A Spinster No More by Rose Pearson
Chapter Two
“Idon’t want to go,” Henry said, pouting as he tousled his unruly dark curls and reluctantly let Everton help him into his emerald velvet evening jacket. “Why can’t I just go to the club?”
“Because Mama wants you to find a wife – and you promised you would at least try,” Everton said firmly, giving his brother a shove out of the door, down the stairs and outside the house. The carriage was waiting, a footman holding open the door.
“Why do you not have to find a wife? You’re older than me – and much better suited to married life. You actually like talking to girls.”
“Henry, you are old enough to have gotten past such nonsense,” Everton scolded. “And Mama does not nag me to find a wife because I already did.” He gave his brother a cold stare as he tried to keep his temper under control. It was hurtful that Henry would say such a thing, knowing how badly hurt Everton had been in the past.
Henry did at least have the decency to look contrite. “I’m sorry,” he said grumpily as Everton pushed him down the stairs onto the street and waited for his brother to get into the carriage.
“Can I at least go after supper?” Henry sulked as he got in and shifted across the bench to the other side so Everton follow behind him.
“We’ll barely arrive before supper at this rate,” Everton said testily.
“That’s no loss,” Henry said. “Everyone knows that the food at Almack’s is inedible.”
“Do not let any of the Lady Patronesses hear you say such a thing,” Everton said, but couldn’t stop himself from grinning. It was true enough, the food was rarely enjoyable – but Almack’s was the most important ticket in town, and they were lucky enough to receive the vouchers needed to attend – given they had no titles between them.
“Sometimes I wish Mama wasn’t the daughter of an earl,” Henry grumbled. “If only she hadn’t been friends with Countess Lieven.”
“Well, she is, and so we must do our best not to let her down.” Everton sighed heavily. “There are many young men that would be delighted to have a connection to one of the Lady Patronesses. They can smooth your way through Society, they are very powerful in their own way.”
“I do not want my way smoothed. I do not wish to be invited to every important event. I just want to be left alone, to go to my club and to keep to my studies.”
“Then find a wife quickly, one who won’t mind being kept at home with nothing to do while you waste your life in a library or at a card table,” Everton retorted.
The journey to Almack’s was thankfully brief, and the two young men arrived half an hour before the supper gong would sound. They handed over their outer coats at the door and made their way into the ballroom. Henry winced at the level of noise but did his best to look interested in what was going on around them. Everton peered over the heads, scanning the crowd for anyone he knew. His eyes rested upon Lady Gertrude St. John. She turned and saw him, gave him a mock glare and pointed towards the clock on the wall. He grinned and grabbing his brother by the arm made his way through the crowds to where she was standing.
The brothers bowed to Lady Gertrude. “Good evening,” she said drily. “I was beginning to fear you wouldn’t be here, after all.”
“I promised you and your brother that I would escort you around town until he could return. I am sorry for our tardiness,” Everton said honestly, nudging his brother, hoping he would make his apologies, too.”
“It was my fault,” Henry said, honestly. “I am sorry, Lady Gertrude. I do hope you will forgive me.”
“I may,” she said, pursing her lips, but then she smiled brightly, nudging forward her companions. “You remember Miss Knorr, do you not? From Claveston and Sophie’s wedding?”
“I do,” Everton said, smiling at Miss Knorr and bowing politely. “I am glad to see you again, Miss Knorr. I do hope you are well, and that your new position suits you.”
“I am well,” Miss Knorr said, seeming to ignore the second part of his question. “My charge, Miss Spencer is on the dance floor.” She pointed out a strikingly lovely girl, who bore a striking resemblance to his lost Katherine. It shook him.
Lady Gertrude must have seen his visceral and unexpected reaction to the sight of Miss Spencer, grabbing his arm and dragging his attention back to the three women stood before him. “And this is my new companion, Miss Eleanor Jessup.”
“Charmed,” he said, forcing a smile. “Might I introduce my younger brother, Henry,” he added. “I’m not sure you’ve had the pleasure, Lady Gertrude.”
“No, though I have heard a lot about you from dear Mr. Cormick. It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance,” Lady Gertrude said, a perfect model of decorum.
The supper bell rang, and Everton offered his arm to Lady Gertrude, flicking his head towards Miss Knorr and Miss Jessup in the hope that his brother might think to escort one of them into the dining room. Thankfully he did, holding out his arm for Miss Knorr, who quickly glanced over to see her charge being escorted by Captain Arthur Kingsley. “He’s a good man,” Everton said. “I can vouch for his honor. If we hurry though, we can catch them up and sit with them at the table.”
Miss Knorr smiled gratefully at him. “Thank you. I am conscious that it is my job to ensure she remains safe. I should so hate for her to choose the wrong sort, right from the start.”
“Kingsley wouldn’t hurt a fly. One of the most gallant men I know,” he assured her.
Everton subtly elbowed his way through the crowds so that they entered the dining room just behind Miss Spencer. He couldn’t help marveling at how like his lost Katherine the girl was. He wanted to reach out and touch her blonde ringlets, to see if they were as soft as Katherine’s had been. It took everything he had not to call out his lost fiancée’s name to see if she would turn around.
Soon they were all seated and additional introductions had been made. Conversation was soon lively. He smiled to see his brother actually talking with Miss Knorr quite animatedly. He wondered what subject had caught his brother’s attention sufficiently for him to be so involved. He thought about how sweet and quiet Miss Knorr was and wondered if perhaps she might be just the kind of woman that would suit Henry best. At least he would now have someone other than himself that Henry was disposed to converse with to tempt his brother out into Society more often.
As the meal drew to a close, any illusions he might have possessed about Miss Spencer being a reincarnation of his lost love had been smashed. Where Katherine had been sweet, Miss Spencer was cold. Katherine’s generosity of spirit and warmth of heart was utterly missing in Miss Spencer. All she talked about was herself and her own accomplishments. She didn’t show even the tiniest interest in those around her. Not surprisingly, Captain Kingsley soon turned to talk with Miss Jessup who was seated to his right, where Miss Spencer had been to his left. This left the young woman at the very edge of their little group, pouting at being left out of the conversation. Though it didn’t take long for the young man seated to her left to see that his chance had come. Miss Spencer’s smile was immediately back in place and she began charming the silly fool who didn’t care one bit about what she said, as long as she said it to him.
Everton couldn’t help feeling sorry for Miss Knorr that she had to accompany such an unpleasant young woman to all the events of what would be one of the busiest Seasons in many years. He turned to see her watching her charge. He gave her what he hoped would be interpreted as a supportive look. She rolled her eyes and shrugged. It was obvious she knew just who she was chaperoning and what to expect from her.
The rest of the evening passed in good temper. Miss Spencer danced every dance, so they did not have to entertain her. Lady Gertrude danced from time to time but seemed little inclined to dance with anyone unless she already liked them. Everton asked Miss Jessup to dance, which prompted his brother to ask Miss Knorr to make up a four. As they danced, Everton was reminded again of what an excellent dancer Miss Knorr was. She seemed to really feel both the music and the steps and enjoyed herself as she did so. She smiled, and it lit up her face. He hadn’t realized until that moment how rarely she seemed to smile, and how lovely she was when she did.
As the evening drew to a close, he offered to see Lady Gertrude and Miss Jessup home. Henry stood by awkwardly, but didn’t offer the same to Miss Knorr, but Lord Haworth Westley had already offered to see Miss Spencer home, so as her companion Miss Knorr would have been unable to accept, anyway. Everton watched as the incongruous trio of the stunningly lovely looking, but haughty and unpleasant Miss Spencer with her aging and heavily jowled suitor who might as well have been drooling he was so transparent about his desire for her, and the quiet and demure Miss Knorr made their way into the cool spring night. He shook his head, then offered Lady Gertrude his arm.
As they went outside, Henry pulled him to one side. “D’you mind if I just go straight to my club?” he asked. “You don’t need me, for this, do you?”
Now it was Everton’s time to roll his eyes. “If you must. Don’t lose your entire allowance at once,” he warned him, then sighed heavily as Henry almost ran down the street away from them.
“I see he is still not reformed,” Lady Gertrude said as Everton turned to help her into her carriage, then Miss Jessup.
“No,” Everton said getting inside and sitting opposite them, tapping the roof with his cane to tell the driver to move on. “He is young, thinks Father will always get him out of a tight spot, and that he need never change.”
“Perhaps your father should stop adding to his allowance each time he loses.”
“I’ve suggested that, but Henry is so rarely happy about anything, I think my father fears if he doesn’t indulge him that Henry will fall into a pit of melancholy.”
“Perhaps it is the gambling that makes him melancholy. If he could give it up, then he may be happier,” Miss Jessup suggested tentatively. “It is not my place to say, but my father had the same problem.” Everton nodded. He feared much the same. But getting Henry away from his club long enough to break his habit would not be easy.
“He seemed quite taken with Miss Knorr,” Lady Gertrude noted. “Perhaps that is something that might jolt him out of it, the love of a good woman?”
“D’you know, I was thinking the same thing myself,” Everton admitted. “D’you think we might find ways in which to throw them together? I think they’d make an excellent match.”
“I think we can ensure they attend enough of the same events. They are both quiet and prefer the company of those they know. They will likely enough gravitate towards one another. I shall make a point of making Miss Spencer my dearest friend this Season – though let it be known, I do this for you, Mr. Cormick for all you mean to my brother.”
Everton smiled wryly. “Yes, she is rather a dragon, is she not,” he said. “Poor Miss Knorr, to have to live day in and day out with such a piece of work.”
