Wallflower (Old Maids' Club, Book 1)

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Authors: Catherine Gayle
Tags: Historical, Regency, Historical Romance, Regency Romance, regency historical romance, regency series
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Hmph.” Damn and blast,
for once in her life, couldn’t Jo refrain from making sense.
Tabitha crossed her arms over her chest and frowned. Perhaps it was
more of a pout than a frown. She couldn’t be wholly certain without
a glass to look into. “Well, do you have a better
suggestion?”
    Jo peeked out from the
alcove and scanned the crush. Tonight would be a reprise
performance of The School for
Scandal . A frown settled on her face, but
for several long moments that was her only reaction. “What about,”
she murmured, “Miss Jennings? I’ll grant you she isn’t the most
loquacious chit to make her debut in recent Seasons, but after a
few years she could possibly be decent company for him. And, more
importantly, for us.”
    Tabitha raised a brow and couldn’t
remove the droll tone from her voice, even though it made her sound
more like Owen than herself. “For us? I thought we were supposed to
be looking out for Toby.”
    “ We are. But if we find a
solution that meets both his needs and ours...” The look in Jo’s
eyes as she took hold of Tabitha’s arm and pulled her out into the
foyer was more than simply dogged determination. It more nearly
bordered on ferocity. “Miss Jennings does.”
    Two options lay before
Tabitha: one, she could dig in her feet and force Jo to drag her
along, thereby giving herself a few moments to determine the
cleverness of her cousin’s assertions—but also drawing the
attention of half the ton ; or two, she could walk along at
Jo’s side in a manner befitting a lady of her station and ascertain
the rest after the fact. A raised eyebrow from Lord Leith the
moment the two ladies were out in the open made Tabitha’s mind up
for her.
    She walked.
    Granted, she was still seething under
the surface but no one need know that save Jo, and apparently Lord
Leith, since the earl had witnessed what must have been a rather
comical sight. He, at least, ought to have the decency never to
mention what he’d seen. The same, perhaps, could not be said of
Jo.
    Tabitha ventured another brief glance
in his direction as she and Jo made their way through the throng.
Lord Leith had schooled his features into a vaguely polite smile;
he nodded in her direction. Then the scamp had the nerve to
wink.
    She would definitely have to have a
discussion with him about his level of familiarity. He was behaving
as though he was one of her brothers—one of whom happened to be
standing alongside him.
    At least she wouldn’t have to go off
searching for Toby.
    There was little time to worry about
either Lord Leith or her brother at the present, however. Every few
steps, Tabitha and Jo were greeted by various and sundry members of
society, and she was obliged to greet them and trade a few
pleasantries. Finally, after working their way through countless
acquaintances (including Lady Kibblewhite and Lady
Plumridge—Tabitha quelled a series of convulsions at the feigned
enthusiasm with which the two gossipmongers greeted her), they
stood before Miss Jennings and her companions.
    “ Lady Tabitha! And Miss
Faulkner. It is lovely to see you here this evening,” Miss Jennings
said. She took each of their gloved hands into her own in turn as
she spoke. “I’ve so been looking forward to tonight’s performance.
Lady Scantlebury went on and on about it at her ball, you
know.”
    Tabitha took a moment to appraise the
debutante up close. A bit on the frail side—not overly surprising,
given the state of her contemporaries. Brown hair, big brown eyes,
and a white silk gown in the most current fashion. She should suit,
though a blonde would be better.
    “ Yes, yes, I’m sure it
will be lovely,” Jo said and waved her hand through the air before
taking the girl’s arm into her own. “But tell me, Miss Jennings,
who is your seamstress? That gown is stunning, don’t you agree,
Tabby?” She looked over long enough for Tabitha to give an agreeing
nod. “Quite as enchanting as the one you wore a few evenings ago

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