Page 79 of My Fair Lord

“I’m here,” Ned said. “If for any reason you find you need to leave, or even if you just want to sit and talk quietly to me for a few minutes, just wink at me from across the room, or if we’re close enough tell me you’ve remembered a funny story about my Aunt Agatha’s pug.”

“Does your Aunt Agatha have a pug?” Florence asked, a little bit of a smile returning to her face. “Do you even have an Aunt Agatha for that matter?”

“Yes, I do, or rather a Great Aunt Agatha. You’d like her, I think. She’s rather eccentric and says exactly what comes into her head.” Ned paused, thinking of the woman who once stopped an overlong sermon by the Bishop of York simply by coughing in a particularly disapproving tone. It had been on the subject of the Prodigal Son, ironically.

“Anyway, mention the dog and I’ll come to your rescue at once,” he finished.

“Well, only as soon as it would be polite,” Florence said earnestly.

“Of course. I won’t run off halfway through a conversation with a railroad heiress and leave her standing at the punch bowl.”

Florence gave a small laugh and gave him a frank stare. “I’m not letting any railroad heiresses near you. I’d be far too jealous.”

“Would you?” Ned’s heart soared.

“Of course. You’re the finest-looking man here, and by far the nicest. I would turn absolutely green if I had to stand and watch you dancing with someone else.”

“Ah.” He swallowed. He hadn’t known exactly what he was hoping she’d say. A full-hearted declaration of love?

Yes, actually. That was exactly what he hoped for, hopeless though it would be.

He made his mind up in that moment to tell her absolutely everything about him. He’d failed to find the answer to the question that plagued him, despite avidly reading the English newspapers which had arrived on the overnight steamship, but with the identity of an attorney within his grasp, the moment of truth would not be too far off.

The receptionist at his hotel had identified a number of attorneys within Manhattan, but he had not been able to say whether any of them had clerks called Mc or Mac something. He needed the card. If he chose to, he’d be able to discover his fate before noon the following day. Now that the knowledge was within reach, he both dreaded and craved the moment of discovery.

Either way, he was tired of hiding the truth from Florence.

“You’re very quiet,” Florence murmured.

He looked round at her. “Are you sure you wouldn’t like to marry a nobleman?” he asked. “Despite, rather than because of, his title. If one was pleasant and you thought you might like him.”

“I am absolutely determined. I will fight with my last breath not to be one of those women who the world can say had her head turned by the thought of a coronet.”

She lifted her chin and fixed him with a determined stare. “Don’t talk to me of such matters tonight. Let me enjoy myself while I can.”

There was a plea at the edge of her voice.

“I’m just thinking,” Ned muttered. “You’re right. Now is an evening for enjoyment. When we have time to ourselves again, we should talk. There are things I need to tell you, but now isn’t the time or place. Tomorrow we’ll meet. I don’t suppose you brought the card from the attorney’s clerk?”

“I’m afraid not. Though I looked at it and the name is Macallister and he has an office on Sixth Avenue.” She looked intrigued. “Why does it matter? You can’t tease me like that!”

“I’m afraid I must.” He gave her a grin. “It’ll give you something to speculate about and take your mind off being nervous.”

“Oh you very devil! You’re teasing me!” She broke into a laugh. “Thank you. I won’t be worried now because I shall spend the whole evening imagining all the scandals you’ve been involved in. Tomorrow we’ll meet for morning coffee and you can reveal them all to me.”

Ned’s throat tightened but he managed a smile anyway.

The orchestra began tuning up. Florence spun around. “Oh bother! I have to go. I’ll find you soon. Look out for me when it’s the mazurka because that’s you.”

She swept away. Ned watched as the ballroom swallowed her. He leaned against the wall. His eyes grew misty. She was so completely sure of her opinions and he loved her for it. He hoped he knew her well enough that when he revealed what he had to, it would not completely ruin the friendship they had formed. At least he could share the truth on his own terms and in his own time.

* * *

Florence tried not to glance around her as she danced. Ned would be somewhere in the room and as much as she had joked about heiresses, she couldn’t bear the thought of seeing him with another woman. It was hard enough that Estelle Faulkner had drawn her aside as they had reached the head of the receiving line to snatch a couple of words.

“Thank you for the invitation for my friend,” she had whispered.

“Thankyou!” Estelle had hissed back. “I caught a glimpse of him and he’s utterly handsome. I’m so intrigued. I can’t wait to see what trick you’re going to pull off but I bet it’ll be wild. Are you planning to elope with him? I put him on your card, though I had to scrub out a Frick boy to do it.”