Page 17 of My Fair Lord

A slight frown crossed Miss Wakechild’s otherwise smooth brow. “Yes, I’m afraid I was unable to get away to speak to you before the end of the evening. My family commanded my attention. However, I did manage to see Miss Halliwell.”

“Oh bravo, Miss Wakechild. Did you manage to ascertain which of her suitors she is inclined to favour?”

He’d been watching her face rather than what her hands were doing so was surprised when her coffee cup rattled in the saucer. His eyes glanced down to it and when he looked up again, she had begun to blush.

“I don’t think she favours any of the men,” she said quietly.

“No? You managed to form quite an acquaintance in a short space of time. I’m impressed.”

Miss Wakechild pressed her lips together tightly.

“What aren’t you telling me?” Ned asked slowly.

He wasn’t sure there was more, but his intuition paid off, because her eyelashes fluttered. Pale and coppery in colour, they were nowhere near as impressive as Miss Halliwell’s, but they framed a pair of extremely intelligent eyes that were currently hiding something.

Miss Wakechild gave a sigh. “Can we not just leave it at that? I imagine she will wearily accept whichever man her father decides to foist on her.”

“No, I think you know something else and you’re not telling me. I don’t think her father would be satisfied knowing that.”

Her eyes locked on to his. He imagined she could be formidable when she wanted to be.

“I don’t care what her father thinks. I have absolutely no knowledge of who he is and besides, this is your commission, not mine. Without my help, you would not have even learned this, and you would never be privy to…”

“Privy to what?” he asked, sitting forward again, genuinely intrigued. “Play fair, Miss Wakechild. Now you’ve slipped up, you have to tell me.”

“Very well.” Miss Wakechild glanced around the room, then leaned forward across the table. “She was with another young woman in the powder room, and they were kissing.”

Ned was a man of the world. He’d met women for whom the attraction of their own sex was greater than that of men. Determined not to show his surprise, he picked up his cup and sat back in his chair, taking a drink.

“I assume you don’t mean a sisterly peck on the cheek?”

Miss Wakechild flashed him a stern look. “I do not, and even if it had been, the placement of their hands would have left the matter in no doubt!”

Ned coughed, the coffee almost making a second appearance. He quickly wiped his lips with his napkin.

“Oh dear, Mr Blake, I hope you aren’t going to expire on me.” Miss Wakechild was watching him with an amused look on her face. “Are you more shocked about what she was doing or that I told you about it?”

“Probably more that you don’t appear shocked yourself,” he admitted.

“Do you think schoolgirls don’t have mad passions for each other? Besides, I have a godmother back home who has lived for years with her companion. It’s an open secret that they are lovers but, as everyone is so polite in society and they are discreet, nothing is ever said.”

She took a sip of coffee then placed the cup and saucer back on the table. She reached out again and adjusted the handle of the coffeepot so that it pointed in the same direction as that of her cup. She nodded to herself. Ned wondered if she was even aware she was doing that.

“I would strongly advise you to tell Mr Halliwell nothing of this, but suggest to him that his daughter might benefit from a trip around England with a companion. The … friendship, shall we call it, might draw to a natural conclusion or they will find a way to reconcile their inevitable parting. Or they may even be fortunate enough to be allowed to keep their happiness.”

“Why are you so concerned with Miss Halliwell’s happiness?” Ned asked. “Until three days ago, you knew nothing of her existence.”

Miss Wakechild pressed her lips together again and her eyes grew tight at the corners. “Because if I can ensure a woman is not manoeuvred into a marriage that will bring her misery, why would I not do what I could to help her?”

Ah. There it was. They had reached a moment of significance. She was in search of a husband and may have different opinions on a suitor to her father. Ned said nothing as he waited for Miss Wakechild to collect her thoughts. He didn’t have to wait long but it was interesting to see the way her eyes moved around the room. Was she watching the other groups or looking at something within her mind? He’d love to know. He’d love to know a lot about her, he realised.

Finally, she blinked and folded her hands together.

“There is another matter I wished to speak with you about, Mr Blake. I have a proposition for you myself.”

“A proposition for me, how intriguing!” he said softly.

“A business proposition,” she replied, giving him another of those long looks that were quite captivating in their sincerity and almost made him feel abashed at flirting.