Miss Armistead Makes Her Choice by Heidi Ashworth

her hand until she had proven she was no longer in the least faint.
    “Thank you, Mr. Lloyd-Jones,” she said quietly. “I am persuaded I don’t know what could have happened. One should think my sea legs would have been of more benefit to me in this instance,should they not?” she asked, smiling up at him.
    It was with some difficulty that Colin resisted the impulse to fall headlong into the depths of her emerald eyes. “I must take the full blame for your mishap, Miss Armistead, sea legs or no. Now, do feel free to lean against me as we depart,” he instructed as he took her arm. “We shall force ourselves to go slowly, shan’t we? Doubtless both carriages will have arrived out front once we gain the steps down to the street.”
    She followed his directions without comment and, though she leaned on him very little, she felt scandalously near. He thought how completely different was his life but a fortnight ago when he knew he should die of grief over his broken betrothal. It seemed but a blink of an eye ago and yet, here he was, very much alive and enjoying every moment.
    Their journey through the now voluminous crowds of the ballroom and down the stairs staggering with the weight of party-goers on their way up was not in the least conducive to conversation. The silence between them continued, however, as they waited in the chill night air for the carriages, which did not arrive as quickly as promised, to heave into view. However, once they had seated themselves in his comfortable coach lined with ruched gray satin, the squabs covered in petal soft velvet, and the door had shut behind them, Analisa ensured that it would be a most memorable ride.
    “So! I do believe I heard Colin give a date for his dinner party. Please say that it is an evening you are free, Miss Elizabeth,” Analisa urged.
    “I really couldn’t say for certain. Mama, do you agree that we ought to check with Aunt Augusta before we accept any invitations? She might have accepted one on our behalf for the same date and has not of yet divulged the matter to us.”
    “Very true.” Mrs. Armistead wagged her head sagely. “Lady Augusta would take it amiss if we were to accept an invitation without her approval. Not that she would disapprove of our dining at Lloyd-Jones House, to be sure,” she added nervously. “It is only a matter of being made sure she hasnot already accepted an invitation on our behalf for the self-same night, don’t you see?”
    “Yes, of course,” Colin assured them but he could not help but feel their protestations were on account of something else. He thought perhaps Miss Armistead would venture a more illuminating comment if there were a silence to fill. As such, when Analisa took a breath to speak, he squeezed her hand in his own as warning.
    The brief silence stretched on into an awkward breach and Colin wondered if perhaps he had got Miss Armistead all wrong.
    Finally, she drew a deep breath and spoke. “You have both been so very kind and attentive. I am persuaded Aunt Augusta shall understand should it be required to break an engagement for the sake of your party. I imagine her possible ire might be greatly reduced should she receive an invitation, as well. I am aware that having yet another lady to the party might lead to difficulties and yet I am persuaded you shall have no trouble finding enough gentlemen to balance the table should Miss Analisa be in attendance.”
    “An excellent notion, Miss Armistead,” Colin replied, “and expressed so prettily! I should be honored to add your aunt to the guest list. I have a few ideas of my own as to which gentlemen to invite, but I wonder if there are any you would most especially wish to attend?”
    Miss Armistead’s expression was difficult to read in the darkened carriage, but he could well enough detect the note of censure in her voice. “Certainly Miss Analisa’s assessment on the matter should be of far more use than mine. After yourself, I can have no