dubree make it? It is a fine work, and you wear it well.”
Javenia smiled, but her urge to laugh died as conversation erupted around her. He’d never change. To be fair, the young woman had practically begged for his compliment, and it was more subdued than his usual fare, but he’d not once complimented her this evening… nor any other.
The excitement that had led her charge this evening dimmed.
It would take a lot more than a few compliments to get his attention.
She needed to be overtly flirtatious, like the other girls.
Lifting her fan from where it hung at her wrist, she slowly opened it and began batting her eyes in hopes he’d notice.
After each girl had received a compliment, he glanced at her and promptly stumbled over whatever he’d meant to say to Nessa.
“Do you have something stuck in your eye, Miss Harris?”
She stopped, mortification gripping her as the other young women’s smiles grew.
“No, I can see quite clearly, thank you. Enough to see you’ve not lost your touch at spreading sickeningly sweet drivel all over Maidstone’s assembly floors.”
So much for flirting. She’d never been very good at it. His lips parted, but no sound came out. Instead, his gaze darted over her shoulder and his face paled.
“Good evening, ladies,” Lord Roberts said from behind her.
Javenia slowly turned, hoping she was wrong. However, there, next to Lord Roberts, was the viper who had stolen a kiss from Algenon. The significance of her being here weighed Javenia down like a boulder on her back. Was this who Lord Roberts intended for his son?
She desperately hoped not.
It would be hard to lose Algenon to anyone, but Miss Weston would make him miserable and that she could never accept. Her resolve hardened.
Lord Roberts shot her an exasperated look before fixing his expression.
He’d always been careful about not showing his distain for her in front of other people, which she appreciated.
Algenon had a tendency to become surly when he thought others treated her unfairly and the last thing she needed was for him to make a scene.
Lord Roberts turned his attention to the woman on his arm. “Miss Weston, might I introduce you to a few of my daughters’ friends?”
Of all the ladies standing about, Javenia held the highest rank as the oldest daughter of a baron, and so should be introduced first, but Lord Roberts began with Miss Carter.
The affront was purposeful. After so many years of knowing how the man felt about her family, it should not have hurt as much as it did, but he’d at least been civil before now.
Then again, she and Miss Weston had already met. Not that it had been a pleasant experience.
Algenon stiffened next to her, a familiar tension radiating from him.
He moved forward, no doubt to fix the oversight, but she softly touched his arm with her fingertips.
His gaze shot to hers, fire in the depths of his brown and green eyes.
She gave a gentle shake of her head. Wrinkles formed on his brow as he pressed his lips together.
The silent argument pulled at the strings of her heart.
She appreciated his protective nature, but any interference right now would only cause Lord Roberts to dislike her even more. The man would never stand to be corrected in public, especially by his own son.
Opening her eyes wide, she pleaded with him. After a moment, Algenon’s head dropped a fraction, an acquiescence to her desires. She turned her attention back to Lord Roberts only to find Miss Weston curiously glancing at her even though she was being introduced to Miss Oak.
Had she seen the silent exchange between her and Algenon?
When the time finally came for her introduction, Miss Weston said, “Oh, Miss Harris and I have already met.”
Javenia scrunched her nose in disgust. A momentary lapse in judgment, considering the smug tilt to Miss Weston’s chin when she glanced at her out of the corner of her eye. The little chit was enjoying her discomfort. No, not just enjoying; she was reveling in it.
They had been introduced. Three seasons ago, in fact. And since then, Javenia had come to know just how devious Miss Weston could be.
Javenia dipped her head in acknowledgement even as she stuffed down all the insults and boiling anger under the surface. “Yes, we have indeed been introduced, but I thank you Lord Roberts, for your kindness.”
Lord Roberts’s eyebrow raised a fraction at her gratitude, but he said nothing, choosing instead to direct his next words toward his son.
“Roberts, Miss Weston was just telling me how much she adores dancing and indeed I would have been remiss if I did not share with her what an excellent dancer you are.”
Algenon didn’t move, his mouth set in a non-expressive straight line. If Javenia hadn’t known any better, she’d have thought he hadn’t heard his father. The subtle tic of his left eyebrow, the one he couldn’t control when he was battling his irritation, said otherwise.
Lord Roberts hadn’t asked, but it was obvious he wanted Algenon to request a dance from Miss Weston.
It was a battle of wills. She knew His Lordship would win out in the end.
He always did. If she only knew why Algenon always demurred to his father’s will.
He was a man in his majority with a home he could retreat to if his father’s wrath became too irritating.
His Lordship cleared his throat. “Perhaps you could give her a demonstration during the next set?”
Still, Algenon appeared unconcerned with his father’s request. Then Lord Roberts flicked a glance at Javenia, his gaze narrowing a fraction before returning to his son.
Algenon’s face hardened. His shoulders tensed as his eyes snapped to the lady at his father’s side. “Miss Weston, might I claim your next set?”
The smile that bloomed on Miss Weston’s face was practiced. It reminded Javenia of a wax figure, frozen in perfect lines, yet somehow not reaching her eyes.
“I would like nothing more than to dance with you.” Miss Weston batted her eyes and moved to stand closer to him.
“Good, I will find you when it begins.” Then he whirled on his heels and left.
Javenia stared after his retreating form. It wasn’t quite the firm no she’d hoped for, but at least he wasn’t giving Miss Weston any more time than was necessary. Then again, he’d left her to deal with the aftermath.
Nessa blinked at her friends a few times before subtly motioning with her head for them to move somewhere else.
She had the right idea of it. While Lord Roberts would not hurt any of them, he was likely to say unpleasant things about Algenon’s behavior.
Javenia was self-aware enough to know she shouldn’t be around when that happened unless she wished to widen the gaping hole in all of their relationships with Lord Roberts.
Before she could make her excuses, however, Lord Roberts spoke directly to her.
“Miss Harris, might I have a moment of your time?”
Ice slithered up Javenia’s spine and she knew something was amiss. A voice in her head screamed no at the same time she said, “Yes, of course.”
He gestured away from the gathered group, not bothering to offer his arm. “If you will excuse us, Miss Weston.”
This time, the lady’s smile was genuine, if not a bit cruel in its execution. There was a hardness in her gaze that let Javenia know she was right to be worried over whatever Lord Roberts wished to say.
She moved in the direction Lord Roberts indicated until he stepped in front of her to lead the way. When they reached the edge of the floor where few people mingled, he stopped and turned to face her.
“Miss Harris, until now I have not interfered with your acquaintance with my son, but I feel it my duty as his father to ask you to keep your distance. If you care at all for my son’s happiness, you will find other young men who are at liberty to offer you the attention you deserve.”
The music ended for the set Javenia should have been dancing with Algenon.
She glanced around as the dancers dispersed to find other partners, knowing Algenon would be required to return to Miss Weston’s side even if he did not wish to.
Lord Roberts’s words had not been necessarily cruel, but the meaning floating under them was demeaning.
He didn’t see her as being worthy of his son.
Lord Roberts was a pompous lout. How dare he tell her with whom she could and could not associate? Algenon was in his majority, as was she. He was a baron’s son and she a baron’s daughter. So far, they were equal. She tried to relax her stiff arms and balled fists at her side.
“Your son and I have known each other from our infancy. How do you expect me to simply walk away from all those years of history? Algenon would never stand for it.”
Lord Roberts pursed his lips and clasped his hands behind his back. “See, this is what I am speaking of. You are no longer children. Men and woman do not resort to first names in such a casual fashion. You have been creating quite a stir with your familiarity, and nothing can come of it.”
She wanted to scream ‘why not’, but she knew better than to cross the man.
If she ever hoped for Algenon to stand up to his father, she couldn’t make an enemy of Lord Roberts before she’d even had the chance to find out exactly where Algenon’s heart lay.
She would need to play her cards carefully, or all her work would be for naught.
Clasping her hands in front of her, she took a submissive stance. “I can see what you mean. I will endeavor to call him Mr. Roberts from now on.”
“Good. I am happy to see you can be reasoned with. Perhaps if you remember your place more often, you will finally make a decent match.”
Javenia bit the tip of her tongue to keep from saying something she would regret. If it weren’t for this man, she’d have made that match years ago. At least she’d like to think so.
Doubt nibbled at her mind like a mouse at cheese as words from the past haunted her.
Algenon had declared her unfit for marriage moments after the one glorious kiss they’d shared in their youth.
While years had elapsed, she worried he still might feel the same way.
Why else would he not stand up to his father?
Her stiff stance dissolved, and her shoulders drooped.
Lord Roberts shifted as if he would go, then stopped. His features softened. “I am sorry to cause you pain. You have been a good friend to my children. Perhaps if your father had not been so spiteful and sold me Hazelwood years ago, before Penwick of course, things might have been different.”
Javenia swallowed hard at the mention of Lord Penwick. Lord Roberts’s obsession with owning Hazelwood she understood, but what of her unfortunate relationship with Duncan Boleyn had the man discovered?
Her chest tightened. Even from the grave, Duncan was still ruining her life. Why had she believed he’d changed, that he’d actually been serious when he’d started courting her? In a breath, she knew the answer.
Naivety.
Well, she was not na?ve anymore. Duncan had taught her to guard her trust—the little that was left of it.
Lord Roberts’s gentle pat to her upper arm caught her off guard and she winced.
“Thank you for thinking of my son’s happiness. I wish you well.” Then he walked away.
His son’s happiness? When had Lord Roberts ever thought of his son’s happiness? Did he really think that she would simply end her friendship because he asked it? The man certainly had an elevated view of his own knowledge and influence.
Javenia knew more about Algenon’s hopes and dreams than anyone else in the world.
At least, she assumed so. It was possible in the last few years that he’d shared more with Eddie, John, and Nate, but she highly doubted it.
There were certain things his pride wouldn’t allow him to share, things he had only shared with her.
Like the time she’d found him huddled in the grove shortly after he’d finished his studies at Harrow, a suspicious redness to his eyes.
He hadn’t wanted to tell her why he was upset, and he probably wouldn’t have if she’d not been so insistent.
In the end, he’d admitted that he didn’t think he’d ever be good enough for his father.
That no matter what he achieved or how obedient he was, his father would still lord over him like he was a stable hand.
Much like Lord Roberts was doing now.
For all his apparent knowledge, there was one thing Lord Roberts did not understand. Algenon might surrender to his father’s demands, but Javenia would not.
Not when it came to matters of the heart.