Free Wallflower (Old Maids' Club, Book 1) by Catherine Gayle Page B

than six words in a row, or
lose herself in awe over a display of fireworks.
    A lifetime of marriage to this chit
was something Noah could no longer convince himself to fathom. With
every passing moment of her reticence, the likelihood of his being
able to return the girl to her Curzon Street lodgings without first
tossing himself headlong into the Serpentine to break the tedium of
their jaunt grew bleaker.
    He’d better head that direction now,
before he did something drastic. Curzon Street, that was. Not the
Serpentine. The water might prove too enticing. “Well,” he said.
“Shall we return you to your mother’s care then?” Noah didn’t wait
for her response. He caught his driver’s attention and signaled him
to turn the conveyance around.
    They had not traveled far in their
return when he glimpsed the most welcome sight of the day. Walking
arm-in-arm, Miss Faulkner was leading Lady Tabitha along the path
directly toward them. Thank the good Lord. At least the two of them
could provide him with a moment or two of conversation, something
more than a monosyllabic response.
    Noah raised a hand in greeting, and
Miss Faulkner’s smile warmed him through as she returned his wave.
Lady Tabitha neither waved nor smiled. He couldn’t decide if she
seemed more panicked or agitated, from the flash of surprise that
flickered through her eyes before just as briskly
fading.
    That would not be enough to deter him
from calling out to them, however. Not today. Not after spending
the better part of the last hour with the dour Lady
Cressica.
    “ Lady Tabitha!” he called
out as they drew nearer. Noah ignored the fact that the lady in
question’s cousin seemed to be virtually pulling her along in order
to be within reasonable range for conversation. “And Miss Faulkner.
It is quite a fine day to be out for a stroll, is it not? I trust
that you’ve both met Lady Cressica Frost.”
    At the sound of her name, Lady
Cressica condescended to turn her head momentarily in their
direction. She gave a curt nod with a pained smile upon her face.
“Good afternoon,” quietly slipped from her lips—such a minute
sound, Noah wondered if the other ladies could have possibly heard
her.
    “ Good afternoon to you
both,” Miss Faulkner said. “Lady Tabitha and I thought to get some
exercise before our evening activities. How delightful that we’ve
run into you. Don’t you agree, Tabby?”
    Despite her cousin’s urgings, Lady
Tabitha did not warm. “Yes. Quite diverting,” she said after Miss
Faulkner stomped rather noticeably upon her toes. He’d thought her
expression cool, dispassionate even, before the event. Now it was
categorically frosty.
    Noah quashed a chuckle, but Lady
Cressica did not hold back her gasp of astonishment at their
behavior.
    “ We’ll be attending Lady
Landale’s entertainment this evening,” Miss Faulkner continued.
“Might we expect to see either of you there? I understand there
will be cards and charades, and any number of other
diversions.”
    “ I regret to say I’ve
already accepted an invitation to the Harringdon’s soiree.” Noah
did regret it. He had a sudden and compelling desire to attend the
very event that Miss Faulkner described. He wished he had not
agreed to attend the Harringdon’s gathering. He wished he had
received an invitation from Lady Landale. More than anything, he
wished Lady Tabitha would look at him the same way her cousin was
at the moment.
    But Lady Tabitha wouldn’t look at him
at all.
    “ Mother and I are
attending the Harringdon ball as well,” Lady Cressica
said.
    Having not taken his eyes from Lady
Tabitha’s face, Noah caught a fleeting glint in her eyes. Very
curious. She’d never behaved so peculiarly in his presence before.
He wasn’t certain what to make of it.
    “ I’m sure you’ll both have
a delightful evening,” Miss Faulkner said.
    “ Yes, I’m sure,” replied
Lady Cressica. “I only hope at least a few gentlemen will ask me to
dance. I’d