Page 84 of A Bluestocking for the Wicked Duke

Listen to the Other Woman

Emma burst into the room, without knocking as always.

“Are you ready to go?” she asked Joane.

Joane shook her head. Her yellow dress lay on the bed beside her. She could not find the conviction to wear it. She looked at Emma as she asked, refusing to answer.

“Are you still brooding over what happened?” Emma asked her.

Emma walked to stand in front of her, a nasty scowl distorting her features.

“This man has done nothing to deserve this sort of emotional response from you. Will you deprive yourself the pleasure of attending the ball because Mr. William hurt you?” Emma said.

“I do not feel like I should attend. I just want to sit at home and,”

Joane could not complete the statement. The tears were back again, hot and gushing. Emma hissed and got a ‘kerchief from the wardrobe, handing it over to her friend.

“Is this how you will continue to behave for the near future?” Emma asked.

Joane sneezed into the ‘kerchief. Her insides felt like they were about to remit everything inside them. She thought William would come to see her in the two days that went past but he never showed up.

That means he’s guilty, right?

She didn’t know. What she did know was that William had a chance to deny that he was courting two women at the same time and he had been speechless.

What indictment is greater than that?

“You have to continue with your life Joane. Just dress up and let’s go, I’ll try to make today as much fun for you as possible,” Emma said.

Joane looked at her friend.

Thank you Emma, you are always there for me.

Joane cleaned her eyes dry. She dropped the ‘kerchief on the bed and picked up the yellow dress. She was only on underwear so she stood up and wore the dress. Emma walked up behind her to help tie the cords at the top back of the dress. The dress had a funnel shape, holding desperately to Joane’s curves at the top before starting to spread out at her waist. Joane looked at the mirror.

I do look ravishing.

Emma bent and picked Joane’s pencil heel shoes before bringing it to her. Joane collected them and slipped her feet into them.

“What time is it now?” Joane asked.

“It’s just past noon,” Emma replied, putting the time piece back into her bag.

“Bedford is not far from here. We should be there in less than thirty minutes,” Joane said.

Emma nodded her head and went to the wardrobe. She picked out a cream coloured fan. Opening and closing it three times quickly to confirm if it was in a good condition, she nodded once before offering it to Joane.

“Take this. You are in a fragile state now; we wouldn’t want you to be totally unable to hide your emotions. Take another ‘kerchief too. My gut just tells me you might need those things,” Emma said.

Joane collected them from her and nodded her head.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet, when they become life savers, then you can thank me,” Emma replied.

“William did mention that he would be at the ball but that was before,” Joane gestured, spreading her hands outwards in a flowing motion before completing the sentence, “all this.”

Emma nodded. Joane saw a hint of a smile on her friend’s face.