Love Is Blind by Lynsay Sands

this opportunity.
    'Yes. Mary turned her ankle today and is forced to
    rest and keep her foot elevated, so, you see, she cannot come to Clarissa—I shall have to take Clarissa to Mary. It will be fine," Lady Mowbray announced gaily, urging Clarissa to her feet. "The girls will have a lovely time while you are helping Lady Devereaux ."
    Apparently, Lydia hadn't caught that comment the first time. Now she did, and Clarissa could hear the uncertainty in her voice as she asked, "Help Lady Devereaux ?"
    'Yes," Lady Devereaux cooed. "I was told you have the most incredible taste in ..."
    Clarissa didn't hear the rest. Lady Mowbray was urging her insistently away from the pair, and hurrying her toward the doors leading into the hall. She went silently, because she didn't have a clue what to say. Clarissa didn't know Lady Mowbray , and wasn't all that certain what was happening. Getting away from Lydia's clutches was a difficult thing at the best of times. At least, it had been since the evening her stepmother had caught her in the gardens after returning from her walk with Adrian. Yet, this had been handled so skillfully.... It had to have been planned, she thought, and wondered why exactly it had been orchestrated, and where Lady Mowbray was really leading her.
    "Here we are," Adrian's mother announced cheerfully, opening a door off the hallway and leading her inside.
    Clarissa stepped into the room and paused, her gaze shifting around the blurs that might have comprised a salon. Then her gaze landed on a pale pink confection in a chair by the fire, and she smiled uncertainly.
    "This is Mary," Lady Mowbray announced, closing the door. "Mary, this is Lady Clarissa Crambray ."
    "Hello, Clarissa. It is lovely to meet you."
    Clarissa smiled uncertainly, bewildered to find that this had indeed been about introducing her to Reginald's sister. Clearing her throat, she murmured, "I'm sorry to hear about your ankle."
    "Oh, my ankle is fine," Mary said cheerfully. "I just have to pretend I twisted it tonight. By morning it will have made a miraculous recovery."
    Clarissa stared, wishing she could see the expressions of the two women. She'd never realized how important expression was in communication until she'd lost her spectacles, and her eyesight with them.
    Apparently her uncertainty showed, for Lady Mowbray chuckled softly and moved to her side. "Mary's ailment was invented shortly before we left for the ball, when Adrian asked for my help in getting you away from your stepmother. He seemed to think she would be difficult about his speaking with you."
    "And you agreed to help him?" Clarissa asked, uncertain.
    "Of course, dear. If Adrian is interested in you, I am more than pleased to help him along."
    "But..." Clarissa hesitated and then blurted, "My lady, has no one told you about the scandal attached to me?" Silence followed, and she again wished she could see well enough to make out expressions.
    Not a moment later, Lady Mowbray clasped Clarissa's hands in her own and said solemnly, 'Yes, my dear, I have heard all about the scandal and your brief marriage to Captain Fielding. However, it is my opinion that none of it was your fault. And frankly, I would not care if it were. You are the first woman my Adrian has shown an interest in for ten years. I would not care if
    you had killed the archbishop of Canterbury; I would still help this along."
    Clarissa stood, squinting at the woman in amazement, then was suddenly pulled toward the French doors leading outside.
    "Now, come with me, dear," Lady Mowbray said. "Mary and I are going to sit and visit in here while you speak with Adrian." The woman opened the doors and urged Clarissa through them.
    "But what if Lydia—," Clarissa began, only to be interrupted.
    "We shall deal with your stepmother. Lady Devereaux owed me a favor and will do her utmost to keep your stepmother busy for as long as necessary. And if she fails, I shall handle Lydia myself. Do not worry. Go now. Unless ... you do