The Price of Forgetting

Chapter 20

Never again, I vowed, fighting a yawn and doing my best to appear interested in the conversation at hand. It wasn't easy. I didn't have a clue as to who most of the people mentioned were, and I still didn't understand enough about certain rules and expectations in society to follow everything discussed. Up until this man arrived today, I hadn't even known who he was, and I'd already forgotten his name. Not that he knew that or would even care if he did. He was far too interested in dominating the conversation. So far, I'd been able to say about five words. All yes and no answers to his questions.

Lily was right. I should have given instructions to the servants to tell any surprise callers that I wasn't home. I just felt guilty ignoring them after they made their way over here specifically to see me. I figured the polite thing to do was visit with them for a few minutes and nicely tell them I wasn't interested in more than that.

That had been the plan, at least. But this wasn't the first of these meetings where I'd been unable to actually follow through. These men didn't care that I didn't know who they were. All they cared about was how I looked and that, they assumed, I was rich and part of their world.

I wish I could have been more assertive like Lily. I kept trying to work up the nerve to interrupt him and tell him...something to get me out of this, but it wasn't easy. He didn't give me any openings and it wasn't natural for me to push for one. Unfortunately, he and the others seemed to like that about me.

"...and you know how the servants can gossip," he said conspiratorially, completely oblivious to the fact that I was barely listening to him. "But then, I suppose you can't truly blame them. Their lives are so simplistic. What else would they talk about? Daily apple prices?" He chuckled and I was suddenly more interested than I cared to be in this discussion. Not that he noticed, but my eyes narrowed. From what I'd seen, servants were actually very interesting and kind people. Much more so than upper class individuals like this man. And I knew it wasn't the fact that they held the title of servant that caused his disdain. Or at least, not totally. It was largely the fact that they didn't have much money. That they actually worked for a living and weren't as important as he imagined himself to be.

It would be entertaining to see the expression on his face when he learned that I wasn't so very different from the people he believed to be so insignificant. At the very least, the revelation would get rid of him, I realized, sitting up a little straighter.

But how exactly could I work that into a conversation? It'd be easier if I remembered his name...

"... Everet Fairfax had the audacity to imply that I didn't have the standing to be there. Can you imagine? I've heard, though of course only through rumors, that his father nearly disinherited him over a dalliance with the daughter of a book seller. A simple merchant!" He sounded thoroughly horrified as he shook his head.

Alright, I'd had enough of this obnoxious man. I still had no idea what to say, but I was ready to have him thrown out anyway. Just as I made the decision, Jennifer, one of the maids appeared in the doorway.

"Begging your pardon." She curtsied. "But Miss Ella has an appointment to attend to."

I was dumbfounded. I didn't have an appointment. A second later, I decided I didn't care. Whatever it was would get rid of this man.

"Thank you, Jennifer," I said before looking at him again. "I'm sorry. I seem to have lost track of time."

Taking the cue - thank goodness! - he rose to his feet and offered a bow and a smile that I'm sure he felt was irresistible. "Not at all. I was glad to be allowed the time to get to know you." He took my hand and placed a kiss on the back of it. "Perhaps we can finish our discussion another time?"