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“ H ow was your dance with Lord Albury?”

Joceline snorted as her friend grinned at her. “My dear Eugenia, you know very well that he was not at all in good spirits last evening!”

“I know.” Miss Sherwood giggled. “But I must tell you that it was Lady Amelia who told me that you were dancing with him. That is why I ask you, for we both watched you very carefully but I did not have the opportunity to speak with you thereafter.”

This made Joceline grin, though she clicked her tongue and shook her head at the very same time. “Lady Amelia was very crafty last evening, for as Lord Albury asked us both to dance, she claimed that her dance card was quite full and she was unable to do so even though I knew very well that she had two dances remaining!” She laughed softly, recalling the wicked glint in Lady Amelia’s eye and the slight lift of her eyebrow when she had looked towards Joceline. “I had no other choice but to offer Lord Albury my dance card, even though I did not feel particularly inclined towards his company.”

“And the dance?”

Joceline shrugged as they continued to walk through Hyde Park together, her mother somewhere behind her. “He danced well but said very little, both of which I was grateful for!” Her mind went back to the moment Lord Albury had come to take her for the dance. He had smiled, yes, and he had been very gentlemanly in the way he had offered her his arm and then walked her out to the center of the ballroom but he had, thereafter, fallen completely silent and left her with very little to say. She had been quite unable to start a conversation with him and even though it was expected that someone would say something during a dance, not a single word had been shared between them. He had only murmured his thanks to her once the dance was completed before subsequently leading her back to her mother.

“A disagreeable fellow, then.”

Considering this, Joceline shook her head. “No, I do not think so though I would never state outright that I have the measure of him!”

Her friend smiled at her. “No? Then what would you say of him?”

Joceline let herself think a little longer before she answered, careful in her response. “I think that there was something about his mother’s jewels and her wearing of them to the ball that upset him. When I made a remark about how magnificent they were –”

“They truly were,” Miss Sherwood interrupted, her voice softening now as a sense of awe filled her words. “I do not think I have ever seen the like before. To have so many large emeralds all in one necklace – and in the earrings too – quite stole my breath away!”

“As it did mine,” Joceline admitted, “though, as I was saying, when I mentioned it to Lord Albury in the hope that it would bring a little more to our conversation, his expression darkened like a thunder cloud. He was displeased at his mother’s display of wealth though I cannot understand why.”

Miss Sherwood shook her head. “Nor I. I would have thought that a gentleman such as he would have done everything he could to show off his wealth.”

Recalling how Lord Albury had behaved when he and his mother had come to call upon her and her mother, Joceline considered a little more, though she did not voice any of her thoughts. There was a tension between Lord Albury and his mother, she considered, though it was certainly not her business to consider why!

“I am looking forward to your soiree,” Miss Sherwood continued, changing the topic of conversation. “Though given what you have told me about your mother and Lady Albury, I am sure you must be a little anxious.”

With a laugh, Joceline shook her head. “No, indeed I am not. If my mother wishes to focus all of her attentions on this soiree to make it the most excellent evening thus far in society, then I am glad for it, for it means that she does not think about what I am doing.”

Miss Sherwood chuckled. “So she will not notice that we are going to meet with the others to discuss what we have all been reading, no?”

“I doubt it,” Joceline answered, glancing back over her shoulder to see her mother now in deep conversation with two other ladies. No doubt she was speaking of the soiree and how magnificent it would be. “I am already looking forward to our conversation! Come, let us go and find them.”

It did not take them more than a few minutes to once more be in the company of the other bluestockings. Joceline enjoyed her conversations, telling Lady Isobella about her now completed novel and how eager she was to find another book to read. Though, she had considered finding something more factual, mayhap.

“I have been reading a little more on the war that is happening at present, though my brother is most disinclined towards my reading of it.” Lady Amelia rolled her eyes. “That does not prevent me, of course.”

Joceline frowned. “I do not know if that is what I should wish to read, though I am eager to understand all that is going on, of course.”

“Then what shall you consider?” Lady Isobella tipped her head just a little. “I have heard that there have been some fascinating new animals discovered of late, in parts of the world that I have never even heard of before!”

“That would be most interesting,” Joceline agreed, smiling at her friend. “Shall we go to the library tomorrow? I might be able to find something there.”

This was met with eager agreement from all of her friends and, with a small smile, Joceline leaned towards Lady Amelia. “Though you must tell us all about what has been happening with the war.” Her smile faded. “There is none who speak of it to me and even my own father does not appear to be in any way interested. And yet I think that we ought to know precisely all that is taking place, if we are to be considered loyal to our country! Indeed, I think it shocking that we should be at war with France and yet not fully understand the reasons behind it nor what drives the French to attack our men!” She lifted her chin just a little. “I will admit that I find the matter very troubling indeed and should not like to do extensive reading on the subject, though I know you do, Amelia.” Her friend nodded. “However, even though I will not do a great deal of in-depth study, I should like to understand it a good deal better. I think it is only right that I do so.”

The other ladies made murmurs of agreement, only for a somewhat astonished exclamation to reach Joceline’s ears. She turned around bodily, looking straight into the eyes of a seemingly most astonished Lord Albury and an equally surprised companion. A flush of embarrassment threatened to crawl its way up Joceline’s spine but she ignored it quickly, lifting her chin and looking directly at the gentlemen as though to question their very presence here with them.

“Good afternoon, Miss Trentworth.” Lord Albury, hastily recovering himself, inclined his head just a little. “Lady Amelia, Miss Sherwood, Lady Isobella and Lady Rosalyn. Good afternoon to you all.”

Joceline, somewhat taken aback that the gentleman had not only recognized but correctly identified them all, said nothing, turning her attention to the gentleman beside Lord Albury given that he had not yet been introduced. He was blinking rapidly though there came a hint of a smile at the edge of his lips.

“Good afternoon,” Lady Rosalyn said, quietly. “Good afternoon to you also, Lord Castleton. Is your wife present with you today?”

The gentleman nodded. “Yes, she is. Though she is caught up in conversation with a few acquaintances and thus, I was able to escape with Lord Albury for a time. I am sure she would be very glad to see you again, Lady Rosalyn. She is just over there.”

With a nod and a smile, Lady Rosalyn quickly excused herself, taking Lady Isobella with her to ensure she did not walk out into the park alone. Joceline was left standing in front of Lord Albury and this still unintroduced Lord Castleton, with Lady Amelia and Miss Sherwood still with her and it was not until a few beats of silence came between them that Lord Albury seemed to remember himself and his duty.

“Oh, forgive me.” Quickly, he made the introductions, though Joceline could not help but notice the way his eyes flicked towards her and then pulled away again with haste. It happened not only once but on two separate occasions, making her wonder as to his purpose in doing so. Was it because he had overheard her speaking of the war in such a clear way? Mayhap he had not expected such conversation from young ladies.

“A remarkable conversation, I must say,” Lord Castleton began, making Joceline’s heart twist, uncertain as to whether or not he was mocking them. “You quite put me to shame, I think.”

“Oh?” Miss Sherwood’s eyes were a little sharp, clearly just as unsure as Joceline. “In what way, might I ask?”

Lord Castleton nodded, seemingly eager to do so. “Because I know very little about the war with France and here you all are, stating that it is almost disloyal to stand in ignorance!”

Watching him as he spoke, Joceline became increasingly convinced that Lord Castleton was genuine in all he said. There was no mocking glance toward Lord Albury, no slight quirk of his lips as he spoke and, slowly, Joceline began to release the twirling tension within her.

“I find the subject interesting, certainly,” Lady Amelia said, clearly and with great confidence, displaying quite proudly that she was, in fact, a bluestocking. “I know a good deal but there is still much for me to understand.”

“And as I am sure you overheard me say, I am very eager indeed to understand it as best I can, though I do not desire to do any great study on the subject. That is a little too weighty for my mind, I confess.”

Lord Albury’s eyebrow lifted. “You prefer novels, I think.”

Joceline scowled at him, the lightness in his tone irritating her. “I will not pretend that I do not enjoy escaping into an excellent, well written story, Lord Albury, but as I was only just saying to my friends, I think I desire now to read something that is not simply a story. I was told that there have been some excellent discoveries in the animal kingdom of late and that is something that captures my interest.” Letting her scowl fade, she arched one eyebrow, seeing how his eyes had rounded as she had spoken. “In fact, we were now planning a visit to the library so that we might find more books to read and to learn from.”

Lord Albury blinked, then looked away, one hand rubbing over his chin. There came a small but weighty silence and Joceline’s heart began to thud in her chest. It was not the first time that she had spoken so clearly, not the first time that she had made it more than apparent that she was a bluestocking but there was something about this conversation, something about this gentleman that made her feel ill at ease.

“I think that is good,” Lord Castleton said, casting a glance towards Lord Albury and then looking back to Joceline. “My wife is a great reader also.”

“A bluestocking, then?” Lord Albury frowned. “You are all bluestockings?”

With a firm nod, Joceline held his gaze without so much as blinking. “Yes, we are.” She said nothing more than this, gave no further explanation but instead, waited for his response. To her eyes, it appeared as though Lord Albury had not been expecting her to speak so confidently, for he quickly dropped his gaze and then looked away, his hand rubbing at his chin again. Lord Castleton opened his mouth, shot a look at his friend and then snapped it closed again, a small smile playing around the edges of his mouth. Could it be that he found Lord Albury’s reaction somewhat mirthful? Joceline’s heart quickened just a little as Lord Albury lifted his gaze to hers again, not because of any interest in the gentleman certainly but because of the uncertainty over what he would say.

“That is… interesting.”

Joceline’s shoulders dropped, her heart quickly returning to a calm, steady beat. Lord Albury had said nothing by such a remark, seemingly choosing not to tell her whether he thought well of her or not. There was a hesitation there, certainly, but that might well have come from his lack of awareness as to what he ought to say.

“I think it a fine thing, as I have said,” Lord Castleton said, seeming now to rescue his friend from the situation. “My dear wife enjoys reading all manner of things and I have never prevented her from choosing whatever books she pleases.”

This made Joceline’s lips curve into a genuine smile. “I think I should like to meet your wife, Lord Castleton.”

“As should I.”

The gentleman beamed at them both, his chest lifting a little as though it was puffed up with pride – though not for himself, Joceline considered, but rather for his wife. She began to think well of Lord Castleton, though for whatever reason, her gaze kept sliding towards Lord Albury. A touch of red was in his cheeks but he said nothing more to any of them, a slight frown pulling at his brows as though he was considering all that had been said. Joceline was surprised at herself, at the clear longing within her to know what it was he thought of her bluestocking ways. Why, she had no reason to care as to whether or not he approved of her! And had she not just finished telling her friend all about his strange behavior the night before? There was no reason for her to have even the smallest of interest in him!

“Then shall I take you now?” Lord Castleton asked, as Joceline pulled all thought away from the Earl. “Lady Rosalyn is already there, is she not?”

“Yes, let us go,” Joceline said decisively, before her friend could speak. “An excellent suggestion, Lord Castleton. I should be delighted to meet your wife, especially since it seems that she too might be as understanding as you when it comes to our bluestocking ways!”

Lord Castleton nodded fervently. “Oh, indeed she is! Let me take you to her now.”

Joceline made to follow him, only for Lord Albury to clear his throat. “I shall excuse myself, I think.”

Though this did not surprise Joceline, it made her stomach dip low as though, in saying such a thing, he had disappointed her though that, Joceline told herself, was a foolish thing to think.

“But of course,” Lord Castleton said, with a nod. “Come, Miss Trentworth, Lady Amelia. My wife is just over here.”

With only a glance towards Lord Albury, Joceline followed after him, her head held high. Whether Lord Albury approved of her learning and reading, she did not care, she told herself, though inwardly, there was a lingering sense of frustration. How much she wanted to be accepted by society! How much she wanted to be seen for who she was without fear of judgment! A slow growing sense of despair settled within her, as she walked alongside Lord Castleton. He appeared to be delighted with his wife and her love of reading, though she did not think that there would be very many gentlemen like that. Her parents expected her to make a match, though her father had made it clear enough that she was to find happiness in that if she could.

If I can, she thought, an ache in her chest. And what if I cannot? The ache grew all the heavier. What then? What is to become of me?