arrogance. He had been praising the man for days, almost convincing her that her initial impression had been wrong. But no more. Lord Sedgewick would never suit Harriet, no matter what Reggie thought – though to be fair, he had never actually suggested it. Harriet needed emotional support, not an arrogant lord with an explosive temper, a knack for jumping to hasty, erroneous conclusions, and an exaggerated belief in his own importance.
But this was not the time to quibble. Mr. Wethersby was leading Harriet into the next set. The girl was more animated than she had been in weeks.
Joanna bit her lip, cursing herself for allowing Reggie to distract her from business. Only now did she realize how often Mr. Wethersby had escorted Harriet in recent days. Allowing him to dance attendance on her had apparently given him the wrong impression. Even worse, Harriet appeared to harbor a tendre for the man.
Now what? She cursed her inattention. Again she had become blind to her surroundings.
Wethersby was ineligible. Aside from his age – he was barely three-and-twenty – his circumstances would never do. His income might support him comfortably, but he lacked both the fortune and title Lord Wicksfield expected. The earl would never approve.
So she must deflect his attentions and keep a closer eye on Harriet from now on. And she had to find out more about the girl’s serious suitors.
Stupid! Why had she not asked Reggie’s help? He could discover the facts behind the facades.
Harriet had four potentially serious suitors. Almont was the highest ranking. Lady Wicksfield adored him, demanding that Harriet choose between him and Reggie. But Joanna had reservations. Despite his constant attentions, he seemed abstracted. Did his apparent falseness arise from the contrived ennui demanded by Society, or was he hiding something important? Perhaps he did not want a wife at all. He might be using Harriet to hold off his family’s pressure. After all, Reggie had deflected his mother’s demands by apparently dancing attendance on the girl. Unfortunately, that ploy was now exposed. Lord Sedgewick had seen through it in an instant.
The other suitors were even less likely. Lord Penleigh had the necessary title, but his fortune was merely decent, and he was more than twice Harriet’s age. Mr. Parkington was both wealthy and younger, but three older brothers and several nephews stood between him and a title. Lawrence Stoverson was clearly enamored, and his age of twenty-five made him seem approachable, but his fortune was only modest, and he grew quite irritated whenever anyone contradicted him. Not the sort to provide the support Harriet needed.
The music came to an end with no sign of Reggie – or of his brother, which was a relief. Harriet and Wethersby exchanged an intimate glance, reminding her of another unpleasant chore. Only pain could come of so unsuitable an attachment.
Again cursing her inattention, she coolly dismissed Wethersby, then welcomed Lord Penleigh, who had bespoken the next set. She would wait until they returned home before reminding Harriet of her duty. Hysterics were inevitable and might last some time. More than once, Harriet’s sensibilities had left her bedridden.
But Wethersby must go. And not by way of a cut, which would tarnish Harriet, for there was no reason for a public set-down. Once Harriet accepted the reality of her position, Joanna could speak to Wethersby in private.
The price of her Season was steeper than she had expected.
CHAPTER SIX
Five days later, Joanna retreated to the corner of Lady Beatrice’s drawing room, folding her hands primly in her lap. Harriet knew better than to open her mouth on morning calls unless addressed directly, so this portion of her day rarely posed problems. And she had even less concern today, for Lady Wicksfield had accompanied them. For the moment, gossip held sway over surreptitious shopping.
She hid a smile. Lord Wicksfield had warned her that the
But this was not the time to quibble. Mr. Wethersby was leading Harriet into the next set. The girl was more animated than she had been in weeks.
Joanna bit her lip, cursing herself for allowing Reggie to distract her from business. Only now did she realize how often Mr. Wethersby had escorted Harriet in recent days. Allowing him to dance attendance on her had apparently given him the wrong impression. Even worse, Harriet appeared to harbor a tendre for the man.
Now what? She cursed her inattention. Again she had become blind to her surroundings.
Wethersby was ineligible. Aside from his age – he was barely three-and-twenty – his circumstances would never do. His income might support him comfortably, but he lacked both the fortune and title Lord Wicksfield expected. The earl would never approve.
So she must deflect his attentions and keep a closer eye on Harriet from now on. And she had to find out more about the girl’s serious suitors.
Stupid! Why had she not asked Reggie’s help? He could discover the facts behind the facades.
Harriet had four potentially serious suitors. Almont was the highest ranking. Lady Wicksfield adored him, demanding that Harriet choose between him and Reggie. But Joanna had reservations. Despite his constant attentions, he seemed abstracted. Did his apparent falseness arise from the contrived ennui demanded by Society, or was he hiding something important? Perhaps he did not want a wife at all. He might be using Harriet to hold off his family’s pressure. After all, Reggie had deflected his mother’s demands by apparently dancing attendance on the girl. Unfortunately, that ploy was now exposed. Lord Sedgewick had seen through it in an instant.
The other suitors were even less likely. Lord Penleigh had the necessary title, but his fortune was merely decent, and he was more than twice Harriet’s age. Mr. Parkington was both wealthy and younger, but three older brothers and several nephews stood between him and a title. Lawrence Stoverson was clearly enamored, and his age of twenty-five made him seem approachable, but his fortune was only modest, and he grew quite irritated whenever anyone contradicted him. Not the sort to provide the support Harriet needed.
The music came to an end with no sign of Reggie – or of his brother, which was a relief. Harriet and Wethersby exchanged an intimate glance, reminding her of another unpleasant chore. Only pain could come of so unsuitable an attachment.
Again cursing her inattention, she coolly dismissed Wethersby, then welcomed Lord Penleigh, who had bespoken the next set. She would wait until they returned home before reminding Harriet of her duty. Hysterics were inevitable and might last some time. More than once, Harriet’s sensibilities had left her bedridden.
But Wethersby must go. And not by way of a cut, which would tarnish Harriet, for there was no reason for a public set-down. Once Harriet accepted the reality of her position, Joanna could speak to Wethersby in private.
The price of her Season was steeper than she had expected.
CHAPTER SIX
Five days later, Joanna retreated to the corner of Lady Beatrice’s drawing room, folding her hands primly in her lap. Harriet knew better than to open her mouth on morning calls unless addressed directly, so this portion of her day rarely posed problems. And she had even less concern today, for Lady Wicksfield had accompanied them. For the moment, gossip held sway over surreptitious shopping.
She hid a smile. Lord Wicksfield had warned her that the
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