Page 55 of A Mismatch Made in London

“Good evening, Miss Moore.” Jeremy bowed to me, then turned to go—and nearly bumped into Mr. Harper.

Both gentlemen halted and stared, but neither of them said anything as Jeremy walked away.

After initial greetings, I asked Mr. Harper, “Are you and Mr. Beaumont not acquainted?”

“We are, a little,” he said, suddenly not looking me in the eye.

“Then why did you not greet each other?”

“Did we not? I thought we did.”

“No, you did not.”

Mr. Harper shook his head. “He has something against me, perhaps.”

“What does he have against you?”

“Nothing. Nothing at all.” Mr. Harper was beginning to look agitated as he nervously brushed at his sleeve. “People who listen to idle gossip may hear a great many things. Come, we have missed the beginning of the dance. Allow me to get you some lemonade.”

“Thank you.”

He hurried away, and I began to wonder what was amiss. It did not seem in Jeremy Beaumont’s nature to invent a reason to dislike someone, nor did it seem likely that he would listen to idle gossip. However, he’d told me himself that there was a rumor about Mr. Harper.

When Mr. Harper returned with two cups, he was smiling. “Here you are, my lady,” he said with exaggerated ceremony. Then he gave one cup to Mrs. Kendall.

“Mr. Harper you are so thoughtful,” Mrs. Kendall said. “Kind and thoughtful. Isn’t he kind and thoughtful, Amelia?”

“He is.”

“I see my uncle over there,” Mr. Harper said. “Allow me to go and greet him, but I shall return before the next dance—that is, if you will do me the honor of saving it for me.”

“Of course.”

I watched him go and speak with a middle-aged man and was able to see a bit of resemblance between them.

As the dance was ending, he hurried over to me. “Let us get a good place on the dance floor,” he said, “but if it is all right,I would very much like to introduce you to my uncle and aunt before the evening is over.”

“Of course. I would like that.”

The dance was a lively one, preventing us from talking, but I was busy thinking, especially after he asked if he could introduce me to his uncle and aunt.

I had felt so bereft when Lord Gotthurst stopped calling on me. But I was very happy that Mr. Shelley remained very attentive to Juliet. I wanted all good things for her, and Mr. Shelley seemed capable of making her happy and being a good husband.

I did worry that, after spending an entire Season in London, I’d be forced to go home without a marriage proposal. I might never get another chance at getting married, as I very seldom met an eligible gentleman at home. Our society was much less varied and abundant than here in London.

Could I be content to remain unmarried, to never have a husband or children or a home of my own? But whether or not I could be content wasn’t the most important question, since the worst thing would be that I would have squandered the chance to make the best match I could, for my siblings’ sakes.

And if Mr. Harper had no grave character flaws that I could discover, he would be a very good match for me. He was rich and handsome, or he would be rich, when he inherited his father’s fortune. He was just the sort of match my mother and aunt had been hoping for me to make.

When the dance ended, he escorted me to my aunt’s side, saying, “Miss Moore, have I told you how refreshing it is to know someone like you?”

“I believe you have said that once.”

“It is true. You are so lovely, and your manners are so open and just what pleases me.”

“And you have very pleasing manners, Mr. Harper.”

“I wish that you might call me by my given name, Colin.”