A Gentleman for Lady Juniper (Clairvoir Castle #6)

Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

“ Y ou hate balls.”

Normally, Juniper would completely agree with Betony—but that evening, meeting her sister’s gaze in the mirror, she shook her head. “Hate is a strong word. I dislike balls on most occasions. They are stuffy, overcrowded, loud, and take away from time I could better spend in occupation with books, art, or music.” She considered a moment. “Or the theater. Or the outdoors. But if we wished to be exact, I should say that I find the crowds of people the most uncomfortable part of a ball.”

“I truly do not understand why you dislike crowds.” Betony handed Hettie another ivory colored ribbon so the maid had no need to lift her hands from Juniper’s dark hair. “People are interesting. I enjoy watching them and listening to them. No two are alike, you know, for all they try to mimic one another.”

“People are rude, forever in each other’s way, laugh obnoxiously, and at times smell horrid.” Juniper wrinkled her nose, her reflection doing the same in the looking glass. “No amount of perfume can cover some things, either. In fact, most of the time, strong colognes make matters worse.”

“Which is why you so often come home with a headache.” Betony winced in sympathy. “And then spend the next day like a hermit, hidden away from everyone.”

“It is more so the people than the headache that I must recover from over the course of the next day.” Juniper tilted her head to ease Hettie’s work. “People exhaust me.”

Hettie smiled a little. “You seem a friendly sort of lady, for all that you don’t like other folk.”

“Oh, I like individuals well enough.” Juniper released a weary sigh. “It is large groups that I am not fond of.”

“Then why go tonight?” Betony’s eyes sparkled with mischief.

“You know precisely why. I promised Lady Emily I would be there.”

“And Lady’s Emily’s brother will be present.”

Juniper gave her sister a warning glance in the reflection of the looking glass. “The whole family will be present, and we promised we would help them. That is why I am going to the ball.”

“A kind reason, my lady,” Hettie said, tucking a final curl in place. “And you are ready to dazzle, should you wish it.”

Juniper rose and stood before the longer mirror in her room, turning about only once to ensure she liked the look of things. She wore a pale blue gown with ivory lace at the hem and ivory gloves on her hands, the light colors making her dark eyes and hair stand out all the more. She picked up her matching reticule.

“Your fan.” Hettie handed her the lace fan and stepped back to admire her handiwork. Then she looked at Betony, who wore a gown of similar style but in a rose pink. “You are both lovely. I hope you enjoy your evening, my ladies—crowds or no.”

They thanked her and left the room. They were in the carriage moments later, with Teague and Ivy seated across from them. Teague was wearing a dark green coat and gold waistcoat, and Ivy a gown of shimmering gold. They looked like a matched set, in truth, and made a handsome couple .

“Have you not a book in your reticule, Juniper?” Teague asked with a knowing raise of his brows. “It doesn’t look large enough for such a thing.”

“Oh.” She had slipped a thin volume into the bag from mere habit. “Well, I do have something, yes.”

No one censured her for it. They all merely seemed amused, which she supposed was better than any other reaction she could hope for.

Teague gave a small shake of his head. “Sometimes I think I ought to adopt your propensity for carrying around reading material. There are days in parliament when I should infinitely prefer a book to listening to my colleagues.”

It was only minutes later that they arrived at the ball, hosted by Lord and Lady Jersey. The event would be as near to a crush as someone of their standing wished, without going into the vulgarity of having too many guests and not enough room. Of course, given their wealth and size of their house in Town, Juniper seriously doubted the Jerseys would have any trouble should they wish to invite every titled person in Britain.

It was an excellent event for the Sterling family to attend. There would be so many people present, it was most unlikely anyone would notice any minor social faux pas . Juniper had high hopes for Lady Emily to make a good impression this evening: she and Betony would see to it.

“Before you wander off,” Teague said, once they were safely in the corridor outside the ballroom, “there are introductions I would like to make.”

It was Ivy, his wife, who huffed. “Really, Teague. Must you?”

“I am not truly playing at matchmaking,” he said quickly, which made Juniper and Betony exchange a glance. Their brother-in-law chuckled and raised both hands. “I promise you both, I am not. Old Farleigh asked that I introduce myself, and my family, to an old friend of his. It never hurts to know more trustworthy gentlemen, does it?”

“We promised Lady Emily we would meet her right away,” Betony said, narrowing her eyes at Teague.

“Excellent. After you meet my new friends, you can bring them along to introduce them to Lady Emily and her family.” Teague seemed entirely too confident in himself at times.

Juniper adjusted the ribbon of her reticule and resigned herself to a widening acquaintance. “All right. Who are we meeting?”

Teague took his wife’s arm again and led them into the ballroom as he said, “Roman Eastwood, titled Baron Hartwell and his brother, Lyness Eastwood. They tend to keep themselves in York, though I cannot think why.”

“They likely feel about Yorkshire the way you do about Ireland,” Betony teased as she and Juniper followed.

“Perhaps.” Teague led them along the wall, to an obviously pre-determined meeting place.

Two men stood together, so alike in appearance they could only be brothers, though the older of the two was a touch shorter than the other. Teague bowed and first introduced Ivy, then his sisters-in-law, to them both.

Juniper considered them. The men were both handsome. Tall, light brown hair, blue eyes and narrow builds. It was something of a surprise they were not surrounded by matchmaking mothers or swooning misses.

Lord Hartwell’s smile was tight, but polite, as he addressed them. “It is a pleasure to meet the ladies of Dunmore’s family at last—and your connection as cousins to my close friend, Lord Farleigh, came as a pleasant surprise.”

It always fell to Juniper, as the elder of the two single sisters, to speak before Betony could do so. At least, with new acquaintances. “It is likely if we look back far enough in our family trees, we are all related to half the room at this very moment. But we are grateful to have a good friendship with our cousins, the Dinards.”

“All of whom are absent,” Lord Hartwell said, his smile unmoving. “No news on that front yet, I trust?” He spoke, delicately of course, of the impending birth of Lord and Lady Farleigh’s first child.

“We do not expect anything for another month or so.” Juniper glanced at his younger brother, who had a more genial expression than the baron but seemed content to remain silent. “I wonder that we have not met before, Lord Hartwell.”

“Ah, that is easy enough to explain.” His lips twitched upward, though again his eyes did not seem to share in any pleasant humor. “I am across the aisle from your brother, the earl. We do not see eye-to-eye on nearly anything.”

Neither Juniper nor Betony had anything they wished to say about their half-brother. After he’d ceded guardianship of them both to their brother-in-law, they’d rarely seen him. Much to their relief.

Betony had apparently finished with the small talk. “Lord Hartwell, Mr. Eastwood, we are to meet a friend of ours, quite new to London’s social world. We would be honored if you would come and allow us to make introductions, assuming you have not yet met the new Earl of Benwaith and his family?”

“Ah, I have had the pleasure of meeting Lord Benwaith.” Lord Hartwell glanced around, as though looking for the older man. “Farleigh sent a letter requesting I make the acquaintance.”

“Of course he did,” Teague murmured with the slightest of improper grins. “His Grace’s family intends to rally support for the Sterling family.”

“Ah, that is how you became acquainted as well?” Lord Hartwell asked politely. “At times, I think I am good at social and political maneuverings, and then someone like the Duke of Montfort shows that he is winning at chess while I have been amusing myself with draughts.”

“W-We haven’t met the rest of the f-family,” Mr. Eastwood said at his brother’s elbow, his stutter somewhat surprising Juniper, yet she maintained her polite expression. “Lord Benwaith’s f-family.”

That made his older brother heave a sigh. “No. We ought to do so, and a ball is an excellent place for that. And then we will have more ladies to dance with.” He sounded mightily unenthusiastic about that prospect, giving Juniper and Betony another reason to exchange a look of amusement.

“I must introduce my wife to another acquaintance at present. I trust you can look after my sisters-in-law long enough for introductions?” Teague said, giving the Englishmen a nod of his head.

Lord Hartwell bowed to Juniper and offered his arm. “Lady Juniper, I will deliver you safely to your friends.”

“W-With p-pleasure.” Mr. Eastwood offered his escort to Betony, who accepted with a friendly grin.

It didn’t take them long to find the knot of Sterlings. Lord Benwaith and his countess stood at the center, his married sons and their wives on either side, with Lady Emily and the youngest son standing slightly apart from the rest.

It took a great deal of self-control for Juniper to keep her gaze from lingering on John Sterling, but it was he who came forward and introduced his entire family to Lord Hartwell and his brother. Poor man . Knowing as she did how much responsibility he took upon himself, for his family’s sake, she wondered if he ever took a moment for his own sake.

Drifting from her escort, Juniper came to Emily’s side and took in her new friend’s gown. “Oh, you look lovely—your gown, your hair, everything.”

Emily’s cheeks pinked and she laughed, somewhat shakily. It was only then that Juniper noticed the slight tremble in her new friend’s hand as she touched the necklace at her throat. “Thank you. I admit that choosing a gown for this evening was daunting. Lady Jersey, as a patroness of Almack’s, is someone I have been informed I ought to impress.”

“Oh, Almack’s,” Betony muttered, nose wrinkled as she stood on Emily’s other side. “It isn’t at all as important as some would have you think—certainly not as enjoyable. You can tell that none of the eligible men want to be there, but they have been dragged by their mamas. The refreshments are hardly worthwhile. There are far better places to meet people.”

Mr. Eastwood remained close enough to turn to them, overhearing their conversation. His bright blue eyes sparkled with humor. “I have n-never heard a lady d-dis-disparage Almack’s.”

Betony appeared unrepentant, but Emily looked down as though she was the one caught speaking of the institution’s lack of interest, her cheeks flushing, which made Juniper bite her lip with sympathy. She had often found herself feeling accountable for Betony’s more candid opinions by mere association.

Mr. Eastwood bowed to them. “Lady B-Betony, might I have the p-pleasure of the next d-dance?”

“Of course,” Betony said, sounding as delighted as she always did to accept a partner. She accepted his hand and he led her into place, preparing to step into the next formation of couples.

After a moment of quiet, Emily leaned toward Juniper. “Mr. Eastwood is rather handsome.”

The word made her eyes dart inexorably to where the former-guardsman stood, conversing with Lord Hartwell. It was difficult to think on other men at a moment when she was quite aware of him, and somewhat mournful that Mr. Sterling had yet to speak to her directly.

As though her thoughts were spoken aloud, however, he turned toward her with his usual stoic expression. “Lady Juniper. Would you care to dance with me? ”

“Yes.” The word slipped from her at such speed that she immediately berated herself for letting her eagerness show. Yet he did not even react, except to offer his hand to guide her to the floor. She was only vaguely aware of Lord Hartwell asking Emily the same question, for which he received a pleased acceptance.

Mr. Sterling leaned closer to her as he led her through the crowd. “Thank you for setting Emily at ease. My sister is rather nervous this evening.”

“I haven’t done much as of yet,” Juniper protested.

“Merely having a friend smile and converse naturally makes all the difference.” Mr. Sterling’s expression changed the barest amount, his eyes lightening somewhat as he looked down at her. “Many times this evening she has expressed relief that you and your sister would be present.”

“It is a pleasure to be considered her friend.” Juniper meant it quite honestly—the fact the pair were siblings was a charming bonus.

“I hope my sister is not the only one to claim such a thing.” The words, murmured close to her ear as they came to the edge of the crowd, surprised her with their boldness.

It was bold, wasn’t it, for him to say such a thing?

But then, he only meant he wished to be her friend, too, did he not?

Juniper’s mind tumbled about, shocked and questioning whether it ought to be shocked, while she looked at his profile with eyes she knew had opened far too wide for politeness.

They took their places across from one another in the row of dancers. Mr. Sterling looked down the column to where his sister stood, then back to where he had left his family. With a satisfied nod to himself, as though pleased all members of his flock were present and accounted for, he then turned his full attention to Juniper. Those deep brown eyes of his immediately making her heart skip forward in her chest .

She needed to say something when he stepped near. She had to. It was part of dancing together—yet his last words to her left Juniper struggling to put a thought together.

Thus a rather truthful thing, rather than an interesting one, slipped out. “Ballrooms are far too crowded for my liking.”

His head tilted ever-so-slightly to one side. “Are they? I have never been fond of them either, though I imagine our reasons for our shared feeling differ.”

A glance around them made her wonder what, precisely, he could dislike. “My reasons are the noise, the scents, the exhaustion that comes from speaking to dozens of people in one evening. What are yours?”

He waited until they joined hands again to murmur, “The difficulty of keeping one’s eye on a charge, to keep watch.”

Ah yes. That would have proven a challenge for his former employment. She looked to where Betony partnered with Mr. Eastwood. Keeping an eye on only her younger sister in rooms full to bursting often proved challenging. “I think I can understand that, Mr. Sterling.”

“Your sympathy to my plight is appreciated.”

That teased a smile from her, and when their eyes met she saw a glimmer of amusement in his. “I would offer my assistance, though I am but a humble library spaniel.”

An actual smile escaped him. Getting him to smile was as rewarding as it had been at the park. The man had a smile that pulled an answering warmth into her chest every time she caught a glimpse of it.

“Lady Juniper, I will always accept any gesture of kindness you see fit to extend to me or my kin.” Did she imagine the softness in his gaze as he spoke? His words did not sound as though he jested. Not in the least. No, he certainly meant them.

“We should take Lady Emily on an outing,” she blurted, her cheeks blazing with heat again. “Day-after-tomorrow.”

His eyebrows rose, and he passed her through another movement of the dance, parting them for several beats of the music. When they came together at last, his hand took hers. “What have you in mind?”

It was still frightfully cold out, most days—a long walk had the disadvantage of increasing the likelihood of a cold…and red noses all round. Her mind sorted through appropriate activities quickly, thinking through places she had visited in the past. “The Tower of London.”

That brought a sharp look from him. “The Tower?”

“Lots of people go,” she said, then had to wait to speak more. Dash it all. Why were there so few dances that would let them keep still long enough to have a full conversation? If ever she spoke to someone who arranged such things, she would request it specifically.

“What will we do at the Tower?” he asked. “Visit the animal enclosures?”

“No, no. The Line of Kings,” she said. “You have never been?”

He would only have visited if the duke’s family had gone and taken him as a guard. It wasn’t inconceivable to think he had lacked the opportunity to go inside the old castle fortress. Not everyone enjoyed such things.

“It sounds intriguing.” He was at her side again. “I will ask my sister, and secure us transportation.”

Juniper had done the unthinkable—at least, her sister-in-law Fanny would have been mightily displeased with Juniper’s achievement. In mere moments, she managed to secure an outing with the man she most wanted to spend time, issuing an informal invitation under the guise of spending time with his sister. It was scandalous!

She couldn’t help feeling triumphant. “I am certain we will have a marvelous time. I will tell her of the scheme myself,” she promised .

Mr. Sterling took her in with a smile. “First we must make it through this evening in one piece.”

“I am certain we will manage.” She looked to where Lady Emily danced with Lord Hartwell. They appeared pleasant enough. Neither of them frowned, at least. “Has your sister had many callers yet?”

He blinked at the change in subject, then shook his head. “Not yet. But perhaps tomorrow.” His brow furrowed. “I should not be dancing overmuch.”

That sent a stab of disappointment into her otherwise warm bubble of enjoyment. “Really? Why?”

“Then I will have to make calls, and I would prefer to be at home while she receives hers.”

Given his protective nature, it made perfect sense. “Send flowers instead,” she suggested. “Flowers are an acceptable substitute for the gentleman’s company, should he merely wish to thank a lady for giving him the time of a dance. You ought to know that.”

Her gaze met his. “I had momentarily forgotten. Still…I have no desire to spend my night dancing with strangers who are only interested in the novelty of a family raised up from nothing.”

“I doubt that would be the only reason for their interest,” Juniper said in a dry tone, then pressed her fingers over her mouth and missed a step in the dance. Heavens . What was wrong with her? If things like this continued happening, he certainly would not trust her to help his sister in the least way!

Instead of appearing scandalized, or uncomfortable, or any other horrible thing she felt must follow her utterance, John Sterling laughed. Not loud or boisterous; indeed, only one head turned in their direction to see the source of the sound—and it was his sister’s. But he laughed, and she truly enjoyed it.

When the dance came to an end and he led her back to the company of his family, Juniper felt rather hopeful. She had made Mr. John Sterling smile and laugh, and he wanted—at the very least—to be her friend.

Mr. Eastwood brought Betony back, then whisked Emily away, while his brother then asked for Juniper’s hand, and Mr. Sterling took Betony as his next partner. To have such attention paid to all three of them brought the notice of other gentlemen and Juniper, Betony, and Emily were not without partners for the rest of the evening.