Page 2 of The Earl's Error
“Now, Joceline.”
Joceline glanced at her mother as they stepped into the ballroom. “Yes, Mama?”
“This is not to be as things were last Season,” her mother said, briskly. “You are to push yourself forward a little more. You are to seek to have your dance card practicallyfilledat as many balls as we attend. You are to laugh and smile and converse – but not too much, you understand.”
Fully comprehending what it was her mother was saying by making such a statement, Joceline nodded. “Yes, Mama.” She had no intention of pretending that she was anything other than a bluestocking, however, for having overheard her mother and father’s conversation, Joceline felt herself confident in her father’s encouragement of her. “I shall do my best, certainly.” This was meant in every seriousness though Lady Melford did not appear to take it as such, given the frown that quickly settled over her forehead.
“You are the only focus now, Joceline,” she said, putting her hand on Joceline’s arm as if to make sure that she was payingfull attention. “I will be watching your every step and listening to your every word.”
This made Joceline scowl.
“You may think that you can do as you please and continue as you did last Season but I am telling you now clearly, I willnotpermit it,” Lady Melford stated, looking into Joceline’s eyes. “You cannot hide behind your sister this Season and thus, you must be seen by others, known by others, and acknowledged by others. That is the only way.”
Joceline nodded though, inwardly, her stomach twisted at the thought of trying to have a conversation with a gentleman that she did not know and who might not have any interest in knowing her! Sarah had been excellent in her conversation and her manner, able to have words flowing between herself and whomever she was speaking with, all within a matter of seconds, it seemed! Joceline, on the other hand, had found it difficult to speak easily with others, for, truth be told, the conversation had been vacuous and disinteresting. The talk of gossip had been most displeasing to her and she certainly had not hadanythought of joining in and whispering about others in society! Even the imagining of it had been displeasing and thus, she had spent many a time in society standing very quietly indeed as her sister, mother or another in the group had spoken. She had been a very willing observer.
Not this Season, it seemed.
“Joceline!”
Her considerations flew out of her mind at a familiar voice and, turning, she quickly grasped the hands of Lady Rosalyn. “Rosalyn! How wonderful to see you!”
“And I you!” her friend exclaimed. “Goodness, it has been some months since we were last in company together and I confess that I have felt your absence every one of those days.” She grinned, her eyes twinkling. “I have had no one to discussthe recent goings on in – oh!” Her smile cracked and she bobbed a quick curtsy, her gaze going over Joceline’s shoulder. “Lady Melford, good evening.”
“Good evening.” Joceline’s mother said, her tone a trifle cold. “Lady Rosalyn, I presume that you are not here alone?”
“Not at all, but I am being permitted to come and join my friend for a time,” came the reply, as Lady Melford’s lip curled just a fraction as though this was greatly displeasing. “I am grateful to know that I am trusted!”
Joceline, catching her friend’s intention in saying such things, turned to look up at her mother. “Might I walk with Lady Rosalyn for a time? Just around the ballroom, no further.”
Lady Melford drew herself up. “I am disinclined to permit such a thing, Lady Rosalyn. Joceline’s dance card is not yet filled, though we have only just arrived.”
This did not put Lady Rosalyn’s enthusiasm to the test. “Then I shall return her to your side with every dance filled, I assure you. Good evening, Lady Melford.”
With that, she took Joceline’s arm and then hurried her away from her mother, pulling her to the quiet part of the ballroom so they might speak together.
“It is truly delightful to see you again,” Lady Rosalyn said, squeezing Joceline’s arm. “I was so hoping that you would be present, for there is much that I need to tell you!”
“Tell me?” Joceline asked, turning to look at her friend, a trifle wide eyed. “Is it that you are engaged?”
This made Lady Rosalyn laugh aloud, making Joceline’s face heat. “No, no, not in the least. That is not something that I should undertake lightly. Since I have been away from London, I have not found any interest from any gentleman in the nearby vicinity of my father’s estate. Though that is to be entirely expected given that they all only think of shooting and hunting and the like!”
Joceline laughed softly at this. “You mean that you have tried to engage them in conversation about other matters?”
“Indeed.” Lady Rosalyn looked suddenly very serious. “I have tried to speak of the war and all that has been happening there but I am given nothing more than an incredulous look and then a stunned silence. Either they do not know what it is that I am speaking of or they do not think that a young lady such myself ought to know anything about it and thus, they do not wish to encourage me!”
With a grimace, Joceline sighed and looped her arm through her friends as they meandered slowly around the ballroom, forgetting all about her mother’s expectation that she return with a full dance card. “That is not at all encouraging.”
Lady Rosalyn nodded. “Indeed, it is not. My father is not particularly concerned as regards my unwed status, which is a relief, but then again, he is not particularly concerned about anything aside from his own estate and family name!”
Joceline smiled sympathetically. “That brings both its own difficulties and its blessings, I suppose.”
“It does.” Lady Rosalyn sighed and then, after a moment, gave herself a small, brisk shake. “But I do not mean to be throwing all of my concerns out on you. That is not what I meant when I said there was much I needed to tell you.”
“No?” Joceline’s interest quickened. “Then what it is?”
Lady Rosalyn beamed at her. “I have found some new friends and I have beeneagerlyawaiting your arrival so that I might introduce them to you.” When Joceline nodded, Lady Rosalyn laughed softly. “You do not understand, they are not just any sort of acquaintances. They are all bluestockings!”
Joceline’s eyes widened. “Truly?”
