“Perfect, because otherwise, I might convince myself not to go through with this.”
Would that be such a bad thing? “It might help if you’re specific about why you admire him.”
“Such as?” The hope in Frances’ eyes was more than Harriet could withstand.
“Joseph,” Harriet began.
“His given name is Joseph?” Frances asked with some amazement.
Harriet could only stare in disbelief. How did she not know that if she thought enough of him to make him the focus of her bold move?
Frances waved a hand in the air as if to suggest Harriet forget she said that. “Dear Joseph. Then what? Perhaps something about the strength of his jaw?”
He did have an attractive jawline, but his other qualities mattered more. “In the brief time we’ve been acquainted, I’ve noticed what a kind and honorable man you are.”
“Oh, that’s good,” Frances said as she wrote. “It would’ve been wrong to dwell on his appearance.”
“I should very much like to come to know you better.” That was what Harriet would like to tell him given the chance.
“Excellent. Then what?”
“My shyness prohibits me from—”
Frances shook her head. “We can’t say that. He might guess it’s me.”
“Don’t you want him to?”
“Not yet.” She shifted in the chair as if uncomfortable. “It’s too soon.”
“All right.” Harriet considered it further. “May we come to know one another better through a few messages?”
Frances apparently liked that suggestion as she started writing immediately. Her smile helped to lessen the heaviness in Harriet’s heart. Once again, she reminded herself of the importance of friendship even if it didn’t keep her from longing to be the one who was trying to draw the viscount’s interest.
“I still think you should simply try to speak with him this evening.” Harriet felt compelled to make another attempt to convince Frances to be more direct. “Surely, your mother would be willing to make certain you’re seated beside him.”
Frances gaped at her as if she’d lost her mind. “He’d quickly think me a fool since I have such a terrible time talking to him. Nor do I want my mother to know about any of this.”
“The choice is yours.” But Harriet intended to keep suggesting she speak with him. “A simple smile can go a long way to catch his notice.”
Frances folded the message and then tucked it in her sleeve. “This will give me the chance to know him better, too. You go ahead to the drawing room. I’m going to ask Sally, the maid, to tell his valet to ask that he look in the decorative box beside the lamp by the window in the library but that she should keep who said so a secret. Then I’ll put this in the box before dinner.”
Harriet shook her head. With so many parts to Frances’ plan, it seemed like it would be easy for something to go wrong. “Don’t be too long.”
“I won’t.” With a grin, Frances departed, leaving Harriet to walk down to the drawing room, still wondering how the plan could possibly work even as she wished she were the one executing it.
~*~
JOSEPH SMILED AT LADYHarriet as she entered the drawing room before dinner. He’d enjoyed their conversation in the library earlier. Not only was she attractive, but she was easy to talk to.
That couldn’t be said of most ladies, including the other female guests. Some, like Miss Melbourne, were so shy as to make talking to them impossible. Others seemed bent on flirting. A few had a limited range of subjects about which they were willing to visit.
Joseph continued his conversation with Sinclair but watched as Lady Harriet glanced around the room as if uncertain who to approach.
“Do you mind if I ask Lady Harriet to join us?” Sinclair asked before Joseph could.
“Excellent idea.” However, he didn’t care for the idea that Sinclair had noticed her dilemma. Did that mean he was interested in her?
“Good evening,” Lady Harriet said with a smile after Sinclair spoke with her. “Mr. Sinclair insists that I won’t be interrupting if I join you.”