partake of the latest bit of scandalous gossip.
Ensuring they were alone, she made her way back to the door and leaned against it. If someone tried to enter, she would have enough warning to change the topic of conversation.
“Well?” Amanda tapped her foot impatiently.
“What is wrong with you this evening?” Olivia countered. “Why are you acting this way?”
“I’m concerned for you. Your association with Mr. Prescott will do your reputation no good.”
“And why is that?” She felt the need to pace, to work off her anger, but she stayed put. “Is it because he is a mere mister? Do not forget I am but one step removed from being a commoner.”
“Your brother holds a title that makes you gentry at the very least.”
“And it is only through his knighthood that I am accepted by the Ton at all.”
“Don’t belittle yourself.” Amanda huffed. “That’s your biggest fault. You continually place yourself among the lower classes. And I mean that in the most literal sense.”
Olivia folded her arms over her chest. “If you harbor some grand illusion of orchestrating a marriage between myself and one of Riverton’s titled friends, drop the idea right now. It won’t happen.”
Amanda crossed to the cheval mirror that sat in one corner. She gave a small moue of disgust and fluffed out the skirts of her butter yellow gown. “It could happen if you weren’t so stubborn. You are a well-bred young woman.” Turning one way and then another, she gazed at her reflection. “If you were to emphasize those attributes, instead of playing the wallflower, you would have any number of suitors.”
“Really?” Olivia raised her eyebrows in disbelief. “And which gentleman is willing to overlook the fact that I engaged in the manly behavior of doctoring others instead of making my debut like a proper young miss, not to mention my penchant for speaking my mind?”
“Just the other evening Viscount Ruskin mentioned how lovely you looked at the last ball I gave.” Amanda smiled in triumph.
“Viscount Ruskin isn’t interested in me. He’s looking for anyone who is willing to act as a stepmother to the five hellions he calls his sons.”
“That is true.” Lady Riverton tapped her chin with her fan as she leaned her hip against the end of a settee. “But I am certain there are others who would clamour for your attention if you didn’t act so...so...”
“Strange?” Olivia supplied.
“That wasn’t the word I was searching for. But you do have to admit, you act like a high-strung horse at the merest hint of a thunderstorm.”
Olivia lifted a shoulder in what she hoped was a nonchalant shrug. “Everyone has something they fear. Thunderstorms are mine.”
She stumbled forward as someone pushed against the door. Turning quickly, she grabbed the handle and pulled it open. Dismay filled her at the sight of a frowning Lady Jersey standing before her. Forcing a smile to her lips, Olivia gave a quick bow. “Forgive me, my lady.
Without giving the formidable woman a chance to respond, she ducked around her and headed back to the ballroom.
“Olivia, wait.” Amanda hurried down the hall after her.
“Are we not finished discussing my unsuitable escort and my off-putting manner?”
Amanda bit her lip as though it had just occurred to her how harsh her words had sounded. She laid her gloved fingers on Olivia’s arm. “You know I only mention these things because I want the best for you.”
“Yes, I know.” Hoping to distract her friend before she began to sulk, she linked her arm through the other woman’s. “Shall we return to the ball? You don’t want to miss the waltz.”
Amanda brightened. “Oh, the waltz. I nearly forgot. And I still have to find Riverton. He is most likely in the card room.” A small giggle escaped her, and she strode away with a waggle of her fingers.
Olivia watched her walk away. She never realized how much her friend manipulated the people around her. Until now. Now,
Ensuring they were alone, she made her way back to the door and leaned against it. If someone tried to enter, she would have enough warning to change the topic of conversation.
“Well?” Amanda tapped her foot impatiently.
“What is wrong with you this evening?” Olivia countered. “Why are you acting this way?”
“I’m concerned for you. Your association with Mr. Prescott will do your reputation no good.”
“And why is that?” She felt the need to pace, to work off her anger, but she stayed put. “Is it because he is a mere mister? Do not forget I am but one step removed from being a commoner.”
“Your brother holds a title that makes you gentry at the very least.”
“And it is only through his knighthood that I am accepted by the Ton at all.”
“Don’t belittle yourself.” Amanda huffed. “That’s your biggest fault. You continually place yourself among the lower classes. And I mean that in the most literal sense.”
Olivia folded her arms over her chest. “If you harbor some grand illusion of orchestrating a marriage between myself and one of Riverton’s titled friends, drop the idea right now. It won’t happen.”
Amanda crossed to the cheval mirror that sat in one corner. She gave a small moue of disgust and fluffed out the skirts of her butter yellow gown. “It could happen if you weren’t so stubborn. You are a well-bred young woman.” Turning one way and then another, she gazed at her reflection. “If you were to emphasize those attributes, instead of playing the wallflower, you would have any number of suitors.”
“Really?” Olivia raised her eyebrows in disbelief. “And which gentleman is willing to overlook the fact that I engaged in the manly behavior of doctoring others instead of making my debut like a proper young miss, not to mention my penchant for speaking my mind?”
“Just the other evening Viscount Ruskin mentioned how lovely you looked at the last ball I gave.” Amanda smiled in triumph.
“Viscount Ruskin isn’t interested in me. He’s looking for anyone who is willing to act as a stepmother to the five hellions he calls his sons.”
“That is true.” Lady Riverton tapped her chin with her fan as she leaned her hip against the end of a settee. “But I am certain there are others who would clamour for your attention if you didn’t act so...so...”
“Strange?” Olivia supplied.
“That wasn’t the word I was searching for. But you do have to admit, you act like a high-strung horse at the merest hint of a thunderstorm.”
Olivia lifted a shoulder in what she hoped was a nonchalant shrug. “Everyone has something they fear. Thunderstorms are mine.”
She stumbled forward as someone pushed against the door. Turning quickly, she grabbed the handle and pulled it open. Dismay filled her at the sight of a frowning Lady Jersey standing before her. Forcing a smile to her lips, Olivia gave a quick bow. “Forgive me, my lady.
Without giving the formidable woman a chance to respond, she ducked around her and headed back to the ballroom.
“Olivia, wait.” Amanda hurried down the hall after her.
“Are we not finished discussing my unsuitable escort and my off-putting manner?”
Amanda bit her lip as though it had just occurred to her how harsh her words had sounded. She laid her gloved fingers on Olivia’s arm. “You know I only mention these things because I want the best for you.”
“Yes, I know.” Hoping to distract her friend before she began to sulk, she linked her arm through the other woman’s. “Shall we return to the ball? You don’t want to miss the waltz.”
Amanda brightened. “Oh, the waltz. I nearly forgot. And I still have to find Riverton. He is most likely in the card room.” A small giggle escaped her, and she strode away with a waggle of her fingers.
Olivia watched her walk away. She never realized how much her friend manipulated the people around her. Until now. Now,
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