Page 6 of A Mismatch Made in London

“Eleven.”

“How very provincial.”

My face started to burn. I could see from his expression that he was laughing at me.

I said nothing else the rest of the dance. Mr. Fortescue glanced around the room while we danced, and I focused on not making a misstep.

When it was over and he was walking me toward Aunt Kendall, he said, “Enjoy the rest of your time in town. I hope it won’t be too noisy for you.”

I pretended not to hear and made him no reply.

“Thank you for the dance, Miss Moore,” he said as politely as one might wish as soon as we were in earshot of my aunt. “Very good to see you again, Mrs. Kendall. Please give my best regards to Mr. Kendall.”

“Oh, I shall, I thank you, Mr. Fortescue. I trust we shall see you again, as my niece will be visiting with me all Season.”

“Very good. I shall look forward to it.” He bowed with his disgusting smile that I couldn’t believe I ever thought was charming and went to join his friends.

“What a conquest,” she said in a triumphant voice. “Cornelius Fortescue would be such a good match for you.” She looked at me. “Are you well, my dear? Are you not pleased?”

“I am well, but I don’t think he fancies me.”

“Oh, I’m sure that cannot be true. He asked you to dance, the very first dance, and you looked very pretty on the dance floor. The two of you appeared so well matched.”

“I don’t think he liked my country manners.”

“Whatever do you mean? What did you say?”

“I will tell you later.”

My aunt was already glancing around the room again. “Why don’t we go and get some lemonade. I’ll introduce you to some more people along the way.”

We started toward the refreshments, and Aunt Kendall introduced me to two more young gentlemen, the two men who had stood talking with Mr. Fortescue immediately after our dance. They held their heads high, their eyes barely condescending to notice me, as they mumbled a cool greeting.

We moved past them, and my aunt said, “Oh my, it’s Jeremy Beaumont. He’s here with his sister Juliet—she’s the younger sister, just your age, I believe. Come and I will introduce you.”

“May I be excused for a few moments? Perhaps there is a balcony where I might get a breath of air?”

“Of course, my dear, but don’t be long. There are many more people, and I will need to make the introductions.”

She pointed me down a hall, and I made my way toward it, careful not to look anyone in the eye.

I felt as if I was suffocating.

As I went down the hall, I realized I had no idea where the balcony might be. Had I somehow passed it? If only a servant would appear so that I could ask them. But no one was in the hallway except two very elegant ladies.

As they passed me, they eyed me, but as we had never been introduced, they did not acknowledge me, and it would be very bad manners—country manners—if I spoke to them, even to ask where I might find a balcony.

There was a door up ahead that was slightly ajar. The room appeared dark, so I ducked inside. At least here I might be alone for a few moments to gather my courage to go back out again.

I stood just inside the door, which I left open about an inch. The room appeared to be a small library with windows at the other end that were covered in heavy drapes. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, closing my eyes.

Why should I care what that ridiculous Mr. Cornelius Fortescue thought of me? How dare he ridicule me for being from the country and having eleven brothers and sisters? I wished I’d never told him anything about me. He didn’t deserve to know my family or anything about them. Arrogant, detestable man. And his friends. I couldn’t care less about them either. They were just as rude and unkind as he was.

If these were the only kind of men in London, perhaps I was better off staying at home, where at least my brothers and sisters loved and accepted me.

Perhaps my aunt’s expectations for me were too lofty, and I wasn’t suited to this level of society.

But my family was counting on me.