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T he novel was more than a little engrossing, to the point that Joceline did not even hear the maid knock at the door. It was only when the girl opened it and stepped into the parlor that she lifted her head.

“Forgive me, my lady, but the mistress –”

“It is quite all right.” Joceline waved the young girl into the room. “I was reading and did not even hear your knock.” She smiled and the young girl appeared to be relieved, given the way her eyes no longer were wide with concern and color slowly touched back into her cheeks.

“Thank you, my lady. It is just to say that your mother desires for you to join her in the dining room just as soon as possible.”

Joceline frowned. “The dining room?”

The maid nodded. “Yes, my lady. She broke her fast later today and has not yet risen from the table.”

Joceline glanced at the clock on the mantlepiece but did her best to keep her surprise to herself. She had presumed that, by this hour, her mother had already risen, broken her fast, and was busy with some other matters in the house but to hear that she had still been abed all this time was more than a little surprising! With an inward sigh, she set the book down and then got to her feet, promising herself silently that she would return to it just as soon as she could.

Making her way to the dining room, Joceline forced a smile as she stepped inside. “Good afternoon, Mother. I hear that you wish to see me?”

“Yes, I do.” Lady Melford set her teacup down on the China plate with a gentle rattle. “We are to go to the fashionable hour in Hyde Park this afternoon.”

Joceline blinked, her stomach dropping low. “I see.”

“And you are to stay away from those friends of yours,” Lady Melford continued, with a somewhat icy glare. “Do you understand me, Joceline? I am not having you waste your time with ladies who are not focused on the same thing you are this Season.”

“Whatever do you mean?” Joceline said, her hands curling as she fought upset. “Mother, I am here to enjoy the London Season and being with my friends permits me to do so.”

“But you are here primarily to make a match,” came the firm reply. “Do you not understand? You are here only to find a suitable husband, and enjoyment is, to my mind, a secondary consideration. Therefore, you are not to spend time with these young ladies, or –”

“I shall spend time with them, just as I please,” Joceline interrupted, aware that she was being rude though she felt no upset at speaking so. “That is not what father wanted for me.”

Lady Melford’s eyes flashed. “And how, might I ask, would you know what it is that your father desired for you? Did you hear him speak? Did you hear him say that he wanted your happiness?”

Joceline drew herself up, determined now not to let her mother push her aside. “Yes, in fact. I did.”

This made Lady Melford’s brow furrow. “I hardly think that is true.” The heavy weight on her forehead pulled all the lower. “Indeed, I am sure that you are lying to me.”

“I am not.” The fear that she would be pulled away from her friends was a great one and Joceline fought against it with all she had. “I heard father stating that my happiness was of greater importance than simply marrying for marrying’s sake, Mother.” She lifted an eyebrow when her mother’s eyes widened. “I know very well that father is eager for me to find happiness and contentment and I have no interest in simply going to any and every gentleman until I find someone who is able to tolerate me.”

Lady Melford looked away.

“I will come to the fashionable hour and, of course, I will speak to many and smile just as I ought. I danced at the ball, did I not? It is not as though I am refusing to do as you expect.”

“You ought not to be spending time with other bluestockings,” came the quick reply, her mother’s eyes sharp and glinting. “They make you all the worse!”

Joceline shook her head, pain lancing through her heart. “Mother, I am already very well aware of just how little you think of me when it comes to my desire to read and to learn. I cannot help that, I am afraid, but I will not permit you to take me away from my new acquaintances. I have already told you that I will do just as you expect in conversing with various gentlemen and ladies during the fashionable hour but I will not spend my every waking moment in pursuit of a husband! I am here to enjoy my time in London and that means I shall be with those who I consider my friends. Those who have the same interests as I, those who understand the same things as I do. Yes, you may find it a little embarrassing to have a daughter who is so determined to show herself to be a bluestocking , but I know that I have father’s blessing. Your lack of support, I am afraid, will do nothing to prevent me from being just as I am.”

Lady Melford’s hand tightened into a fist and slammed down, hard, on the table. “Do you not understand the shame you are bringing on yourself?” she hissed, her eyes narrowing. “Do you not see just how much upset you bring upon me? This is greatly distressing, to have to step into society with the awareness that there are many in the ton who will laugh at me for having a bluestocking for a daughter!”

“I am afraid that is not something that I can help,” Joceline answered, aware of the tears now burning in her eyes but refusing to let herself cry in front of her mother. “Now do excuse me, so that I might go and prepare for the fashionable hour.”

Without waiting for her mother to state that yes, she was permitted to take her leave or no, she had to remain, Joceline turned on her heel and hurried out of the room. She heard her mother’s voice come after her but she did not so much as glance behind, the ache in her chest beginning to burn hot as a single tear fell to her cheek. Walking quickly, she decided to return to the parlor to collect her book in the hope that she might find a little solace there, only to come face to face with two unexpected visitors being led towards the parlor by the butler. The butler, upon seeing her, inclined his head and came quickly towards her, though Joceline was all too aware of the gaze of the gentleman fixing upon her no-doubt tear-stained face.

“My lady, there is a lady and a gentleman come to call,” the butler said, in a quiet voice so that the visitors would not overhear. “I apologize for bringing them to the parlor without your awareness nor the awareness of your mother, but the lady walked into the house as though it was her own and I could not prevent her from doing so.”

“Oh.” The ache in Joceline’s chest began to burn again as she glanced to the two visitors and saw the gentleman frowning. “Introduce me, if you please, then send someone to fetch my mother.”

The butler nodded, turned, and then gestured to the lady. “Might I present Miss Joceline Trentworth, daughter to Lord Melford. Miss Trentworth, this is the Earl of Albury and his mother, Lady Albury.”

Joceline dropped into a curtsy, aware that she had not had the opportunity to dash the tears from her cheeks, feeling the moisture sink into her skin. “Good afternoon.”

“I am acquainted with your mother,” Lady Albury said, crisply. “I do hope that she is at home. I very much wish to speak with her.”

Joceline threw a look at the butler, who quickly scurried away. “She will join us in a few moments.” Thinking silently to herself that her mother would require more than a few minutes in which to prepare herself for this meeting given that she had risen too late, Joceline walked towards the visitors. “Please come and join me in the parlor. I will have the maid bring us some tea if you would like.” Opening the door, she stepped inside and then waited until both guests had sat down before she, after ringing the bell, sat down with them. With a small smile, Joceline let her gaze drift from one of the guests to the other, rather surprised that both had thought to simply appear at their door without prior arrangement. The lady had sharp, dark eyes that flitted from place to place, seeming to take everything in and, at the very same time, with an air that was somewhat critical, given the slight curl of her lip. She was looking around the room unabashedly, showing no caution whatsoever, and Joceline, in truth, found herself instantly disliking the lady. The gentleman, on the other hand, sat tall, a good deal higher than his mother given his height, though his hands were settled in his lap and he was not looking about anywhere. Rather, his gaze was directed to the fireplace, as empty as it was, making her wonder what it was he found so interesting there. With very dark hair that sat like a shadow over his forehead and a seemingly somewhat staid expression, he did not give any hint of enthusiasm or even delight to be present. For a moment, his blue eyes met hers and a light shiver ran through Joceline’s frame. She did not know why but pulled her own gaze away as quickly as she could, surprised at how much she disliked his gaze fixing to hers.

“Your mother, is she going to be long?”

Joceline forced a polite smile. “I am afraid I cannot say.”

“Do recall that we arrived most unexpectedly and Lady Melford could have been caught up in another activity,” Lord Albury murmured, throwing a wearied look in his mother’s direction. “Or with another guest.”

Lady Albury sniffed. “Is that why we have been shown into the parlor rather than the drawing room? Is it that there is another guest present?”

Astonished at the lady’s questions, Joceline opened her mouth to try and form a response but quickly closed it again. There was very little that she could say for she certainly did not want to lie but nor did she want to state the truth, given that it would embarrass her mother! Closing her mouth again, she fought for a response, only for Lord Albury to break in.

“Might I ask if this book is any good?” Gesturing to the novel she had left on the chair next to him, he smiled briefly though it did not reach his eyes. “I presume that you have been reading it, Miss Trentworth.”

She nodded slowly, aware that he had asked her such a thing to quieten his mother’s demanding questions. “Yes, I have been reading it. I have been engrossed in it, truth be told.”

Lord Albury’s eyebrows lifted. “Then it must be an exceptional read.”

“I do not know if I would say exceptional though I have certainly been enjoying it,” Joceline answered, seeing but not acknowledging the way that Lady Albury sighed and shifted in her chair, making her displeasure known – though whether that was with the conversation or the fact that Joceline’s mother had not arrived yet, Joceline did not know. “It is an interesting story.”

“Do you read often?” Lord Albury asked, casting a hasty glance towards his mother as though he were silently praying that his questions would be enough to silence her until Lady Melford arrived. “I am sure that many young ladies enjoy these novels.”

Something dropped into the pit of her stomach and Joceline’s smile became fixed. It was the first time that she had an opportunity to admit that she was a bluestocking and though she had every sense of pride in being called so, there was still something about saying it aloud that had her hesitant. “I read very often, Lord Albury,” she answered, slowly, choosing each word with great care. “Though I do enjoy novels, I also enjoy books about this world and all the incredible things in it.”

This did not seem to interest Lord Albury for he only nodded and then turned his head away, as if what she had been saying was very dull indeed, making Joceline’s cheeks flush. Much to her relief, the door then opened and revealed her mother, who came into the room all at once, her eyes fastening upon Lady Albury.

“Goodness, Lady Albury! Can that be you?”

“It is indeed.”

Joceline watched as the two ladies greeted each other with such effusiveness that Joceline was greatly surprised, for her mother had never spoken in such a way to anyone as yet! Whoever Lady Albury was, she was clearly more than welcome.

“And you have been introduced to my daughter, how wonderful,” her mother continued, looking hard at Joceline though her smile remained fixed. “I do hope that you have rung for tea, Joceline?”

“I have.” Lifting her chin, Joceline kept her gaze trained upon her mother, though Lady Melford quickly turned her attention back to her friend. When the tea came, Joceline served it quickly and carefully, noticing that Lord Albury had become almost silent, just as she herself had done. Wondering at the reason for his presence, Joceline sat back down and picked up her tea, hoping that her mother’s conversation would not take too long and that the visit would not last any great length of time. She had a book to return to.

“Did I tell you? Albury here is to host a ball very soon at the house, to which I am certain you shall both be invited.” Lady Albury leaned forward and beamed at Joceline and then to her mother. “It is to be an excellent affair, for I am to invite the very best of society. It shall be a prestigious event, of course.”

“Oh, how wonderful!”

Was it just Joceline’s ears, or did there seem to be a slight strain in her mother’s voice now that she had heard this from Lady Albury? Sipping her tea, she looked to Lord Albury again, surprised to see him frowning, a glint of steel in his eyes. He was certainly a very strange fellow, Joceline considered, for once her mother had arrived, he had only greeted her before falling silent. Was there nothing he wanted to say?

“We also are to host an event, though it will not be a ball,” Lady Melford said, looking to Joceline. “Is that not right, Joceline?”

Joceline, who had never heard of such a thing, had no other choice but to smile and nod. “Yes, that is so.”

“What shall it be, if not a ball?” Lady Albury asked, a tiny hint of mockery in her tone which made Lord Albury’s brows fall even lower over his eyes, his jaw tightening. “A dinner, mayhap?”

“A soiree.” Joceline’s mother spoke with a firmness that surprised even Joceline, thoroughly confused as to the strange connection between Lady Albury and her mother. “But it is just as you have said, we shall invite only the very best of society so that it is a very intimate affair.”

Lady Albury waved one hand. “Oh, I quite understand. You will want to invite us both, I am sure?”

There came a brief hesitation on the part of Joceline’s mother, making even Joceline’s eyebrows lift in surprise. Tension clawed up her throat as she waited, seeing even Lord Albury’s attention now turned towards her.

“Of course we shall.” It had only been a momentary pause before Lady Melford’s answer but the strain that was now dancing between them all was more than palpable. Joceline’s skin was crawling, her heart hammering and it did not surprise her in the least when both Lord Albury and his mother chose to take their leave a short while later. Had her mother meant to insult them in such an obvious way? Surely not! For what purpose would she have done such a thing?

“Good afternoon,” she murmured, rising to her feet to bid farewell to the guests, questions burning in her mind though she did not speak a single one. “A pleasure to meet you both.”

“A great pleasure,” her mother emphasized, speaking so warmly it was as if none of the previous tension had been caused by her. “I am truly delighted to see you again, Lady Albury.”

The lady smiled and took Lady Melford’s hand for a moment. “As am I,” she said, before quitting the room.

The moment the door shut, Lady Melford rounded on Joceline. “What possessed you to permit them into our home?”

Joceline blinked in surprise. “I – I did not. The butler told me that Lady Albury made her way into this house without even asking if she could do so and he had no choice but to show her to the parlor.”

Hearing this, Lady Melford snorted, walked back to her chair, and sank back down into it, a grimace on her face. “That is precisely like her. I should have expected it.”

“I – I do not understand,” Joceline said, slowly. “Do you not like the lady? I thought you were very close friends, delighted to see each other again.”

This made her mother snort. “No, not in the least. That is what we pretend to be but I do not like her in the least bit! She is always far too demanding, doing her best to stand up against the rest of us in society, as if she has to prove that she is of higher standing than the rest of us.”

Joceline frowned. “She was the wife of an Earl, however.”

“But that does not matter!” her mother exclaimed, her face flushed red. “Do you not see? Your father, even though he is a Viscount, is richer than some of the Marquesses in society! But yet Lady Albury, rather than simply be contented with her acquaintances and her standing in society, is always determined to prove herself to be better than us all. That is the only reason she came here.”

“You mean by speaking about the ball.”

“Indeed.” Lady Melford grimaced. “I chose not to state that we too were throwing a ball, for our event must be different from hers. Though it can still be more impressive than her ball.”

Joceline, not understanding why their soiree had to have more success than Lady Melford’s ball, chose to keep her mouth closed rather than say anything more.

“I shall have to start planning immediately. And,” the lady continued, waving one hand at Joceline as though she were to pay rapt attention to all that was being said, “it must be after her ball so that we can see what she has done and then improve upon it.”

“Yes, Mama.” There was nothing else for Joceline to say though, inwardly, she considered that if her mother was now to become distracted by this rather than pursuing her love of reading and learning, then that might do rather well for her!

“Her son appeared to be very dull, which does not surprise me.” Lady Melford scowled. “An Earl he may be but he does not have any great character, does he? He did not say more than a few words, though that, no doubt, came from his mother’s presence. She has him under her control, I am sure, just as she manipulated and coerced her husband.”

This did not sit well with Joceline and she shifted uncomfortably in her chair, disliking hearing such things about a lady she did not even know. “He did try and speak to me,” she said, coming to the defense of the gentleman though this only earned her a roll of her mother’s eyes. “That was before your arrival.”

“Think nothing of it. That gentleman is not someone that you need to consider, my dear. That entire family is disagreeable and I should very much like us to stay away from them… though I must continue with my pretense of friendship, of course.”

“Of course,” Joceline murmured, looking down at her hands.

“I will have to go and begin thinking about this soiree!” her mother continued, as though she had not heard Joceline. “There is much to be done.”

Watching her mother walk out of the room, Joceline frowned as she thought about all that she had learned. One thing she determined she never wished to be was false, for witnessing both her mother and Lady Albury speaking to each other as they had done whilst inwardly despising each other a great deal was rather distressing to consider.

“Though I may now be free to meet with my friends as often as I wish,” Joceline murmured to herself, her eyes going to her book as a small smile tugged at the edge of her lips. “And that can only be a good thing.”