Not Quite a Lady; Not Quite a Knight by Thorne Isabella

Author:Thorne, Isabella [Thorne, Isabella]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Mikita Associates
Published: 2019-03-14T16:00:00+00:00

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2

Addie noticed a girl in a green dress watching her. A grave expression was on the young woman’s face, her blue eyes clouded with concern. Addie smiled feebly, positive that she was making an absolute spectacle of herself. She gave the girl a rather strained smile, and pushed away from the pillar, shaking out her skirts with trembling hands.

“Have you ever,” she asked, slightly breathless, “seen a stranger and felt like you knew them from somewhere?” Addie laughed, hoping it didn’t sound as forced as it felt to her. “My name is Addie … Adelaide Waltham and if you would be a friend to me for but a moment, I would be most appreciative.”

The girl laughed, her eyes bright and merry. “Rachel Turner. Would I be unwise to venture a guess that the pale-haired gentleman just yonder might be the cause of your consternation?”

She would faint. She would surely faint. “Tell me he is not looking at me,” Addie begged, grasping the other girl’s hands in her own. “Tell me he has noticed me…”

Rachel laughed. “Making a fool of yourself? Silly thing, do you not know the very nature of a ball is to make a fool of yourself, especially over a handsome gentleman.”

“But is he looking?” Addie asked, terrified of turning around and finding out for herself.

“He is and seems most delightfully interested. Would you care for an introduction? Oh, Freddie…” She grasped the sleeve of a man talking to someone next to her. “Freddie, would you be a dear and arrange an introduction between my dearest friend…what was your name again? Oh yes Miss Adelaide Waltham…and Lord Whittondon?”

No. Addie stopped breathing. He is looking at me? With interest? Has he truly has not recognized me? Do I dare? What if…what if I…She could not finish the thought. It was too daring. Too impossible.

“Should I not be introduced first?” the man asked, giving Addie a frank assessment with blue eyes so like Rachel’s it was clear they were somehow related.

Rachel huffed out an impatient breath. “Adelaide Waltham, please allow me to present you to my brother, Sir Frederick Turner, who will in turn introduce you to Lord Whittondon this instant, for my brother understands if he fails to do as I say that I will tell Mother just how much of his allowance he gambles away.”

Frederick shot her a look that was equal parts hurt and dismay.

“As you say, sister.” He bowed at Addie and offered her his arm. “Miss Waltham, please allow me to introduce you to a dear friend of mine.”

Addie bit her lip and fought to keep from shuddering because she was sure that any friend of Lord Whittondon was not any man she wished to be friends with, however nice his sister seemed.

“I really could not put you out so…” Addie said cautiously as Sir Frederick Turner took her arm and laid it upon his elbow. She was suddenly afraid, but Frederick was already leading her across the short intervening space between herself and the man she had seen in too many nightmares.

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