Page 35 of A Brilliant Match
“Then call me Miles, please,” he said, offering her the first smile of the day. It was probably the first smile he’d given in a week, and the unused muscles made his cheeks feel like they were cracking. By way of answer, Dorothea gave a barely perceptible nod.
Lady Sophia returned with her treasured ribbon. “I have found the very one, and it was only two shillings. Can you believe it?”
“That is a good deal,” Dorothea said. She inhaled deeply, as though she had forgotten to breathe before. “Was this all you needed?”
Her sister nodded. “And it is growing more crowded here by the minute. I know you will think me foolish, but…”
“You are ready to return to the carriage,” Dorothea finished with an understanding smile, then glanced at Miles.
He held out an arm for each of them. “Allow me to escort you then. I shall see that no one crushes a single fold of your gown.”
“An impossible promise to fulfill, but a noble one,” Dorothea said, smiling in a way more akin to the woman he had just been coming to know before he had rushed his proposal.
He was relieved that she was not completely lost to him, but it was also something of a sweet torture. That he needed a wealthy wife was indisputable. That he wished to win her on fair and open terms was no less so. But with Dorothea so near, he was not sure he was going to have the heart to pursue anyone else.
“Impossible, you say? Ah, but my lady, I am nothing if not ambitious,” he replied laughingly, then he cut it short.
Really, Miles. Ambitious?He felt like groaning over his poor choice of words, but summoned another smile and sought another topic of conversation, which he soon hit upon. After all, it was what he did best. He charmed and entertained members of theton.
That’s what poor gentlemen did when living on the fringes of Society.
Chapter14
After leaving the bazaar, Sophia was content to look through the window of the carriage and keep her own counsel, which left Dorothea in blessed silence to think over what had just occurred. She had seen Miles for the first time since she had turned him down. She was still certain she had done the right thing—fairly certain. It did not change a thing that the sight of him made her the happiest she had been in a week. Yes, he was reassuringly solid in a mass of people one might easily get crushed in. Yes, he smelled divine. Not overly perfumed, but rather simply clean and inviting. And yes, the offer of his friendship was a balm to her heart. She had thought it too late for any such thing.
But the fact remained that he was ineligible. Absolutely nothing would change that. She had not been raised her entire life the daughter of an earl just to settle down with a plain Mr. Shaw (who was really not very plain at all) who had no connection to the peerage. With her father gone and her mother dependent on her for everything, she was for all intents and purposes the head of the family. She needed a husband who could assume that role.
Dorothea had been given a reprieve in answering Lord Hastings, for he had sent word that he was obliged to visit one of his holdings. He would return in a fortnight in anticipation of her answer, which he hoped would be favorable. With a man like Lord Hastings at her side, she could take her place in Society and help her sisters all find the right husbands. It was the most logical step to take for a woman of her position.
But with Miles, she might enjoy his friendship without guilt. And she would certainly reward such faithfulness when she was married by continuing to invite him to hersoirées, thus elevating his position into her orbit. It was the least she could do.
What she could not do was to marry him.
It was a most unfortunate thing that her heart would not obey the dictums of her mind, for it foolishly fluttered and flopped about when near him. Why, she had been at the greatest risk of bursting into tears when he had said he liked her. Had anything ever been so ridiculous?
“I was thankful Mr. Shaw came when he did,” Sophia said. “The bazaar was beginning to be too crowded for my comfort.”
“And mine,” Dorothea said. She wondered if he would be at the Grenvilles’ ball. Anne Kensington had told her she had also received an invitation, and she was glad they would enjoy it together. Anne was the closest thing she had to a female friend. In many ways, she thought just as Dorothea did. And as it was Anne’s second season, she also knew more people in thetonthan Dorothea did.
In the meantime, there must be Almack’s to get through, and the ongoing search for a man who was her equal in every way, in case she decided Lord Hastings would not suit. The pickings had been surprisingly slim. Besides Lord Hastings, she had been passed over by Lord Peregrine, had been briefly assessed by Lord Throckmorton—and, she supposed, to have been found wanting, for he did not follow it up with an invitation to dance—and had danced once or twice with Sir Barrett. As for the rest of theton, she had yet to form any meaningful connection with a single gentleman of note. It was as though she were invisible to them.
It was her third time attending Almack’s, and as she had never seen Miles there, she could only assume his status in thetonwas not high enough to be awarded a voucher. It was probably for the best. At least she knew her nights at Almack’s would be free of fluttery distraction in her quest for matrimony.
On Wednesday night at the peak fashionable hour—none too early, but well before the doors would close to any late arrivals at eleven o’clock—Dorothea led her sister and mother through Almack’s hallowed doors. She gave a quick glance around and spotted faces who were familiar to her. The Miltons were present, as were the Berkleys, and she was now on nodding terms with four of the patronesses. A few of the gentlemen who had been introduced to her and could be depended upon to ask her to dance were present. Even Maryann Stanley had been given a voucher, showing that she had more than simply wealth to recommend her.
Dorothea cast a casual gaze at the entourage around the heiress and sucked in a short breath, her heart beginning to race as soon as the sight impressed itself upon her mind. It could not be!Miles was here!—standing in Maryann’s circle of swains, next to Mr. Weatherby and Mr. Pollard. Dorothea quickly turned her face away before he could see her. How dreadful to be caught looking.
Next to her, Sophia and Lady Poole were caught up in conversation with Lady Milton, as Anne Kensington spotted her from her godmother’s side and moved forward to greet her.
“You are here at last.” She smiled conspiratorially.
Dorothea slipped her arm through Anne’s, happy for an excuse to escape Mrs. Milton. Desperate to hide from Miles for reasons unknown to herself.
“Indeed I am. You cannot think I would miss a night at Almack’s.” She darted the quickest glance again at Miles, then turned away with determination.
“I know. The match that must be made in your very first season,” Anne teased. She knew Dorothea’s feelings on the matter and had even seemed to understand, although she professed herself in no hurry to become riveted. That, in fact, was the only point upon which they disagreed.
They discussed who had already arrived and who was likely to come, and Dorothea was proud of herself for studiously not looking once in the direction of Miles Shaw.
