Chapter 6

Frederick sighed to himself as he looked out of the window to the London street. It was full of carriages and progress was rather slow indeed. Frederick rolled his eyes to himself and then let out another sigh, suddenly aware of how filled with ennui he was.

That was an unusual feeling, for him.

He had been in London now for nearly a month and had, of course, continued with his determination to be cautious and careful as regards his friends and acquaintances. He had stayed at the back of the ballroom for the most part, and been slow to join in with conversation. He had enjoyed his evenings at White’s, once whatever social occasion he had joined came to an end, for in that particular establishment, he did not have to worry about a large crush of people or being overwhelmed by those wishing to speak with him. There had been invitations to one or two dinner parties, but the only one he had accepted was Lord Pleasance’s invitation - which dinner was due to occur this evening.

What was he to do until then?

Frederick frowned and ran one hand over his chin. He was, in fact, a little lost for ideas as to how he might fill his time. He normally gave so much of his time and energy to making sure that he was surrounded by only the best company, it did not give him a great deal of time to enjoy society’s offerings.

Am I being too cautious?

Frederick bit the edge of his lip and then turned away from the window. He knew exactly where all those carriages were going – they were on their way to the fashionable hour, and that meant Hyde Park. The Park itself would soon be crawling with gentlemen and ladies, all making their way there so that society might see them present. Frederick desired to stay away from all of that, to hide from it all but, at the same time, he had to consider the fact that he was lacking in anything to do.

“Should I go?”

Murmuring aloud, Frederick tilted his head and wandered back across the room, considering. What else was there for him to do here? He could sit and write a few letters, deal with some business matters and the like, but that did not offer him any real enjoyment, and nothing was particularly pressing. There was the dinner this evening, which he was looking forward to, but that was still many hours away. What else was there for him to do?

Letting out a slow breath, Frederick pushed one hand through his hair, then turned and walked back to the window to look out at the carriages again. The reasons for his caution were well founded, for there were so many gentlemen and ladies not known to him that he feared that his reputation might be affected if he were to become closely acquainted with someone who was of an unsavory disposition. These characters were not always revealed until much later, Frederick understood, having witnessed what had happened to his father. All the same, he considered, the thought of sitting at his desk and choosing – yet again – not to be in company, was beginning to grow a little wearisome upon his soul.

“Mayhap I should go, even if only for a short while,” he considered aloud, nodding half to himself as though to determine that yes, this was what he would do, despite his uncertainties. “It cannot be as bad as sitting here alone!”

With another nod, Frederick turned on his heel and hurried to the door, wondering if he was presentable enough already or if he needed to change. Calling for his valet and for the carriage to be brought around, Frederick went to his bedchamber, preparing to make his way to the fashionable hour for the very first time this Season.

“Good afternoon,Lord Yeatman. I did not think that I would find you here!”

Frederick smiled and inclined his head.

“Good afternoon, Lord Pleasance. Did you not? I cannot imagine why.”

Lord Pleasance chuckled as Frederick grinned, fully aware that this was the first time that he had stepped out into the fashionable hour ever since he had come to London.

“What was it that brought you here?” Lord Pleasance asked as Frederick let his gaze move around the park and take in the seemingly hundreds of people who had decided to come to Hyde Park. “You, who dislike great crowds and find it to be much too overwhelming… why then come to the fashionable hour?”

Frederick shrugged.

“Because it is a pleasant day,” he said, by way of explanation. “And ever since I received your invitation to the dinner party, I have thought that I ought to make myself known in society a little more.” His shoulders lifted and then fell. “I am meant to be enjoying myself, am I not? And perhaps being overly cautious is holding me back a little.”

“Mayhap it is.” Lord Pleasance chuckled and then slapped Frederick on the back. “Goodness, this will be an exceptionally busy day for you, will it not? You will not only be present in Hyde Park but then you will come to dinner also! That will be a lot of people within your sphere in such a short time.”

Frederick shrugged but laughed, aware that his friend’s gentle teasing was nothing more than that.

“I am certain that I shall manage.” Tipping his head, he lifted one eyebrow. “Might I ask who else is coming to this dinner party? Is there anyone else of consequence?”

“Anyone that you are already acquainted with, you mean?” Lord Pleasance grinned. “Yes, Lord Sheffield is attending, Lord and Lady Jefferies and Lord Gibson. You are acquainted with all of them, yes?”

Frederick nodded, a feeling of relief spiraling through him.

“Yes, I am.”

“There are also a few new acquaintances who will be attending,” Lord Pleasance continued. “You will not know them, I think, but the introductions can be made this evening.”

Nodding, Frederick smiled.

“Very well.”

“Ah, but there is one of them now!” Lord Pleasance exclaimed, gesturing to someone behind Frederick. “The family, I mean. Lord and Lady Follet and their daughter.”

Frederick turned his head and, much to his astonishment saw none other than Miss Fairley, the lady he had embarrassed recently. She was walking a few steps behind a gentleman, a lady, and another young lady, her head dropping forward and her gaze fixed on the ground rather than looking to either side. Frederick’s stomach dropped.

“You see them?” Lord Pleasance smiled as Frederick nodded slowly, silently wondering if he had heard Lord Pleasance correctly. “The daughter, Miss Fairley, has recently become acquainted with my wife and, subsequently, we were all introduced. I think them very pleasant people and–”

“You are aware that they have twodaughters, are you not?”

The smile on Lord Pleasance’s face fixed in place, his eyes rounding.

“I beg your pardon?”

“They have two daughters,” Frederick repeated, emphasizing the number. “There is an elder Miss Fairley and a younger Miss Fairley, though both are out.” He searched his friend’s expression, seeing the shock mounting there. “I confess that I have never been introduced to Lord and Lady Follet nor their elder daughter, but I am acquainted with the younger.” Pausing, he studied his friend’s face. “You did not know?”

“I was not introduced to the younger, and they made no mention of her,” Lord Pleasance said hurriedly, his eyes flaring wide. “That means that I have one extra person for dinner, does it not?”

Frederick offered him a small smile.

“I believe it does.”

“But that…” Lord Pleasance closed his eyes and then blew out a long breath, clearly attempting to calm himself. “I think I must return home. Everything will need to be altered!”

“Should you like me to introduce you to the younger Miss Fairley?” Frederick asked, as his friend nodded. “That way, you will be acquainted with her, at least.”

“I do not understand why I was not introduced to her at the time,” Lord Pleasure exclaimed, throwing up his hands. “Unless she was dancing or the like?”

Frederick thought about this but then shook his head and shrugged. He did not want to tell Lord Pleasance that the young lady was a wallflower, for that would bring her shame and embarrassment and she had already endured enough of that. No, he decided, he would say nothing and hope that Lord Pleasance would not ask any further questions on the matter. At the same time, a needle of concern pressed into his heart. Why would her parents not even think to introduce her? Yes, he knew that she had been a little clumsy with Lord Gibson, but that surely could not be enough of a reason to reject her? His heart squeezed and his brow furrowed as he thought of what she would think when she realized that her parents had accepted a dinner invitation from a new acquaintance and had not thought to introduce her to him.

Mayhap she knows of it already, Frederick thought to himself. All the same, I must introduce Lord Pleasance to her. It would only be right.

“Shall we?” Gesturing to the young lady, he saw Lord Pleasance nod, and together, they made their way across the park towards her. Much to Frederick’s relief, neither her mother nor father turned to look back at them, leaving the path open for them to speak only to Miss Fairley. Frederick saw the moment when she glanced at them, the moment she recognized his face, given the way that her eyes flared, but, at the very next moment, she looked away again, clearly not expecting them to be at all interested in her.

“Miss Fairley!” Frederick called, making her look at him again. “Might you pause for a moment?”

She did come to a stop, though she glanced at her father and mother who had also stopped to converse with a new acquaintance, their elder daughter standing with them.

“You wish to speak with me?”

Frederick nodded.

“Yes, of course. I have a gentleman I wish to introduce you to.”

At this, Miss Fairley’s eyes flared, and she took a small step back.

“I beg your pardon?”

“Lord Pleasance,” Frederick said quickly, understanding her confusion. “I believe you are to go to dinner with him this evening? He told me that he is not yet acquainted with you, and I wanted very much to make the introduction before the evening came.”

Miss Fairley blinked rapidly. Her face went very white indeed.

“Dinner,” she said, eventually, her voice cracking. “This evening. Yes, of course.” Her smile did not quite reach her eyes and she turned to Lord Pleasance who was smiling warmly. “Yes, Lord Pleasance. How very good to make your acquaintance.”

“The pleasure is mine.” Lord Pleasance bowed low, doffing his hat. “I must apologize for not pursuing an introduction to you when I first met your parents and your sister. No doubt you would have been dancing at the time, though had I known of your presence, I would have lingered there until your return.”

A spot of red came into each of Miss Fairley’s cheeks as she looked away, her smile still present but rather faint.

“How very kind,” she murmured, neither agreeing, nor disagreeing, with Lord Pleasance’s statement.

“You shall have to wait until this evening to be introduced to my wife, unfortunately,” Lord Pleasance continued, making Miss Fairley look back at him quickly. “She decided to remain at home this afternoon so she might prepare a little more.”

Frederick cleared his throat and Miss Fairley looked at him.

“I shall also be there this evening.” When Miss Fairley’s eyes flickered, he gestured to Lord Pleasance. “For dinner, I mean.”

“Oh.” Miss Fairley nodded but then pulled her gaze from Frederick and back to Lord Pleasance. “I shall know someone there then, at least.”

“Yes, you shall!” Lord Pleasance exclaimed, sounding quite delighted that he had now been able to make an introduction to the lady. “I think that it shall be a very enjoyable evening, Miss Fairley. I am very glad indeed to be introduced to you at last.”

Before Frederick could say more, he caught Lord and Lady Follet turning back towards their daughter. There was mounting surprise on the face of the lady, but Frederick decided that he would take his leave before he was given an introduction to Lord and Lady Follet. At the present moment, he was not particularly enamored of either of them, even though they were not yet introduced. To his mind, they had deliberately left out their younger daughter from the introductions to Lord Pleasance, and that was, Frederick was sure, painful to Miss Fairley – and it was not something which he thought well of either. “I shall leave you now,” he said, inclining his head towards Miss Fairley and then to Lord Pleasance. “Until this evening.”

“Until this evening,” Lord Pleasance replied, though Miss Fairley said nothing.

Instead, her eyes held his for a long moment until Frederick turned away, making him wonder at all that was going on in her mind. Taking in a deep breath, he released it slowly, set his shoulders, and continued to walk across the park.

It had been good for him to come out to the fashionable hour this evening, he considered, for it had aided Miss Fairley and that was something he had been glad to do. All the same, Frederick found himself wondering if he would have an opportunity to speak to her this evening and, if that opportunity came, exactly what it was that she would say.