“As a guest, I wouldn’t want to offend anyone. But I refuse to hold my opinions to myself if asked.”
Joseph smiled, pleased to think Sinclair felt the same as he did. “As do I.”
Two of the men who’d been listening to Henderson wandered away from the discussion, but one remained—Lord Weston, one of the older guests.
Joseph intended to have a word with the lord if he had the chance to see if he truly agreed with Henderson’s beliefs. The fewer people who agreed with Henderson, the better as far as Joseph was concerned.
~*~
“WHAT IF HE DOESN’Tcome?” Frances asked in a whisper.
“He’ll come. He said he would.” Harriet glanced once again at the doorway, torn as to whether she truly wanted Viscount Garland to join them for charades.
Frances had told her that she’d never been formally introduced to Garland until the previous evening. He’d caught her notice at a ball when he’d handed her a glass of lemonade at the refreshment table several months ago. She confessed that since that small act of kindness, she hadn’t been able to think of anyone else.
Harriet had held back from telling Frances that she, too, cared for the handsome viscount. Her friend would surely be distraught by the news. What good would come from that? None from what Harriet could see.
She adored Frances, and though she didn’t completely understand her shyness, she held sympathy for her.
“If he does, what if he’s not on my team?” Frances worried her bottom lip as she pondered the concern.
“What if he is?” Harriet countered.
Frances’ eyes went wide as if she realized that was a bigger worry than the previous one.
“It doesn’t matter,” Harriet reassured her. “That detail is out of our hands.”
“Mother insists on reviewing everyone’s ideas for the charades to make certain they’re appropriate.” Her scowl suggested she wished her mother wouldn’t.
“That is a relief, isn’t it?” Harriet didn’t care for the idea of being asked to act out a word or phrase that would prove embarrassing.
“I suppose, though Winifred said it would take the fun out of the game.”
Harriet looked at their friend and fellow league member who’d arrived earlier in the day and sat across the room. “Don’t let her fool you. She wouldn’t want to be embarrassed either.”
“True.” Frances glanced at the empty doorway again. “Where are the gentlemen?”
“I’m sure they’ll be along shortly.” In truth, she rather wished the ladies were playing by themselves first. Games like this were awkward amongst strangers. While it was a way to come to know each other better, it could also be uncomfortable to act out of character.
Mrs. Melbourne arrived with a basket and slips of paper. A glance around the room had her frowning, suggesting she wasn’t pleased that the men had been delayed. “I hope you have all been thinking of a word or phrase to contribute.”
She set the items on the table and gestured for the ladies to come forward. “Now then, everyone write down your idea and add it to the basket.”
A few giggles erupted as the ladies discussed the possibilities, but Mrs. Melbourne reminded them to keep their ideas secret to make the game fair.
“Hurry,” she said. “The gentlemen will be joining us shortly.”
Harriet pondered her phrase as she waited in line to write it down.
“Tell me what you’re going to add,” Frances whispered.
“That would be cheating.”
Frances squeezed her eyes shut for a long moment. “I just know I’m going to get a terrible phrase.” Her cheeks colored as if she were already mortified by the possibility.
“They’re all going to be embarrassing if you ask me,” Harriet said, causing Frances to laugh just as she’d hoped.
Harriet was writing down hers when a tingle ran along her skin. She knew without looking that Viscount Garland had arrived. Drawing a deep breath, she finished writing and stepped away from the table to look, unsurprised to see him standing nearby along with the other men.