Mrs. Northrop simplyhmmed. She did that a lot. It was, in all actuality, rather frustrating. The sound was clearly one of pondering but beyond that was indiscernible. Odette suspectedshe was constantly being evaluated by the matchmaker, and she did not like it at all. Too much was being kept hidden for such scrutiny to be anything but worrisome.
The butler appeared once more in the drawing room doorway to usher in more arrivals. Terrance Lexington, whom Odette was happy to see, stepped in. On his heels came Jack. How Odette hoped she’d maintained an even expression. Heaven knew she’d had ample practice the last months. Still, the role she played was growing more difficult.
The room was greeted in gentlemanly fashion. The guests expressed universal delight at their arrival. The gentlemen were invited to join the gathering, which they accepted with no hint of displeasure.
Jack chose a seat a bit apart from his mother and her preferred guests, placing himself at a disinterested distance from Miss Summerfield. Mr. Lexington sat a touch closer, wearing his usual expression of enthusiasm.
“We were just discussing what a crush the ball was last evening,” Mrs. Hewitt said. “Did you not think it a crush?”
“It certainly was.” Jack smiled at them all at once. “I believe I saw every last one of you there.”
“Indeed,” Mr. Lexington agreed. “And we had the pleasure of dancing with any number of lovely young ladies, including Miss Armistead”—he dipped his head toward her—“and Miss Summerfield.” He offered the same acknowledgment to her. “A joy.”
Odette doubted that on her part. She had enjoyed his company, but Princess Pompous was high on no one’s list of enjoyable companions, more was the pity.
On and on the conversations went. Jack offered a reply when required but kept mostly quiet. Mr. Lexington was his usual talkative self, even managing a few responses from MissSummerfield. Odette felt more than a little relieved when Mother arose and announced that they needed to be going.
As curtsies were exchanged between Mother and Mrs. Hewitt, Odette caught Jack’s eye. For the briefest of moments, he allowed an expression of fond regret to pass over his features. She offered a fleeting smile of sad understanding. His parents had made their choice, and hers would do nothing to earn even a hint of their disapproval.
***
The carriage ride back to Barrington House was not a long one, but Adelaide knew how to take advantage of even snippets of time.
“I was impressed with Mr. Lexington,” she said to Lady Barrington. “What is his situation?”
“His father is a gentleman,” Mother answered. “A good family. Well-heeled. Excellent connections.”
“Is he prone to debauchery?”
“Certainly not,” Mother answered. “I hear only good things of him.”
Adelaide nodded. “Excellent. I believe I shall make certain of that, but he is a promising prospect.”
Though Odette’s expression remained passive, her eyes told a different story. Too few people realized how readily their eyes betrayed them. Mr. Lexington, it seemed, was not Odette’s mystery gentleman. She would let the young lady think she was focused on him, though.
She would watch, and she would solve this mystery.
She always did.
Chapter Four
Jack walked toward the Summerfields’ London home wondering how he’d managed to land himself in such a predicament. Somehow, before the Summerfields had left Mother’s at-home the day before, he had been wrangled into taking Miss Summerfield for a drive in Hyde Park. Terrance, who knew perfectly well Jack didn’t wish to be strong-armed into that particular match, had saved the day with a bit of quick thinking.
“Do join us,” he’d said to Jack with every appearance of enthusiasm. “The young lady I am driving out with tomorrow will, I am certain, appreciate the added opportunity to socialize.”
Jack had agreed before any objections could be lodged. A time was chosen. Terrance insisted he would meet them at the Summerfield home, his chosen young lady already fetched, and they would drive out together. He’d managed the entire thing without ever identifying his companion, something he’d admitted, upon quitting the drawing room, had been necessary.
“I suppose I’d best secure myself a driving companion, hadn’t I?” It had been entirely fabricated.
“Thank you for that,” Jack had said.
Terrance had thumped a hand on his shoulder. “A friend worth his salt will always save another friend from a forced courtship.”
“That is the standard definition of friendship, is it?”
“It ismydefinition.”
Jack turned up the short walk to the Summerfields’ home, increasingly grateful for Terrance, yet also feeling increasingly guilty. He hadn’t confided in his friend the full situation. He had full confidence in Terrance’s willingness to keep mum, but he wouldn’t reveal the situation to anyone without first making certain Odette was comfortable with the revelation. She didn’t know Terrance as well as he did.