Page 10 of An Heiress and An Astronomer (Gentleman Scholars #3)

P ierce watched as the young woman tried to overcome her discomfort. It was fascinating to watch various reactions flit across her face. Her features tightened and relaxed multiple times in the space of a couple heartbeats. It was as though he could watch her thinking.

He didn’t know her well enough to be able to interpret all her thoughts but since she was quite lovely when not puckered up in disapproval, it wasn’t a difficult task to watch and wait to see what she would say.

“How does one become a sponsor of scientific pursuits?” she finally asked in a shy voice, obviously turning the topic back to their previous discussion.

That was not what he had expected to come out of her mouth next, that was certain. But it was a good question, not one he had given a great deal of thought to, considering he hadn’t truly needed a sponsor with his grandfather backing him. Now that he had stopped accepting the allowance, he might need to revisit the topic. Not that he had any wish to be beholden to anyone

“I couldn’t rightly say,” he had to admit after clearing his throat and feeling the heat of embarrassment in his cheeks. He didn’t like not knowing the answer to a question. “There are certain gentlemen who hang around the universities and show an interest in the studies and somehow it happens.”

To his surprise, the serious young woman laughed rather than taking offence at his lack of information. “I take it you haven’t been in the position of seeking a sponsor if you don’t know, aside from Mr. Northcott, at any rate. I think you said you’ve been friends with him since you were children?”

“Yes, that’s right. Roderick is a fine scholar himself, but he could never settle on a specialty. He just kept studying whatever struck his fancy. I think it must’ve been a source of contention with his brothers, which only made him more determined to learn everything,” Pierce explained with a chuckle.

He continued, “It makes him a remarkably good fellow to talk out any problems with when we run into trouble with our research. But he never really pursued anything specific. And then he discovered he liked the business side of things, helping us figure out how to profit from our work.”

Pierce felt bashful speaking about finances in a social setting, but he cleared his throat and carried on. “Roderick’s argument was that the scholar ought to make the profit, not the sponsor. So, he determined to marry an heiress and found our society.”

The expression that crossed her features made Pierce start to think he shouldn’t be talking about this part, but he didn’t think it was anything scandalous. And they had talked about it before.

“That’s when Lucy stole a march on all the other heiresses and wed him for herself and now, she feels beholden to them for doing so.”

She couldn’t seem to meet his eye any longer and she began to fidget as though anxious to be away from him.

“Tell me why this has made you uncomfortable,” he prompted, even though he was far from an expert on dealing with the feelings of others.

He didn’t think she was going to answer as she stared off into space and appeared to struggle with even knowing the answer, even though she was evidently trying very hard not to reveal her feelings on her features. Obviously, she didn’t want everyone milling around them to know of their discussion.

Pierce winced. He shouldn’t have started this conversation. He ought to have been able to predict that it would head in this direction. It had been obvious when the topic arose at Everleigh House that Miss Billingsley wasn’t very pleased about it.

“I suppose I ought to think it sweet that Mrs. Northcott has befriended me and appreciate her benevolence, right?” It was obvious she didn’t quite feel that way.

“Tell me why this troubles you,” he commanded as firmly as he could muster when all he wanted to do was make a jest. This situation made it even more clear he wasn’t used to dealing with another’s feelings, not a female’s at any rate. It was unlikely she would appreciate a slap on the shoulder like one of the scholars would have done.

He didn’t think she was going to answer him when a moment passed as she silently watched the crowds milling about them. But then she turned to him with her features perfectly composed but her eyes still holding a look of betrayal.

“I was really hoping she wanted to be friends truly, not just because I am an heiress who her husband put on some stupid list but then changed his mind about.”

“Do you think it was in poor taste that he did so?” Pierce probed, even though he knew he ought to deal with her hurt, he wanted to better understand first.

It seemed to have been a good question though because her features actually lightened, and she finally met his gaze once more.

She shook her head. “I think making a list of possible matches is perfectly sensible. I would expect everyone has such a one.” She paused and met his gaze once more. “Don’t you?”

Her high colour told Pierce she knew her question was over personal, but he was so relieved to see she wasn’t quite so wounded any longer, so he answered her truthfully.

“I do not yet feel in a position to pursue marriage, so no, I do not have such a list.”

Pierce was surprised to note what looked like disappointment flit across her face and couldn’t fathom why. It did prompt him to explain himself further, though.

“Since my family caused such a ruckus about my grandfather maintaining my allowance, I am no longer accepting it. I have no wish to be beholden to anyone, not even Roderick, certainly not a wife, or worse I am not in a position to support a wife myself, not yet at any rate. So, I must perfect my lenses and have the Royal Society’s approval of them. Then things could be different.”

She still seemed disturbed, and now Pierce suspected it was over many things, all of them his fault. Both the conversation about Lucy and his own disinclination to pursue marriage. He didn’t understand why either of those would trouble her, but he tried to comfort her anyway, turning the topic back to Lucy and her compulsions.

“Lucy, as you can probably tell, is quite sickeningly deeply in love with Roddie and the feeling is quite mutual. It’s agonizingly sweet and we’re all delighted for them, of course. But you see, in her delight over the turn of events, Lucy has taken it into her head to feel badly about Roddie’s list. She thinks she stole him from the lot of you.”

Miss Billingsley stared at him with a slight frown for a moment as though unsure how they had returned to the topic, but a couple of blinks later her face smoothed out into one of complacence. Even her eyes, he was happy to note. She even started to smile slightly. He hadn’t realized how rare that was until he was stunned by the beauty she presented.

“That is strangely sweet, don’t you think? Odd and misplaced, but it shows she has a kind heart.” A frown creased her brow again, this time one of confusion. “But why would that make her befriend me, do you think?”

“Well, she seems determined to ensure the other women on the list are accounted for. In the marriage kind of way,” he added when she continued to look at him expectantly.

“Do you mean she fancies herself a matchmaker?”

“It would seem so.”

“And she thinks to match me with someone because she thinks she stole Roderick Northcott from me?”

“When stated so clearly, it does sound a trifle foolish, but as you said, she is a strange but sweet soul who is quite in love and thinks everyone would benefit from being in that same state.” Pierce was desperately wishing he had curbed his tongue.

Now the woman’s stare had turned shrewd.

“From where is she sourcing the gentlemen?” she asked with her eyebrows lifting toward her elegant hairline.

“Whatever do you mean?”

“I mean, has she successfully arranged any matches thus far?”

“I think she had a hand in Lady Evangeline marrying our friend Sean Smythe last Season. And we’ve just found out that Severn, or rather Lord Beaverbrook, is to marry Miss Adriana Adams, and I think Lucy was involved in that as well.”

“But Miss Adams isn’t an heiress, it isn’t likely she was on Mr. Northcott’s list.”

“No, but she was the paid companion to Miss Bastion who most likely was on the list. It is possible Lucy involved herself by association.”

Finally, the rare sound of Miss Billingsley’s husky chuckle sounded.

“She must lead her husband quite a chase, I would think. She is either delightful or demented. I wonder which.”

Pierce couldn’t argue with the woman’s observation. He was only relieved she was accepting his indiscretion so well.

“But have you noticed that both of the matches Mrs. Northcott might have been involved in included one of your scholarly friends? Are you not worried for your own future?”

Pierce opened his mouth to deny her question but then realized the truth of what she had said and shut it quickly. Even the fact that he had taken note of the charming Miss Billingsley was due to Lucy’s interference days ago. He suspected a blush was the source of the heat in his cheeks. He must look like a schoolboy once more.

Miss Billingsley’s widening smile confirmed his suspicions.

“Saying I’m worried would be putting too fine a point on it,” Pierce excused. “While I am delighted for Roderick and Lucy, I am far too busy with my studies just now to even consider matrimony. And I’m certain Lucy realizes that.”

Again, an expression of disappointment briefly formed on her face, but she quickly smoothed her features once more.

“Is it possible she wishes to rid herself of the scholarly gentlemen populating her home?” The woman turned bright red and looked as though she wished she could pull the words back into her mouth as soon as she had uttered them. “My sincerest apologies, Mr. Darby. That sounded far ruder than it was intended it to be.”

Pierce laughed. “Had you meant it to be slightly rude, then?”

“Not in the least. I’m afraid I opened my mouth before I gave it any thought and the words popped out.”

Pierce laughed again at the way she worded it. “Well then, we’re even. I was far more than thoughtless when I started talking about Roderick’s list.”

“Tell me what else keeps you busy as a scholar,” she invited as they continued strolling, not seeming to mind that they had been in each other’s company far longer than was usual at an evening such as this.

Pierce certainly didn’t mind; she was surprisingly good company. And since neither of them were terribly important or popular, it wasn’t likely they would be noticed or remarked upon. Of course, the ever-watchful Lucy would notice, he was sure. But he was going to have to make his confession anyway. Mayhap she would be more inclined to forgive him for his indiscretion if she thought he was being kind to her latest project.

“We are looking for a treasure.” He blurted out something thoughtless for the second time that evening.

He had just been lamenting the number of people involved in the search, so it was foolish of him to add to their numbers, but it wasn’t likely the wealthy young woman would wish to claim their spoils. Even less so if it was the lost library as he hoped.

“Treasure,” she repeated, her eyebrows rising almost haughtily. “That hardly sounds scientific,” she said, explaining her reaction.

“I can understand why you would think that, but it turns out that it is actually quite scientific when we have to decipher clues and think as logically as possible to figure out where to look next.”

Now the woman appeared intrigued. “How did you get started on the pursuit?”

“When Lady Evangeline came to us for help with her economics problems, some of her paperwork contained the first clue. It turned out her wealthy husband had started the search.”

“What are you searching for?”

“There’s the rub, you see,” Pierce answered in a mournful tone. “We don’t even know what we’re searching for.”

Her brow crinkled in confusion. “How can you search if you don’t know what you’re looking for?”

“So far, we’ve merely been figuring out the few clues we had from the beginning, starting with Lady Evangeline’s papers, but Miss Adams has been corresponding with someone at Oxford who thinks they might have a new clue for us. This makes me think it might be the lost library we’re searching for.”

“Alexandria’s lost library?”

“No, Oxford’s,” Pierce said. “Although the lost library of Alexandria would be a most spectacular find as well.”

“What do the others think it is?”

“It seems everyone has a different theory. Some hope it’s something to do with their own specialty, others are hoping for gems.”

The woman smiled and nodded. “I will admit, the word treasure does make me think of a bag of gold or some such.”

“You read too many novels, don’t you?” Pierce asked with a laugh.

Before she could respond, though, another gentleman approached, and Pierce realized a new dance was forming on the dance floor.

“Miss Billingsley, might I have the pleasure of your company?”

Pierce was shocked to note the sensation that swept through him might be jealousy as the young woman let go of his arm and curtsied to Lord Jarvis, an expression of muted delight covering her face. He had thought he was keeping the woman entertained but he supposed, for a debutante, the younger son of an untitled gentleman couldn’t compete with a lord.

She didn’t even give him a backward glance as she stepped away on the unsufferable man’s arm.