Chapter 6 #2
“I am the responsible chaperone now, it seems,” Sophia said with a glint of humor after their mother had left. “I understand Lord Pembroke is to come tonight.”
“I’ve heard,” Camilla replied in a voice of studied distraction.
She would not let Sophia know how much her hopes had once rested on him.
They had never again spoken of the subject, and she would rather that her sister simply assume she had given him up as an object of interest. “Do you suppose Felix might present me to an eligible partner for a dance?”
Sophia looked over to where her husband was speaking with other MPs. “I have already asked him. Most of his connections are in politics, but you do not mind that, do you?”
“Not in the least. I wish only for entertaining conversation and some dancing.” From the corner of her eye, Camilla caught a glimpse of Lord Pembroke entering the ballroom, and her heart gave a wild flutter. She clamped the feeling down and turned to face the other way. “Shall we speak to him now?”
Felix had finished his conversation and smiled as Sophia approached, bending down as she whispered in his ear. His ensuing glance at Camilla, though benevolent, gave her the odd sensation of being like a horse for sale on the market.
“Good evening, Camilla. I believe Mr. Islip will be happy to partner you.” When she expressed her appreciation, he added, “I did try to think of someone who would not bore you but whether I have succeeded in that, I cannot say. I only know him as one who shares an interest in politics.”
“Thank you for having it in mind at least,” she answered with a wry smile. She did not know which was more tortuous—a man who stepped on your feet when dancing or one who forced you to smother your yawns. A touch on her elbow caused her to turn, and she found Lord Pembroke standing beside her.
“Now, here is a party I would be happy to join.” He bowed to all of them. “Good evening, Harwood. Evening Lady Sophia, Lady Camilla.” He directed his next words to her. “I believe you have only just arrived in London?”
“A week ago.” She remembered her resolution to keep him at a distance and continued in a polite tone. “How good to see you again, my lord. I hope you will excuse us? Felix was just about to perform an introduction, and I should not like to keep the gentleman waiting.”
“Oh…certainly.”
She turned to leave, but not before catching a glimpse of Pembroke’s face as she walked by him.
He looked confused, and she might almost add, hurt.
But she would no longer guess, or attribute feelings to him.
He might feel whatever he wished, for it did not concern her and would not guide her own steps or actions.
“Do you mean to teach Pembroke a lesson?” Felix asked her curiously when he had caught up. Sophia had also come and turned to look as though she, too, were curious about the answer.
“No. What do you mean?” Camilla was determined to play this game well, for no one must know that she was simply standing up for herself.
It was not to exact revenge or play at being hard to get.
She did not want anyone to know that her feelings had been deeply wounded, only that she had other subjects to occupy her at the moment.
“You behaved differently toward him this evening, as though you scarcely knew him, but when we were all at Elmscote together, you seemed to be good friends.”
“Oh—that. No, it is only that he is as much like a brother as any unrelated gentleman can be, so I did not wish to stand on ceremony with him. I am looking forward to meeting Mr. Islip.”
“Ah. If that is all…” Felix exchanged a look with Sophia and led the way to a tall, spare gentleman, whose serious expression eased when Felix approached him.
“Camilla, I wish to present you to Mr. Islip.” He then turned to the gentleman. “Frank, this is my wife’s sister, Lady Camilla.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Lady Camilla.” He bowed, and she returned the greeting. “You are newly arrived in London, I understand. Your first season?”
“Yes. We arrived a week ago, and this is my first season.”
“My luck then to have made your acquaintance so early on. Will you join me for the next set?” When she answered that it would be her pleasure, he gestured over to the side of the room. “Why do we not stand ready so we might take our places? I do so love to dance, do not you?”
“Very much,” Camilla agreed, then touched Sophia’s hand. “I will see you afterwards. You will check on Mama?”
“Do not worry. She is surrounded by several ladies and they are deep in conversation,” Sophia reassured her.
Camilla, now walking beside Mr. Islip, was determined to give him every sign of attention. “Are you in politics as Mr. Harwood is?”
“Yes. My father and elder brother did all they could to help me win the borough, saying that as long as they were not the ones who had to fall asleep during the long speeches, they would do whatever I needed to win.” This amused her, as he had intended for it to.
“Fortunately, I do not mind the discussions and have no desire to fall asleep.”
Perhaps she would learn more about what the world of politics was like and whether the drawing room discussions on the subject might interest her. “What do you enjoy about it?”
Mr. Islip sent her a look of approval, apparently pleased with her sensible question. “As a member of Parliament, I have more recourse to change history than anyone, save the king.”
“Is that so?” Camilla said, thinking that surely he overstated the matter.
Mr. Islip continued in this vein, enumerating the duties of the parliamentarian, some of which she had heard already from Felix, although never at such length.
As Mr. Islip launched into protracted speech, she began to realize with dismay that she was probably too frivolous a creature to make a proper wife to a politician.
He finished with, “But I suppose you must have heard all of this from Harwood himself, and here I am going on and on.”
“Oh no, it sounds fascinating.” While this wasn’t precisely true, Camilla was sure it could be fascinating if the topics they discussed were ones for which she could develop an opinion. For the moment, Mr. Islip had only spoken of his own advantages in entering Parliament. “As for Mr. Harwood—”
“Mr. Islip!”
She was not destined to finish, which was just as well since she hadn’t determined exactly what to say about Felix’s society manners that would not make Mr. Islip look poorly in comparison.
Now her attention was caught by a well-looking gentleman who came to stand in front of them, blocking the view of the dance in progress and getting in the way of one couple.
“Do introduce me to this enchanting creature you are standing with.” He smiled, which only increased his attractiveness—and Camilla’s surprise at his noticing her at all.
“Ah. Mr. Laverock.” Her partner didn’t appear pleased to have been obliged to make the introduction. “Allow me to present to you Lady Camilla Rowlandson, sister to the Earl of Poole.”
“Lady Camilla, is it?” Mr. Laverock said, as though committing it to memory. She had the strangest feeling that she had seen him before, but she would most certainly have remembered him if she had.
“A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Laverock.” She dipped into a curtsy, pleased at his attention—at the combined attention of two gentlemen paying her court. Across the room she caught sight of Pembroke and could not help but to look at him. He stood beside another gentleman, watching her.
Mr. Islip dismissed Mr. Laverock with a polite bow. “As a matter of fact, we are about to join this set. Will you excuse us?”
“Only if you will promise me the next one,” Mr. Laverock said, addressing her.
“Certainly,” Camilla replied, bemused. Why had he singled her out? He expressed his pleasure before leaving, and she turned inquiring eyes to Mr. Islip.
“I know Mr. Laverock from the clubs and would put you on your guard. Though he is accepted everywhere, there is a whiff of scandal about him.” Mr. Islip led her into the center of the floor.
“Nobody knows where his wealth comes from, though there are hints of winning it on a turn of the cards. I am only sorry I was obliged to make the introduction.”
“I see.” Camilla glanced after Mr. Laverock, then turned her attention back to her partner.
She didn’t think it proper of him to speak that way about another gentleman.
It was not as though it was his place to warn her against an imprudent connection.
“Well, there is no harm in partnering with him for a dance.”
The music started, and he bowed with a noticeable flourish, his arm in front of him. The gesture caught her by surprise, and she had to suppress her laughter. He didn’t appear to notice, and assured her, “Now that you are forewarned, you will be perfectly safe.”