Page 23 of A Mismatch Made in London

Soon we were properly introduced to George Fairweather and Alfred Wallcroft, both from Cambridge.

“May we escort you ladies into the concert hall?” George Fairweather said.

Juliet took Mr. Fairweather’s arm, and I placed my hand lightly on Mr. Wallcroft’s wrist. I felt as if we were promenading as we walked into the concert hall. Several people were staring at us. I pretended not to notice.

I suspected, however, that once Mr. Wallcroft, much like every gentleman with whom I’d danced and who had called on me, realized that I had very little fortune, he’d cease to pay me any sort of attention at all.

Mr. Fairweather seated himself beside Juliet, while Mr. Wallcroft sat beside me, leaving Marianne and Robert to sit farther down in the row. Was this proper? I glanced at Marianne.

Mrs. Lynch raised her eyebrows, but her lips were curled in a slight smile.

I’d never attended a concert by professional musicians and singers. As I watched the impassioned way the musicians played their violins and other instruments and listened to the singer as she sang each note flawlessly, tears stung my eyes. It was oddly stirring to hear songs sung with such emotion. I felt as if I were floating, dreaming, transported.

Truly, how enjoyable it would be to be able to attend a concert as good as this one multiple times a year.

Mr. Wallcroft sat beside me. He was silent, for which I was grateful. I could see and hear Mr. Fairweather whispering every so often to Juliet. It was very rude of him to interrupt Juliet’s enjoyment of the music, but she didn’t seem to mind.

When the concert was over, the gentlemen stood talking with Juliet’s cousins. “May we call on you?” Mr. Fairweather asked.

Marianne looked at us, but seeing we didn’t object, she said, “You may. Juliet, will you give them your card?”

Juliet had already fished one out of her tiny purse and was giving it to Mr. Fairweather.

“I shall look forward to seeing you again,” he said.

Soon we were bidding each other a good night and getting into our carriage. Juliet was obviously very excited.

“Mr. Fairweather said he has a curricle, and he wants to take me out riding in it.”

“Not until your brother returns,” Marianne said. “I don’t wish to face his wrath if Mr. Fairweather isn’t to his standards.”

“I’m not sure it’s proper to go riding with a gentleman without a chaperone,” I said quietly to Juliet while Robert and Marianne were speaking to each other.

“Then you may come with us,” Juliet said.

“But I heard him say it was a two-seater.”

“Oh, all will be well.” Juliet waved her hand. “He may not call on us anyway. I saw him talking to another young lady as we were leaving.”

“You did?” Was the man so fickle?

“Never mind. But I do think his friend, what was his name?”

“Mr. Wallcroft.”

“I daresay Mr. Wallcroft will call on you, Amelia. You are ever so pretty, and I could see he admired you.”

“Perhaps.” I had not thought him bold enough to call on me without his friend by his side, but we would see.

The next day the two gentlemen did indeed call on us.

It began as a usual kind of call, with the usual dull conversation.

“It is very good to see you again, Miss Moore,” Mr. Wallcroft said.

“Thank you. It is good to see you as well.”

“Your brother is Jeremy Beaumont,” George Fairweather was saying to Juliet. “Is he not home?”