Page 18 of An Heiress and An Astronomer (Gentleman Scholars #3)

"W hy are you allowing that nobody to whisper into your ear?”

Aunt Gertrude’s hiss was far too loud for Greta’s comfort, and she thought she might expire from the embarrassment if anyone had overheard. Thankfully the lady hadn’t mentioned any names, but in any case, it was a vulgar thing to imply about her niece.

“What are you on about, my lady?” Greta asked, despite her flush.

“That Mr. Darby. He is showing a marked interest in you. You shouldn’t encourage him. Your sights should be set significantly higher. What about that lovely Lord Eustace? He could be a good match for you.”

Greta stared at her aunt in the fading light of dusk. They were once again awaiting darkness to fall so they could watch the stars one more time before taking their leave the next day. Her aunt was being less than discrete. Had there been something noxious in their supper?

“There is nothing wrong with Mr. Darby, for one thing, my lady. For another, I wasn’t encouraging anything from anyone. I would not be so ill bred, surely you realize. I’ve barely spoken to the man all day, in all honesty.”

“It is not your breeding I’m terribly concerned about,” Lady Gertrude countered. “We both know what you are.”

Greta stiffened. “And what would that be, my lady?” she asked, discomfort creeping over her.

“Don’t get up on your high ropes, Greta. You know your father was little more than a cit . He didn’t even have the decency to convince our father to accept him but ran off with your mother instead. I will not stand by and allow you to ruin your life in the same way.”

“I am not about to damage my life, I can assure you,” Greta replied stiffly. “But you also needn’t stand around witnessing my life. I am very well capable of arranging my own affairs.”

“Now, my dear girl, you know very well I mean you all the very best. I am only doing for you what I know your mother would have wished for you. You must strive to keep that in your mind.”

Hot and cold chills shivered through Greta. It was not a pleasant sensation. She wondered again if there had been something off about their supper. Her aunt was being ridiculous and she herself was reacting even worse.

Greta knitted her lips together and refused to answer the other woman. It wouldn’t do to create a scene, which was what her first impulse prompted her to do.

“We are guests here, my lady. Do try not to offend our hosts, I pray you.”

This shut her aunt’s mouth with a snap. “I would never,” she said, clearly offended. But Greta didn’t relent.

Her aunt might think she was within the bounds of acceptable behaviour, but Greta didn’t agree. Whether Mr. Darby was well enough born for Gertrude’s tastes or not, it didn’t support being rude toward their hosts. Mrs. Northcott clearly supported the gentleman. And Mr. Darby was the Marquis of Ingleshire’s grandson. Could anyone rightly argue he wasn’t good ton ?

But Lady Gertrude was determined that Greta marry a title. She continued to harp upon that theme after they took their leave of the Scholarly Society the next day and started their drive back to Town.

“I cannot fathom why you haven’t taken more than you have, my dear girl. You really ought to be more careful about your associations and the interest you show in such bluestocking things.” Gertrude shivered delicately. “I cannot imagine what I was thinking when I allowed you to accept this invitation.”

“You were thinking that you’d like to be ingratiated with the Northcott family,” Greta replied with a dry tone.

“You needn’t get snippy with me, Greta,” Lady Gertrude replied with a cool tone. “You cannot remain unwed forever. You don’t have enough family,” she added. “You are stuck with me and your uncle. I am hoping your cousins will take an interest in you. If not, where will you be when I pass off this earth?”

“I shall be perfectly fine, my lady,” Greta murmured, not really interested in having this conversation.

“I will write to your cousins as soon as we return to Town. They ought to be helping us with your courtship, at any rate. Surely you will be far more suitable to suitors if you are seen to be supported by a good family.” Lady Gertrude carried on as though Greta hadn’t even spoken, bringing a frown to her face and concern into Greta’s chest.

“Why is this so important to you, Lady Gertrude? If you are regretting your decision to insist upon my marriage, you are free to return to my uncle. I really don’t mind returning home. In fact, I would welcome a reprieve from the ton .”

Gertrude stared at her as though she were an ungrateful lowlife who couldn’t be trusted to know what was best for her. It was a mixture of pity and disgust. Greta did not enjoy the experience in the least.

“You clearly don’t know what you’re talking about, my dear. You must have allowed those scientists to turn your head. I knew I shouldn’t have allowed it. Now never mind all this. We have a ball tomorrow and a rout the day after. We will review your gowns and perhaps shop for something new as soon as possible. We shan’t give up.”

Greta took a deep breath and held it, hoping to cling to her patience with the last of her strength.

“My lady,” she began in a sharper tone than she had intended. “You have never explained to me why you are so insistent that I wed. Why can I not just remain a maiden? Who does it harm or offend? If I return home and carry on as I was doing, what does it matter?”

“Of what good is that to anyone, Greta? All that disgusting wealth your father accumulated ought to go to benefit more than just you.”

Greta felt as though her aunt had struck her. She had never heard her use such a disparaging tone before. Regret filled the woman’s face, but she didn’t retract her words.

“Why would you care, though? My disgusting wealth and I would be hidden from your view. You needn’t be bothered in the least.” Greta tried to be reasonable and not allow her anger to boil over.

“But it doesn’t do me any good buried in Kent, does it?”

Greta stared at her aunt, filled with dismay. “How does it benefit you now?” she asked with a frown. “Aside from keeping you away from home and filling your trunks with new gowns that surely won’t do you any good on your own estate, how are you benefiting from this?”

When Gertrude didn’t answer, even more anger flooded Greta as realization dawned. “You think to convince a nobleman to give you some of it when we sign the papers for my marriage, don’t you?”

“It is an accepted practice among noble families,” Lady Gertrude answered stiffly, clearly not seeing anything wrong with the idea.

“That might be true,” Greta agreed, “But I’m not a biddable young girl who will blindly sign away my future without reading what I’m signing first. I don’t see how you thought to be able to trick me in such a way.”

“I thought you’d be grateful,” Lady Gertrude nearly bellowed.

“Perhaps I would have been if you hadn’t tried to trick me,” Greta said quietly. “I think it will be time to pack up when we arrive back in Town. I can sense a decline coming upon me.”

“You have never been ill a day in your life,” Gertrude objected. “It was another source of mixed emotions from your mother. She saw it as another indication of your lowborn status. And yet it was a relief to her that she didn’t have to visit a sickroom at any time.”

Greta sighed and turned her face to the window, no longer having any desire to look upon her aunt. Loneliness nearly swamped her. Of course, no one wanted her for anything other than her purse.

Not even her own aunt.

She ought to have accepted the first fortune hunter who came calling last Season. At least then she would be getting on with her life. This stalemate was going to be the death of her.

Despite her words, she had no idea how to actually rid herself of the other woman. Greta had enough sense to know that, as a gently born woman, she couldn’t risk her reputation. And she really didn’t wish to be estranged from her only family.

Now that she had made her debut and taken her place in Society, she was expected to live up to what others considered a certain standard. That standard required that she not live alone.

Greta sighed. It was all completely ridiculous.

“Don’t be difficult, Greta.” Aunt Gertrude’s scoffing was even more grating on her nerves than usual. “There’s nothing to go home to and well you know it.” Now Gertrude’s tone was smug.

The older woman continued as though she hadn’t just revealed her wicked intentions. “I don’t know why you don’t want to consider that lovely, noble gentleman, Lord Eustace. He would make a fine husband for you. Better than you likely deserve. You are just being stubborn. Your mother always complained about that. She often wrote to me that you were just like your father.”

Greta knew that was supposed to be an insult, but she didn’t see it that way.

Greta refused to consider her aunt’s words. They didn’t penetrate the wall she had erected as soon as they’d climbed into the carriage to return to Town.

At least for a time, until she could be certain her feelings wouldn’t betray her, Greta kept her gaze fixed out the window.

Her father had been her hero. Far more so than her mother, at any rate. Of course, everyone has their faults. But her father had always listened to her. He would have known what to do in this situation.

Of course, if he were there, she wouldn’t be in this situation in the first place. If only her parents hadn’t died. Greta kept her gaze on the passing scenery as she wrestled the unhelpful thought back under control.

‘What would Father do?’ That’s what she ought to be thinking about.

Her father was a businessman. He had inherited a great deal of wealth from his own father, along with his father’s intelligence. Greta’s grandfather had been a little rough around the edges, it was true. A fact that had unsettled her mother whenever the man would visit. But he was lovely and loving and wise. Greta could do worse than to imitate such a fine man.

That’s what she ought to do. She needed to ask herself what would Grandfather or Father do in this situation? He was cunning, and he would allow Aunt Gertrude to think whatever she wanted to think.

Not that Greta was ever going to allow Lord Eustace to court her. That surely would not do. But Aunt Gertrude could think whatever she wants. Greta would allow it for a time, until she had her plan formulated. If she cooperated, Aunt Gertrude would return to her complacency and allow Greta her freedom.

Greta would have to see her lawyer. There was no other way around it. She now clearly saw she would need help to get Aunt Gertrude out of her life.

But would that cause a worse scandal? Surely having her lawyer evict her aunt would cause far more scandal than Greta just leaving the Season or going back home to the country by herself.

But what else was she to do? She wasn’t going to marry or keep Aunt Gertrude around for however long the woman wanted. She could, though, wait until they returned to her estate and evict the woman from there. Far less likelihood of spectators, for one thing.

She had many things to ponder over. Her aunt coveted Greta’s wealth for her own children. Did that mean her life was at risk? How did Gertrude think to acquire Greta’s wealth if not through inheritance? If the older woman thought to acquire a portion of Greta’s wealth through the marriage contracts, did that mean Greta was essentially for sale?

How dreadful! How lowering!

What was she to do?

Grandfather would not allow himself to be run out of town, back home to the estate like a scalded cat, that was certain. He would invent something to solve the problem. But Greta didn’t know how to invent anything.

How was she going to solve her problem? How did one get rid of an unwelcome houseguest? That was the question she needed to consider.

She could start bringing home cats. That thought made her laugh out loud in the carriage, causing her aunt to stare at her as though she had lost her mind. Perhaps she had.

There was nothing else to be done for now. She was still stuck with her aunt. If only she could talk to Pierce about the matter. But he didn’t want her either. Maybe Lord Eustace wasn’t so bad after all.

But Greta had her children to think about. Her unborn children, mind you. But she still owed them. She would never allow them to end up in a situation like the one in which she found herself. She would tie the money up in such a way that her children would be safe. All her children. However many she would end up being blessed with.

Greta pulled herself up short. Was she being unforgivably judgmental? She hadn’t even tried to talk the matter over with Lord Eustace. He did seem like a somewhat pleasant fellow, if a bit bland. She hadn’t made any sort of effort to get to know him at the house party.

With a sigh Greta realized castigating herself over that was a futile effort. They had left the house party behind. Perhaps his lordship would call when they returned to Town. It was all just so very challenging. But not a matter she could resolve at the moment. Greta tried to put the worries from her mind for the time being.

Gertrude appeared oblivious to her niece’s distress as she began chattering about the people she had enjoyed spending time with the day before. There hadn’t been many, of course, but she still managed to fill the quiet with her chatter.

“That Lord Eustace was most charming. Not in an imposing way, but he struck me as one who would take a genuine interest in others. That’s a rare quality, don’t you think?”

Despite her urge to freeze her aunt out completely, Greta couldn’t help but see the irony in the woman’s statement considering how truly uncared for Greta felt. She nearly snorted. She wasn’t going to reply to her aunt’s question, but it turned out to be rhetorical at any rate. Gertrude carried on with her monologue.

“The kitchens at that dreadful place were surprisingly good. I should have asked for the recipe for those tarts to give to your cook.” Gertrude paused for a moment as though to allow Greta to reply but she didn’t wait long. “Of course, I have a feeling your staff are too touchy to accept any alteration suggestions from me so maybe it’s just as well that I didn’t bother to ask. Of course, I could always send it to my own cook.”

Gertrude sighed as though she were longsuffering. “I do wonder what is taking place at home. I have left them to their own devices for far too long.”

“You could always go home. I don’t require a nursemaid.” Greta couldn’t hold her silence any longer.

“I could never so abandon my sister’s beloved child,” Gertrude said as though scandalized by Greta’s suggestion. Greta almost smirked over the acting ability her aunt had developed.

“I am no longer a child, my lady. I would happily return to my own home, as I have already mentioned. But if I chose to remain in Town, I could hire a companion to lend me countenance. I would hate to keep you from your own loved ones.”

“Oh no, Greta dear, that would just not do,” Gertrude protested.

But the idea held appeal for Greta. She would have far more autonomy if she didn’t have Gertrude and her expectations hanging over her. A paid companion would have to do what Greta wanted to do, not the other way around.

Or she could just get married.

That had been the plan. But her time at the Scholarly Society hadn’t endeared the male species to her all that thoroughly. Well, perhaps it had. But it had also disappointed her immensely.

Why was everyone so desperately selfish?

Greta wanted to weep with her frustrations. Everyone was selfish. Herself included most likely, but since she was herself, she hardly minded about that. But Gertrude, while claiming to have shown up in her life out of the goodness of her heart, clearly had her own agendas, including trying to get her hands on Greta’s inheritance. The scholars had their search for treasure that they didn’t want to share. Pierce in particular.

Mrs. Northcott, Lucy, had seemed genuine in her care. But Greta feared it was merely to assuage her supposed guilt, not out of actual care for Greta. Or perhaps she was just projecting all her own concerns over everyone around her.

Greta couldn’t remember ever having encountered a single truly selfless person. Her mother certainly hadn’t been so. Nor her father, if she was going to be truly honest. Oh, he exerted himself on his daughter’s behalf more than anyone else in the family, but that wasn’t saying too terribly much.

What was Greta’s selfishness? She supposed it was selfish not to want to give her aunt’s family her wealth. But what interest had they ever shown in her? Really, Greta would rather donate her funds to an orphanage or some other worthy cause than just hand it over to family who had never offered her the least amount of care.

“Ought we to invite my cousins to Town, then?” Greta finally asked her aunt. Mayhap they would care about her if they were ever introduced.

“Oh, no, they are far too busy to leave their homes at this time,” Gertrude replied immediately.

Greta actually almost laughed over that answer. Gertrude didn’t even remember her own claims, it would seem. There had likely never been any talk of her cousins lending her countenance.

That was fine. She didn’t need their help. She was a Billingsley. That was far better than being the granddaughter of an earl. She would find a way.