To Blush Unseen

by Judith Hale Everett (excerpt)

Greenbury turned to inspect his reflection. He had come to trust the wisdom of his valet implicitly, and thus said in a ruminative tone, “I own to wondering of late if my mother could be mistaken in her method of finding me a bride.”

“I will take the liberty of offering my humble opinion,” replied Haslam, with an air of suitable deference, “that every mortal on earth is prone to mistakes.”

Greenbury considered the effect of the pin in the mirror. It was understated enough not to detract from the propriety of his black coat and breeches, yet it added a subtle daring to his dress. He was conscious of a lift to his spirits and, bless Haslam, to his courage. Yes, he thought boldly, it was time he ceased allowing others to dictate to him. Filial duty could only carry so far, after all, and Haslam had the right of it: he ought not to be ashamed. It was not as though he were a child caught out in wrongdoing for, as his father had said, he had done his best in the circumstances. At nine-and-twenty he ought to know his own limits, by Harry, for though he had courted every eligible lady his mother had found for him in the past four years—ever since Miss Daineford—

His eyes lingering on the reflection of the pin nestled in his cravat, Greenbury paused some moments before saying, “But perhaps I am ungrateful. After all, I once made my choice, and it did not answer. I ought to be thankful my mother has undertaken a task that is beyond my capability.”

Haslam took up the brush to remove any mote of dust that might have clung to his master’s coat. “I beg to differ, my lord. Gratitude does not seem at all necessary, for I will be so bold as to point out that Lady Patchcomb’s methods have answered no better than your own. However, I will hazard the opinion that the issue of your first choice lay not with your lordship’s capability, nor in your methods, but in the timing. If patience is a virtue, allow me to assert that so, too, is persistence.”

Greenbury’s gaze flicked up to that of his valet in the mirror, then back again to the jade pin. His features relaxed and he said, “I believe it will do very well, Haslam. Thank you.”

Haslam’s lips turned up in a smile for which a mere footman might have received a reprimand. “I will take the liberty of stating that your lordship presents a remarkably elegant figure this evening,” he said as he moved to smooth the shoulders and tail of his master’s coat. “Her ladyship will, no doubt, be highly gratified.”

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