Page 6 of A Spinster's Unexpected Marriage
“Might I suggest, Lord Mayhew, that we state there can be no excuses and no debts?” he asked, as his friend turned to look at him. “I do not think that it is fair to have debts left here at the table. If a gentleman is to play, then he pays what he owes before he leaves this house.”
Lord Mayhew clearly caught what James meant, given the glint that came into his eyes. “I quite agree,” he said, firmly. “Yes, I quite agree. Whatever coin you have brought, that is the coin you play with. You cannot place any bets without money upon the table.”
Looking around and seeing the other gentlemen nodding, including Lord Hampshire and with a nod, James let a small, dark smile settle across his face.
I am certain to win,he told himself, his chin lifting a little as confidence filled him as he thought of what it would be like to leave the house knowing that he had won both the game and the coin of the other gentlemen. That thought sent a flood of pride in his heart and, with his smile growing, James picked up his dealt cards and the game immediately began.
Chapter Four
Martha sighed inwardly but quickly forced a smile as her mother looked sharply at her, perhaps hearing the heaviness there.
“I know it is difficult,” Lady Hampshire said, though there was a note of firmness in her voice, “but you must be strong in your hope and determined in your mind that this Seasonwillbring you a husband. I understand that standing at the side of the ballroom without company can be disappointing and rather dull at times, but it is important that you do so.”
“But father is having no success,” Martha said, softly. “He has not even attended the ball this evening!”
The way her mother’s mouth pulled to one side made Martha’s eyes sharpen just a little. Thus far, her mother had not shared with her as to why Lord Hampshire had not attended the ball with them this evening but herself was clearly well aware as to what was going on.
“I am sure that heshallhave success,” came the reply. “You just must be patient.”
“But if he is not here, then what purpose can there be in my standing here?” Martha asked, quietly. “Why are we here, Mama? It is not as though any gentleman is going to come and ask to dance with me! I am not only a spinster, but I am also a wallflower and – ”
“Oh, how glad I am to hear you say that!”
Before Lady Hampshire could speak, another voice broke into their conversation and, a little surprised, Martha turned around to see a young lady beaming at her as though she had said something truly wonderful. “I… I beg your pardon?”
The young lady, that bright smile still on her face, threw up her hands. “It is wonderful to hear you say that you are a wallflower, for I am also! I find myself so very lonely, however, and my own mother is much too taken up with my sister – for she isnota wallflower – and I must hope that, even though we have not been introduced, you might consider a friendship between the two of us? I certainly would benefit from a dear friend for as I have said, I am rather lonely.”
Martha blinked furiously, not quite sure what to say. The young lady had spoken at great length and had barely taken a breath and now was looking back at Martha with expectation.
“Might I ask for your name?” Lady Hampshire smiled gently, looking to the young lady and then glancing to Martha. “My daughter would be very glad to be your friend, I am sure.”
“Of course,” Martha murmured, as the young lady nodded fervently, her blue eyes shining as her blonde curls bounced.
“Oh, how wonderful!” she exclaimed. “Yes, of course. My name.” She paused and bobbed a curtsy. “Miss Anna Stockton, daughter to Viscount and Viscountess Denley.”
Martha dropped into a curtsy also. “How very good to meet you, Miss Stockton. I am Lady Martha, daughter to the Earl of Hampshire.” She watched, waiting for a flicker of recognition to come into Miss Stockton’s eyes but none came.
“I am delighted to make your acquaintance!” Miss Stockton beamed at her all over again and Martha could not help but smile, such was the young lady’s enthusiasm. “Though I am sorry that you are also a wallflower. That is difficult, is it not?”
“Yes, it is,” Martha admitted, as her mother turned away, leaving the two of them to talk though Martha caught the smile on her mother’s lips before she stepped away. Clearly, she was glad that Martha had this opportunity and was hopeful that she would now make the most of it. “You say that your mother is busy with your sister?”
Miss Stockton nodded, her smile fading. “Yes, I did.”
“And she is not a wallflower?”
Miss Stockton shook her head. “No, she is not.” That smile quickly returned. “I can see that you look rather surprised at this for it is very often that all the sisters from one family are considered wallflowers, though that is usually due to a failing of the mother, the father or one of the daughters themselves, is it not?”
Martha nodded slowly, wondering silently what it was that Miss Stockton herself had done to become a wallflower.
“Alas, it is only I who am to bear the punishment of being a wallflower,” Miss Stockton sighed. “I was engaged to a gentleman last Season and he, very sadly and abruptly, ended the engagement.”
The way that she spoke, so matter-of-fact and without any seeming emotion made Martha’s eyebrows lift in surprise.
“I cared for him a great deal,” Miss Stockton continued, clearly not at all interested in keeping any of her emotions to herself. “It was most unexpected, but such are the minds of gentlemen on occasion, I suppose.”
“I am terribly sorry to hear that you had to endure such a thing,” Martha answered, all the more astonished that the young lady spoke without any sort of real feeling. “You said that was last Season?” When Miss Stockton nodded, Martha frowned. “I would have thought that thetonwould have forgotten about such a thing.”
Miss Stockton’s eyes tugged away and for the first time since they had been introduced, Martha caught the way the young lady’s chin wobbled. “Alas, it might well have been forgotten if it had not been that my betrothed declared himself in love with my sister.”
