Then she saw her, as did Lord Rocksavage. His eyes were immediately drawn to the vision of loveliness, whose hair glowed like a heavenly halo. Her lips, two moist rubies, were destined for his kiss. Her blue eyes were bright and effervescent, more radiant than the sun. The beauty's gaze landed on him, and for a moment, Daniel's heart stopped.
“Is that... her?” he asked, a bit breathlessly. As he held the young lady's gaze, the air was sucked from his lungs.
“Indeed.” When she saw the longing in her friend's eyes, Molly did not know if she should feel satisfied or devastated. If nothing else, her reputation as a matchmaker would be redeemed. “And she appears to be alone... we are fortunate! Miss Crawford is usually lost in a sea of suitors.”
“A sea of suitors?! That's a discouraging image. However, I do not mind a bit of competition. If the way to her heart is a struggle, my victory will be that much sweeter.”
“Conquering her heart has already become your goal?”
“Unless she has some terrible personality flaw, then... absolutely,” Lord Rocksavage admitted. “Who is the man at her side?”
Molly had been so absorbed in Lord Rocksavage's reaction, she failed to notice the man standing beside Miss Crawford. He was an older gentleman, possibly in his late forties, and she doubted he was one of Miss Crawford's suitors. “A male relation, perhaps?” Molly suggested hopefully.
“If he's a suitor, he's a bit long in the tooth,” Lord Rocksavage said. “She couldn't possibly prefer him over me.”
“As of now, she cannot prefer you over anyone, seeing as you have yet to make her acquaintance,” Molly said. “Are you ready to meet the woman of your dreams?”
“Lead the way.”
Molly took Daniel's arm and closed the gap between them and Miss Crawford. When he was standing directly in front of her, she looked more beautiful than ever. Her soft lavender gown brought out the violet in her eyes.
“Miss Crawford,” Molly addressed the girl.
“Ah... Miss Moseley! It is always a pleasure to see you!” Iris' eager greeting was surprisingly genuine. “How have you been?”
“Well enough. And you?”
“I am always well.” As they exchanged pleasantries, Miss Crawford flashed a smile. “Who is the gentleman at your side?”
“This is Lord Rocksavage, one of my closest and dearest friends,” Molly said.
“Friend?” As she repeated the word, the smile stayed on Iris' cherubic face. She promptly turned her attention to Daniel and bobbed a curtsy. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord Rocksavage. I believe Miss Moseley has mentioned your name before?”
“I am sure she has.” Daniel took Iris' hand and gently brushed her knuckles with a kiss. “And believe me, the pleasure is all mine.”
“When our eyes met from across the room, I--” As her voice trailed off, Iris' hand flew to her reddening cheek. “Oh dear. Perhaps I should not confess that my eyes were lingering on you, my lord. I feel very foolish indeed!”
“There is no reason to feel foolish, Miss Crawford,” Daniel said. “My eyes were drawn to you as well.”
The gentleman beside Miss Crawford cleared his throat, and for the first time, Molly got a good look at him. He had the appearance of a weathered rogue, disheveled but still handsome. There were deep wrinkles across his forehead, and a scar under his right eye. There were no lines around his mouth, which made her wonder if he had never smiled a day in his life. His unkempt sandy hair was a bit too long; it not only covered his neck, but the top of his collar as well.
Iris caught Miss Moseley staring at him, so she said, “This is my uncle, Julian Crawford.”
Her uncle did not utter a word of greeting. He simply bowed his head at Molly, as if that would somehow suffice.
“Miss Crawford.” Daniel's eyes were wide as he uttered her name. He was enchanted, bewitched, transfixed. All he wanted to do was absorb her beautiful face, to drink in the sight of her. “I know we have just met, but... I was wondering if you would care to dance?”
“Of course, my lord.”
“How about the next set?” he suggested. “You are not otherwise engaged, I hope?”
“No. You are the first gentleman who has asked me to dance. I was beginning to feel a bit neglected!”
“Really, Miss Crawford? No one has asked you to dance?! I find that difficult to believe,” Lord Rocksavage exclaimed. “It is an oversight that should be remedied immediately!”
Miss Crawford looked to her uncle for approval, but he was as silent as ever. Lord Rocksavage held out his arm, which the young lady happily accepted. As he led her out for the quadrille, Daniel did not utter a word to Molly. As soon as he laid eyes on Iris, it was as if she no longer existed. Molly knew Miss Crawford would be perfect for him, but she did not realize he would be smitten with her so soon.
Daniel and Miss Crawford's absence meant she was alone with the girl's uncle—which was a bit awkward, to say the least. She had nothing to say to him, and he was terribly taciturn. Carrying on a conversation could prove to be a challenge.
“So...” Molly made an attempt, “This ball is such a crush! I did not realize it would draw such a crowd.”
“Indeed,” Mr. Crawford agreed.
“Your niece is very popular.”
“She is.”
Molly caught him tugging on the collar of his cravat. At first, Molly thought his curt answers were a sign of rudeness. Now, she was starting to wonder if discourse was difficult for him. She turned her attention to the center of the room, where Lord Rocksavage and Miss Crawford were lining up for the dance. She could feel her jealousy mounting, so she averted her eyes.
“Are you enjoying yourself, Mr. Crawford?”
“Hardly,” he answered with a snort. “Under normal circumstances, Iris would have come with her mother, but her mother is ill.”
“Her mother is... your sister?” When she asked her question, Mr. Crawford finally met her gaze. His eyes were the darkest brown, nearly black, and there was an unmistakeable emptiness in them.
“No,” he answered coldly. “She is my brother's wife.”
“Well, it was noble of you to come on your brother's behalf. I am sure Miss Crawford appreciates your sacrifice.”
Molly thought she saw his jaw twitch. Clearing his throat, he said, “My brother ran away to America many years ago. Iris is my ward. My entire life is a sacrifice.”
“I...see...” Molly took a step away from him. If his cold, quiet demeanor wasn't intimidating enough, she was further intimidated by his size. Julian Crawford was quite possibly the tallest man in the room, and she was not used to having someone tower over her. Lord Rocksavage was hardly a short man, but he wasn't nearly as tall as the gentleman in front of her.
Mr. Crawford clasped his hands behind his back and raised his chin, which gave him an air of haughtiness. “Miss Moseley,” he quietly addressed her.
“Hm?”
“That is your name, is it not? Miss Moseley? We were not properly introduced, but I believe that is what my niece called you.”
“You are correct.”
“Well then, Miss Moseley...” He drew a ragged breath before continuing. “I suppose I should ask you to dance?”
His suggestion made her raise an eyebrow. “Really? Do you want to dance?”
“Not especially, though my aversion to dancing has nothing to do with you,” Mr. Crawford explained. “When I dance, I feel like a fool. However, asking you for a dance seemed like the polite thing to do.”
“I assure you, Mr. Crawford, my desire to dance is as slight as yours,” Molly told him. “I am a truly dreadful dancer.”
“Not as dreadful as me, I am sure.”
“It has been so long since I danced, I doubt I would remember the steps,” Molly said. “I would not want to embarrass you.”
“More than likely, I would end up stomping on your feet.” As he spoke, he glanced down at her slippers. “We should not expose your feet to such abuse.”
Molly thou
ghtfully tapped her chin. “Now that we are aware of the misery we would be causing one another, we should never subject ourselves to the pain of a dance.”
“Never,” he agreed. “Besides, at my age, I am sure I would look very silly if I attempted to dance.”
“At my age, I am sure I would look very silly,” Molly fired back at him.
“Really, Miss Moseley?” He studied her face for several seconds, trying to determine her age. “You look very young.”
“I am thirty,” she shamelessly confessed. “I am hardly a young miss.”
Her declaration made him chuckle. “Believe me, you are still young. When you are my age, you will realize that.”
“Well, it isn't as if you're an old man!”
“I am five and forty,” he admitted. “As old as I feel, I might as well be five and sixty.”
“Five and forty is not old, particularly for a man.”
As they conversed, a gaggle of silly girls passed in front of them, giggling behind their fans. Their behavior had Molly rolling her eyes. Was I ever that young? She wondered.
“A man can marry at any age,” Molly went on, “Unfortunately, women are not afforded that luxury.”
“I suppose you are right.”
“Are you married, Mr. Crawford?”
“No.” His voice was rigid as he gave his answer. “I am a bachelor, I have always been a bachelor, and I am sure I will die a bachelor.”
Molly's matchmaking sensibilities were springing to life. Somewhere in the world, there was a perfect woman for Julian Crawford, and Molly was going to find her. He was a bit coarse, but he wasn't without appeal. “That is terribly bleak, Mr. Crawford. Do you really feel that way?”
“I do. But that is no reason to pity me. I prefer to be alone.”
“Really?” Molly's lower lip protruded, unbeknownst to her. “I find that difficult to believe. No one wants to be alone.”
“I prefer to be alone,” he insisted. “There is nothing safer than loneliness. I have observed the marriages of others, and they often end in disappointment. As long as I am alone, there is no one to disappoint, and no one will disappoint me.”
“How pessimistic.” Molly closed her eyes and tried to imagine a perfect match for such a passionless man. If she decided to take him on, he would certainly be a challenge.
“What about you, Miss Moseley?” Though they had been carrying on a conversation for several minutes now, he rarely glanced in her direction. “Are you... alone?”
“Perpetually,” she confessed. “I try to convince myself I am perfectly fine on my own... that I am contented by the happiness of others, but--”
“But...?”
Molly sighed. “I would rather not be alone. I have accepted that I will never be married, but I would never say I would prefer to be alone. That is such a hermetic mentality!”
“It isn't as if I'm a recluse. The only thing I lack is a wife,” Mr. Crawford explained. “I am generally surrounded by people. In particular, I have a niece who hovers around me at all hours of the day.” Julian bowed his head in the direction of Iris and Daniel, who happened to be heading in their direction. “It would appear the dance has ended.”
“So it has.”
“Are you certain you do not wish to dance with me, Miss Moseley?”
Molly glared at him behind her spectacles. “Are you saying that in jest?”
“I am.” Her dubious expression made him chuckle. “However... in all honesty, there is no one with whom I would rather dance. If I decided to put myself through the pains of dancing, you would be my partner of choice.”
“How very thoughtful of you!” she responded sarcastically. “At least I would be there to share your pain.”
As Daniel and Iris moved closer, Molly could see her friend's face, which was aglow with adulation. If Miss Crawford's grin was any indication, she was just as enamored by him. Daniel leaned toward the young beauty's ear, whispering something that made her blush and giggle.
Their infatuation was as immediate as it was obvious.
After parting ways with Daniel, Iris seized her uncle's arm. “Uncle, I need to speak with Greta. Will you accompany me?”
“Of course.” As his niece tugged him away, Julian's gaze lingered on Molly. “It has been a pleasure, Miss Moseley.”
“Likewise.”
Molly did not dare to look in Daniel's direction as Miss Crawford disappeared from view. Iris was the new object of his adoration, and Molly had no desire to see his puppy dog eyes, or his lovesick expression. Her frustration was mounting; there was an unbearable pressure surrounding her heart. If she was alone, and she had a pillow, she would have been tempted to scream into it.
“You got it right this time, Molly,” Daniel said, making her skin prickle with disgust. “I did not think you would get it right, but you did. Miss Crawford is unlike any woman I have ever met. She's unreal... she's an impossible beauty.”
“I am glad she was to your liking,” Molly said, though her words were like poison on her tongue.
“She was. Very much.” And with a dreamy sigh, he added, “She is perfection.”
Chapter Ten
“I saw her yesterday,” Lord Rocksavage was sitting across from Molly, adamantly describing his encounter with Miss Crawford. “I called on her in the afternoon. She was wearing the most simple muslin gown, and I swear she looked more beautiful than ever. Her skin is so translucent. If I was adept at poetry, I would dedicate a few verses to her face. If Lord Byron saw her, I am sure he would do just that!”
“I am... happy for you.” As she listened to his drivel, Molly tried to appear aloof. She never wanted him to know the pain in her heart, but her frown betrayed her.
“Even if I was Lord Byron, I do not know if I would attempt such a task. Miss Crawford's perfection is beyond description!” Lord Rocksavage exclaimed. “She is absolutely perfect for me, Molly. How did you know she would be perfect for me?”
“It is simply what I do, Daniel,” Molly sighed as she spoke.
“I have arranged to meet her tomorrow. We plan to go on a picnic... with a chaperone, of course,” Daniel continued. “Will you come?”
“Oh, Daniel, I--”
Molly's protest was on the tip of her tongue, but Daniel interrupted. “Molly, you must come! Your presence would give me confidence. You would bolster me... give me strength. I need you to be there.”
“Perhaps you should consider how awkward it would be for me, Daniel.” Molly sat up and folded her hands in her lap. Ever since he became besotted with Miss Crawford, she no longer felt comfortable in his presence. When her heart was throbbing, it was impossible to pretend contentment. “I would feel very out of place!”
“We would not be alone. There will be others,” Daniel said. “When my attention is on Miss Crawford, you could speak to someone else.”
“But Daniel, I--”
Lord Rocksavage leapt from his chair and wagged a finger at her. “Do not protest, Molly. You are coming, and that is that!”
* * *
The picnic was more awkward than she ever imagined it would be. Daniel said they would be accompanied by “others,” but his promise was a lie. Apart from Molly, Iris and Daniel, there was only one other person attending their picnic.
Julian Crawford.
Most of Daniel's breath was spent on Miss Crawford, which was to be expected. He doted on her the entire time, showering her with compliments and pretty words. However, as long as her uncle was sitting next to him, he had to choose his words very carefully. Julian Crawford was an intimidating man, even for Lord Rocksavage.
“Your bonnet is adorable, Miss Crawford,” Daniel said.
“I am glad you think so, my lord.” Though she responded, Miss Crawford's attention was otherwise engaged. At the moment, she was watching a slug drag its weight across the ground. It was moving toward her, closer and closer, and she wanted to make sure it did not close the gap.
“Blue is a lovely color for you,” he said. “
It complements your eyes.”
Miss Crawford glanced down at her blue gingham dress, where a simple white ribbon was tied around the empire waist. It wasn't as if she could disagree with him—blue did look particularly fetching on her. All she could do was smile and accept the compliment. “Thank you, Lord Rocksavage.”
“Your cheeks are full of color,” he commented.
“It is very warm today, my lord,” Miss Crawford noted. “The sun is bright and hot. I hope I do not look too bedraggled.”
“Bedraggled?! Not in the least!” Her suggestion was so ludicrous, it made him laugh. Her flushed coloring made her look more beautiful than ever, but he could not be too forthright. “You look very well indeed!”
Molly plucked a croissant from the wicker basket and slathered it with jam. Then she held it in front of her face, using it to hide her disgust. She could feel Julian Crawford's eyes on her, but she did not bother to glance in his direction. At the moment, leering at Daniel took precedence over everything.
Suddenly, Miss Crawford squealed, “Lord Rocksavage!”
Her panic widened his eyes. “What is the matter, Miss Crawford?”
“A slug!” she shrilled. “I have had my eye on it for some time now, and it keeps coming closer and closer! It... eeee!” Miss Crawford leapt to her feet and relocated to the opposite side of the blanket.
“Fear not, Miss Crawford!” Daniel crawled to the slug and shamelessly plucked it from the ground. “The slug will no longer bother you. I am always happy to help a damsel in distress.” He lifted the slug from the ground and transported it to a nearby tree.
When he returned, Miss Crawford's nose was comically wrinkled. “I cannot believe you would touch such a creature. They are so vile!”
“They are harmless, really,” Lord Rocksavage countered. “When we were children, Molly and I used to play with them.”
At the mention of her name, a tiny smile tilted Molly's lips. “And all manner of insects.”
“Really?!” Iris' nose remained in its wrinkled state, but the expression did not taint her beauty. In fact, Daniel thought she looked adorable. “I cannot imagine!”
Miss Moseley the Matchmaker Page 5