The Woman Of My Dreams ✔

Chapter 8

Sophie was much more excited about Hugh than Joan herself was. Sophie gave Joan all the details of Hugh's Home, and Joan decided that tomorrow she would go to Lord Hugh's home and thank him. He'd helped her a great deal.

Joan couldn't help but control this warm, ethereal glow of mirth that bubbled through her.

And just to dampen her happiness, her mother approached her with a charming man, who looked head over heels with delight.

"Joan dear!" her mother announced "look who I met!"

Joan looked at him.He looked like the sort of man who enjoyed parties, the one who enjoyed making acquaintances. All in all he looked friendly. Rather giddily happy. He smiled, and suddenly he looked somewhat like Lord Hugh....

Joan blinked, this had to be a vision. Surely this gentleman had the same shade of eyes, same curls and lashes. But...Joan stood with a touch of pride as she figured out, that this man's mouth wasn't as large as Lord Hugh's was, and to crown her analytics, neither did he have the scar, nor the piercingly intelligent look that boomed in Lord Hugh's eyes.

Joan snapped out of her reverie and swept into a middling curtsy, "nice to meet you sir!"

"And you" he positively blabbered with a bow.

"Mother, I'm sure we aren't acquainted, so if you do the needful, I'd be highly obliged, as-"

"Oh!" her mother interrupted "he's Sir Colin Smith."

Joan acknowledged him, with a gracious smile as her mother said to Sir Colin "and she's my daughter Joan."

Sir Colin dropped a quick kiss on Joan's gloved hand, and then his eyes fell on Sophie, who was watching the exchange with renewed interest.

Sophie blushed. She actually blushed. And then the look in her eyes...

Joan smiled. She knew in an instant, that Sophie had developed feelings for Sir Colin.

The music began than, and people started gathering for the dance.

"I presume I hear the first stirrings of a minuet" Sir Colin said "shall we?"

He outstretched his hand to Joan, as an indication for a dance with him; Joan took his hand with some hesitation. The happiness in Sophie's eyes was dampened.