Chapter 3 #2
"But I have you," she said. "And Mrs. Lennox, although I do not think that your cousin likes me very much. Do you think—"
"Come." John interrupted her. Probably for the best. "Miss Hale has spotted us and she's waving us over."
Miss Hale. The mention of Miss Estella Hale brought a wave of mixed and rather confusing emotions.
Miss Hale was the first young lady to befriend her when she'd first arrived in London…
the last time. Nearly a month ago to end her engagement with Lord Blackwood.
What she hadn't realized then was that Miss Hale was in love with Lord Blackwood.
Right after Clarissa asked him to call off the arrangement between them, Blackwood and Miss Hale had become engaged.
So, in short—she liked the young woman immensely. But it was awkward.
John caught her expression and laughed. "Come along. You might as well get this over with. I happen to know Miss Hale fairly well, and I promise you she will be happy to see you."
Clarissa forced another smile and let him drag her along toward Miss Hale on the far side of the room.
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."
Clarissa let Estella lead her around the room. She seemed so at ease in this crowd, smiling and nodding to acquaintances as they passed. She was equally grateful when Estella skirted the group of young ladies with Lady Arabella at the center.
It wasn't that she was afraid of them. But she didn't need to rush into the lion's den on her very first foray into society, now did she?
But as she was watching, she saw a small group of gentlemen approach the young women. Her eyes caught on one familiar face in particular.
It was him. She'd recognize him anywhere. That smiling man from the coaching inn. He moved through the crowd like he owned this ballroom. Women turned as he passed. Men clapped his shoulder.
He was handsome beyond measure—and he very clearly knew it. He had dark blonde hair that seemed artfully mussed, and a smile that would make any woman stop in her tracks.
He even managed to make the crew of giggling debutantes go temporarily silent as he sidled up next to Lady Arabella. They made quite a pair. Both so tall and striking.
His eyes moved in her direction just then. Their gazes locked, and for a moment her heart hammered loudly against her rib cage.
His smile quirked up on one side. Had he recognized her? He tipped his glass in a silent hello.
Just like that it came back to her. How happy she'd been that day. How eager and excited and…
Silly. So dreadfully silly.
She looked away quickly. Perhaps even rudely, as she hadn't given the slightest sign of acknowledgement in return.
"Is he a friend of yours?" Estella asked. Because of course she'd noticed the devastatingly handsome man as well.
Clarissa shook her head. "I'm not acquainted."
"That's the Earl of Stratton, I believe. Heir to the Duke of Ashworth," Estella said.
Clarissa nodded and clamped her mouth shut. Of course he was heir to a duke.
"I cannot say I know him," Estella said. "I heard he's only just arrived in town."
Clarissa turned just in time to see him flash that dimpled smile at a blushing debutante. Now there was a man who knew how to play to a crowd.
She saw his head fall back with a laugh at something Lady Arabella had said.
Maybe she'd told him all about Cast-Off Clarissa.
Mortification rose up hot and sickening.
"He's very handsome, is he not?" Estella's voice was amused, and Clarissa realized she'd been staring. Again.
She looked away. "He seems…very pleased with himself."
"Mmm." Estella laughed. "I suppose most heirs to dukedoms usually are."
Clarissa smiled at that. She had a feeling she and Estella would make fine friends indeed.