Page 49 of The Lady Was Lying
His mother smiled, focusing her attention entirely on Jane as if she hadn’t believed him when he told her they weren’t courting. “How lovely to meet you.”
“And you,” Jane replied. “It is also nice to see you again, Lady Elias.”
“Lady Jane.” Lady Elias nodded at Jane and then squinted at Belinda. Her voice dropped an octave when she added, “Lady Belinda.”
Belinda shifted at his side and quietly echoed her sister’s greetings. Other than when she had been bickering with Jane, she seemed subdued. He couldn’t help but wonder why. Was it him? Had he done something to displease her?
He’d been so unnerved by having her in his arms the previous evening that he’d faked his way through a few short conversations and then left the ball early. Being wedged against her in the carriage only confirmed what he had already begun to suspect. He liked Lady Belinda.
An uncomfortable silence fell, and then nearly everyone spoke at once.
“The weather—” James said.
“Have you—” his mother asked.
“We love—” Jane started.
“The season—” Lady Elias said.
They all stopped at the same time. Both Jane and his mother laughed.
“You go,” Jane said, gesturing toward his mother.
“Have you enjoyed the season thus far?” she asked, speaking directly to Jane.
“Absolutely,” Jane replied. “I’ve been going out every night, trying to experience as many things as I possibly can. The entertainment is as spectacular as I had hoped.”
“I saw in the papers that you went to the theatre with my son,” his mother commented, still speaking exclusively to Jane.
He’d never known her to be rude before, so why was she doing so now?
“My brother keeps a box. It is quite a popular locale during the season. Perhaps next time the duke joins us, you can come too.” Jane paused, then added, “And you, Lady Elias.”
“I have my own box,” Lady Elias harrumphed.
“How kind of you extend the offer,” his mother responded. “I would love to attend the theatre with you. I’m afraid I’ve been under the weather for more than I would like thus far this season. I’ve missed nearly all of the engagements that my son has attended.”
Her obvious disappointment caused a twinge of discomfort. More than once, he’d been relieved by her absence. It hadn’t occurred to him that she might have been looking forward to the entertainment as much as he had.
“It’s the London air,” Lady Elias interjected. “Cold, damp, and dirty. I always breathe easier in the country.”
“It isn’t damp or dirty today,” Jane commented sunnily.
“Before long, it’ll be hot, damp, and dirty,” Lady Elias added with a frown.
“At least it is lovely today,” his mother said, echoing Jane. “What part of the country did you grow up in, Lady Jane?”
“Lady Belinda dances like a dream,” James interjected, flushing as soon as the words left his mouth.
The only reasonable explanation for why he’d made such a random proclamation was that Belinda was being ignored, and she was also being uncharacteristically silent. Why was she not speaking?
It certainly wasn’t because she lacked opinions.
Jane smirked at him. “Belinda is most talented. She was instrumental in teaching me and our younger sister how to dance.”
His mother blinked as if she had no idea what to say after the abrupt change in topic while Belinda deflected by saying, “Edward taught you to dance.”
“With your assistance,” Jane insisted.
