Page 7 of The Earl's Error
“Your mother, is she going to be long?”
Joceline forced a polite smile. “I am afraid I cannot say.”
“Do recall that we arrived most unexpectedly and Lady Melford could have been caught up in another activity,” Lord Albury murmured, throwing a wearied look in his mother’s direction. “Or with another guest.”
Lady Albury sniffed. “Is that why we have been shown into the parlor rather than the drawing room? Is it that there is another guest present?”
Astonished at the lady’s questions, Joceline opened her mouth to try and form a response but quickly closed it again. There was very little that she could say for she certainly did not want to lie but nor did she want to state the truth, given that it would embarrass her mother! Closing her mouth again, she fought for a response, only for Lord Albury to break in.
“Might I ask if this book is any good?” Gesturing to the novel she had left on the chair next to him, he smiled briefly though it did not reach his eyes. “I presume that you have been reading it, Miss Trentworth.”
She nodded slowly, aware that he had asked her such a thing to quieten his mother’s demanding questions. “Yes, I have been reading it. I have been engrossed in it, truth be told.”
Lord Albury’s eyebrows lifted. “Then it must be an exceptional read.”
“I do not know if I would say exceptional though I have certainly been enjoying it,” Joceline answered, seeing but not acknowledging the way that Lady Albury sighed and shifted in her chair, making her displeasure known – though whether that was with the conversation or the fact that Joceline’s mother had not arrived yet, Joceline did not know. “It is an interesting story.”
“Do you read often?” Lord Albury asked, casting a hasty glance towards his mother as though he were silently praying that his questions would be enough to silence her until Lady Melford arrived. “I am sure that many young ladies enjoy these novels.”
Something dropped into the pit of her stomach and Joceline’s smile became fixed. It was the first time that she had an opportunity to admit that she was a bluestocking and though she had every sense of pride in being called so, there was still something about saying it aloud that had her hesitant. “I read very often, Lord Albury,” she answered, slowly, choosing each word with great care. “Though I do enjoy novels, I also enjoy books about this world and all the incredible things in it.”
This did not seem to interest Lord Albury for he only nodded and then turned his head away, as if what she had been saying was very dull indeed, making Joceline’s cheeks flush. Much to her relief, the door then opened and revealed her mother, who came into the room all at once, her eyes fastening upon Lady Albury.
“Goodness, Lady Albury! Can that be you?”
“It is indeed.”
Joceline watched as the two ladies greeted each other with such effusiveness that Joceline was greatly surprised, for her mother had never spoken in such a way to anyone as yet! Whoever Lady Albury was, she was clearly more than welcome.
“And you have been introduced to my daughter, how wonderful,” her mother continued, looking hard at Joceline though her smile remained fixed. “I do hope that you have rung for tea, Joceline?”
“I have.” Lifting her chin, Joceline kept her gaze trained upon her mother, though Lady Melford quickly turned her attention back to her friend. When the tea came, Joceline served it quickly and carefully, noticing that Lord Albury had become almost silent, just as she herself had done. Wondering at the reason for his presence, Joceline sat back down and picked up her tea, hoping that her mother’s conversation would not take too long and that the visit would not last any great length of time. She had a book to return to.
“Did I tell you? Albury here is to host a ball very soon at the house, to which I am certain you shall both be invited.” Lady Albury leaned forward and beamed at Joceline and then to her mother. “It is to be an excellent affair, for I am to invite the verybestof society. It shall be a prestigious event, of course.”
“Oh, how wonderful!”
Was it just Joceline’s ears, or did there seem to be a slight strain in her mother’s voice now that she had heard this from Lady Albury? Sipping her tea, she looked to Lord Albury again, surprised to see him frowning, a glint of steel in his eyes. He was certainly a very strange fellow, Joceline considered, for once her mother had arrived, he had only greeted her before falling silent. Was there nothing he wanted to say?
“We also are to host an event, though it will not be a ball,” Lady Melford said, looking to Joceline. “Is that not right, Joceline?”
Joceline, who had never heard of such a thing, had no other choice but to smile and nod. “Yes, that is so.”
“What shall it be, if not a ball?” Lady Albury asked, a tiny hint of mockery in her tone which made Lord Albury’s brows fall even lower over his eyes, his jaw tightening. “A dinner, mayhap?”
“A soiree.” Joceline’s mother spoke with a firmness that surprised even Joceline, thoroughly confused as to the strange connection between Lady Albury and her mother. “But it is just as you have said, we shall invite only the very best of society so that it is a veryintimateaffair.”
Lady Albury waved one hand. “Oh, I quite understand. You will want to invite us both, I am sure?”
There came a brief hesitation on the part of Joceline’s mother, making even Joceline’s eyebrows lift in surprise. Tension clawed up her throat as she waited, seeing even Lord Albury’s attention now turned towards her.
“Of course we shall.” It had only been a momentary pause before Lady Melford’s answer but the strain that was now dancing between them all was more than palpable. Joceline’s skin was crawling, her heart hammering and it did not surprise her in the least when both Lord Albury and his mother chose to take their leave a short while later. Had her mother meant to insult them in such an obvious way? Surely not! For what purpose would she have done such a thing?
“Good afternoon,” she murmured, rising to her feet to bid farewell to the guests, questions burning in her mind though she did not speak a single one. “A pleasure to meet you both.”
“Agreatpleasure,” her mother emphasized, speaking so warmly it was as if none of the previous tension had been caused by her. “I am truly delighted to see you again, Lady Albury.”
The lady smiled and took Lady Melford’s hand for a moment. “As am I,” she said, before quitting the room.
