“I do not think there is anything in here that I think I shall purchase this afternoon,” said the second voice in a dismissive tone. “Shall we perhaps try Madame Russette?”
Presuming that this was the name of another dressmaker in London, let out a very long breath as she waited for the ladies to depart the shop, feeling her shoulders slowly begin to lower as the door chime rang and the ladies’ voices began to fade. Slowly, she turned around—only to come face to face with a young lady.
Delilah started violently.
The young lady was looking at her with a clear gaze, her eyes fixed and steady. Her mouth was a firm line, and she did not smile. Delilah swallowed hard, lowering her gaze and murmuring a pardon before she began to turn away again.
“You are the lady who danced with Lord Coventry, are you not?”
The voice, Delilah prayed, was the one that belonged to the fifth young lady she had heard talking. Turning around, she looked at the lady again, uncertain as to what to say. If she admitted that yes, she was that particular lady, would the lady laugh in her face and mock her for being so ridiculous?
“You need not fear,” the lady said, her tone a little more gentle now. “I am not about to tease you. I am sorry for what my acquaintances said.”
“You—you are Miss Jamieson?” Delilah asked tentatively. She watched the surprise fling itself into the girl’s expression, only for understanding to push it aside.
“I am,” she said with a small curtsy. “You overheard my acquaintances call me so, I presume.” Seeing Delilah nod, she gave a small smile, which lit up her green eyes and took some of the firmness from her expression. “Then you should know that I have no ill will towards you.”
Delilah pressed her lips together, trying to keep her composure, having only just realized just how quickly her heart was pounding. “Might I ask how you recognized me?”
Miss Jamieson laughed—a light, tinkling sound that stole more of Delilah’s fear. “I saw you as we came into the shop,” she said by way of explanation. “However, the moment Lord Coventry was mentioned, I noticed how you stilled. Indeed, you did not move even a little during the entire conversation!” She lifted one shoulder. “I had an inkling that, even if you were not the lady who had danced with Lord Coventry, you were acquainted with her.”
“And now my lack of denial has convinced you that I am that particular lady,” Delilah finished, feeling foolish. “Yes, I will confess that I danced and conversed with Lord Coventry.”
“Then I shall not judge you for it,” Miss Jamieson replied with a warm smile that lifted Delilah’s spirits a little. “I wanted to remain to make certain that, if you were that particular young lady, that you would not allow any guilt or shame to continue to linger.” Her smile faded and her brows began to knit together. “My acquaintances are not particularly kind. They frequently pass judgment over those they deem to have failed in even the smallest way.”
Delilah tried to smile. “You are very kind to speak to me so.”
“I should not want you to feel any lingering pain,” Miss Jamieson replied as though it was to be expected. “And I do not think that, for my own sake, I shall be in their company much anymore.” She gestured to the door, a small yet rueful smile pulling at her lips. “Can you not see? I do not think they are even aware that I am no longer with them!”
This brought a broad smile to Delilah’s lips and Miss Jamieson chuckled.
“I can imagine that you might be looking for a few new acquaintances, Miss...?” She cast Delilah a questioning look.
“Miss Mullins,” Delilah said quickly, realizing they had not been properly introduced. “And I will confess the truth to you—which is that I have no acquaintances whatsoever. I am only just arrived in London.”
This seemed to delight Miss Jamieson, for she beamed at Delilah as though she had given her the most wonderful news. “Excellent!” she declared firmly. “Then, I shall be your closest acquaintance in all of London, should you permit me!”
Delilah smiled—then hesitated. “I—I shall be in the company of Lord Coventry at times, however,” she said, wondering if his nearness to her would push Miss Jamieson away. “I understand that you are very kind in considering me to be quite innocent when it comes to the company I choose, but he is—”
Miss Jamieson waved a hand in an impatient gesture. “I have heard about Lord Coventry, of course,” she said with a frown. “I do not know what to believe, truth be told, for one gentleman says one thing whilst the other says something entirely different!” Her frown began to ease. “Therefore, I have decided to pass judgment on neither of them, unlike most in society.”
“But your other acquaintances,” Delilah protested, a little afraid that Miss Jamieson herself would do damage to her reputation merely by being in her company. “What will they think of you?”
Miss Jamieson considered this for a moment and then shrugged. “I think very little of their views, Miss Mullins,” she declared firmly. “Therefore, I do not think I can align myself with them any longer.” Her brow furrowed. “Ladies who ignore kindness and turn, instead, to spite and cruelty, are not, in fact, the sort of acquaintances I wish to have.”
Delilah hesitated, feeling herself joyous at this declaration, feeling as though she might have a friend to come alongside her, yet fearing that Miss Jamieson herself might face severe consequences for befriending her.
“Please, do not look so fearful,” Miss Jamieson said gently, as though she could see what Delilah was thinking. “I am quite determined to be your friend, Miss Mullins, and nothing that anyone might say shall push me from that path.”
A sudden small cough had Delilah turning at once to see none other than Lady Newfield standing a little behind her, looking at Miss Jamieson with an enquiring look on her face. She was studying the lady curiously but there was no immediate sense of dislike.
“Lady Newfield,” Delilah said quickly, “this is Miss Jamieson. Miss Jamieson, this is my godmother, Lady Newfield.”
Lady Newfield smiled as Miss Jamieson curtsied. “How very good to meet you, Miss Jamieson,” she said in a tone that was neither welcoming nor condemning. “And you are only just acquainted with my goddaughter?”
Miss Jamieson nodded. “I am,” she said, a slight pink in her cheeks. “I thought to introduce myself, which I know is most improper, but—”
“You are not, then, aligning yourself with the other young ladies who left this shop only a few minutes ago,” Lady Newfield interrupted, her eyes still searching Miss Jamieson’s face. “I heard some things from them that I will admit to being rather displeased about.”
Miss Jamieson held Lady Newfield’s gaze steadily. “I can assure you that I have no interest in mocking nor injuring your goddaughter, Lady Newfield.”
“Indeed, Lady Newfield, she has been offering her friendship,” Delilah said hastily, praying that her godmother would not judge the lady incorrectly. “I feel quite blessed.”
Lady Newfield studied Miss Jamieson for a short time and then smiled—much to Delilah’s relief.
“Then I look forward to furthering my acquaintance with you, Miss Jamieson,” she said, linking one hand through Delilah’s. “You must excuse us now, for I must take my goddaughter away. I confess I am quite fatigued after all that has been done this afternoon!”