Page 20 of An Heiress and An Astronomer (Gentleman Scholars #3)

G reta stood to release a cramp that had formed in her back from where she had been hunched over the shelf nearest the floor. Her maid would look at her askance when she caught sight of the amount of dust Greta had allowed to accumulate on her skirts.

She was relieved she had chosen to wear a rather drab, old gown she had found stuffed into the back of the wardrobe that morning. If it couldn’t be laundered, it could be discarded, and no one need give the matter overmuch consideration.

But despite the discomforts, Greta was having a delightful time. It certainly beat remaining at home waiting for Lord Eustace to call. Lady Gertrude could entertain him if she thought he was so delightful. Greta had absolutely no intention of encouraging the poor man by eagerly or anxiously hoping for his call.

In fact, Greta hoped he didn’t call.

But that was likely a futile wish. Considering Gertrude’s encouragement of the fellow. As well as the state of his pockets from what her solicitor told her when she enquired. The dratted fellow was hoping the Billingsley inheritance would sort that situation for him. It was entirely possible he was going to work out some sort of an arrangement with Lady Gertrude to ensure Greta’s inheritance was split between them.

Which meant he would never agree to the arrangements Greta herself desired.

That also meant he was not worth her consideration.

Of course, she really ought to have an honest conversation with him before she judged him for herself. He didn’t strike her as a terrible fellow. In fact, he was quite pleasant. In a boring kind of way, she thought with a smirk even as she continued to scour the shelf for the next book she meant to search.

“Are you quite certain I cannot help you find what you are looking for?”

Greta almost yelped from fright when the clerk approached her. She ought to have heard him coming but she was too preoccupied with her thoughts.

“Thank you for your offer,” she said through gritted teeth, as it was the fourth time he’d offered. “I will know it when I see it but I’m truly enjoying the search. Unless it is bothering you,” she added in an effort to remain conciliatory.

“No, no. No bother,” the shopkeeper answered while casting her a puzzled frown before turning around and returning to the front of the store.

It was possible he thought she was trying to steal the books. Greta excused the man’s interference, if that were the case. She didn’t appear to be a wealthy young woman while wearing her oldest gown and now covered in dust. But she hadn’t lied.

Despite her conflicted feelings about her current circumstances and the events of the past few days, she was quite enjoying her search of the bookstore. She had also accumulated a pile of books she intended to purchase that had nothing to do with clues or treasures, unless you counted finding a good book a treasure.

Which she, of course, did but it wouldn’t be of assistance to Mr. Darby.

Not that he wanted her assistance.

Not that she was offering it, she added in her thoughts with a wry twist of her lips.

If she found anything that seemed potentially useful to him, she wasn’t sure if she would even share it with him.

Of course she would, she argued immediately, amusing herself by arguing silently with herself. She wasn’t going to be churlish just because he was. And he really was worthy despite his not wishing for her assistance.

What would she do with a treasure in any case? She wouldn’t know how to go about a treasure hunt even if they had wanted her involvement. But searching this bookstore was her idea of a good time so she would happily hand over to the scholars whatever she might find that they thought might be of use to them.

“Pardon me.” The deep voice penetrated her thoughts and sent a delicious shiver down her spine even as it startled a soft yelp from her.

Once again Greta was startled by the approach of a man’s stride. And again, she admonished herself for her lack of awareness. She ought to be paying closer attention to her surroundings. Time was slipping away, and the shop was going to get busier. She ought to be leaving soon anyway.

But Pierce Darby was standing before her as she regained her full height. And he looked even more attractive than she remembered. It was likely the sheepish grin that stretched only half of his face as though he wasn’t certain if he should be smiling or frowning at her.

Greta wasn’t undecided. She offered him one of her sunniest smiles. It likely wasn’t all that sunny since she wasn’t terribly experienced at happiness. But she wasn’t one to hold a grudge and she had enjoyed a delightful morning in the shop.

“Mr. Darby. What a surprise to see you here.”

“I was searching for you, as a matter of fact.”

Greta frowned. “Whatever for?” She brushed her hands together trying to right their condition and once more shook out her skirts. She hoped it was still early enough in the day that she wouldn’t encounter too many acquaintances on her way back to their rented accommodations.

“I owe you a sincere apology.”

Now Greta stilled and stared at him.

“You don’t owe me anything, Mr. Darby. I appreciate honesty in others. It is a rare quality, to be sure.”

“It is, I agree, but I wasn’t completely honest with you. I would actually enjoy your participation in our search for the treasure. You have a keen mind and you’ve already proven useful with the potential clue you found. I ought to have welcomed your offer of assistance rather than spurning it so meanly.”

Greta’s eyes had widened further as his speech continued even as his voice grew softer to an almost whisper. Obviously, he was still trying to keep the matter secret. She couldn’t blame him. News of a possible treasure hunt could incite a riot in certain quarters, she was sure.

“Thank you, Mr. Darby,” Greta answered immediately. “I appreciate the apology.”

“I didn’t even give it to you yet,” he returned with a light laugh.

Greta blinked. She hadn’t ever actually been apologized to before. But she thought even acknowledging the need to do so was an apology in itself. Her smile brightened.

“Never mind about that, then,” she said, waving his words away, uncomfortable with the surge of emotion they caused. He wasn’t likely to appreciate her weeping over him just because he had been kind to her. “Did you say you had been looking for me?”

“Yes, I called around for you, but the footman mentioned you had come to the bookshop. That put me in mind of the fact that we were supposed to search together, and I came straight here.”

Greta was embarrassed all over again. Should she have waited for him? She had never thought he would turn up and truly wish to search with her, not after his reaction at the house party. But here they were with him looking impeccable and her dressed like a servant and covered in grime.

Lifting her chin, Greta refused to be cowed by a sense of inferiority. She was proud of her roots, both sets of them. Billingsleys had done much to develop industry. That was nothing to turn up one’s nose at.

Her noble forebears hadn’t done much of anything that she knew of but others thought her birth was important, so she tried to be proud of it. She knew she had nothing for which to feel less than. Being a bit dusty just meant she had been working. While that might not be considered genteel to some, surely a scholar wouldn’t think so.

His grin seemed to confirm her thoughts.

“You really got into it, didn’t you?” he asked with a note of fun in his tone.

“I was enjoying the hunt,” she admitted.

“Did you come across anything of note?” Pierce’s voice was eager and interested as he glanced at the pile of books by her feet.

Greta shook her head. “Unfortunately, so far, I’ve only come across books that interest me on unrelated topics. I haven’t encountered anything too terribly old or cryptic. Not yet at any rate.” She gestured toward the shelves she had been searching. “I thought this was the same shelf I had found the book with the clue in it, but I haven’t come across anything similar despite my careful search this afternoon, so now I’m not certain if it is the same one or not.”

“Is it possible they have rearranged the shelves?”

“Possible but unlikely,” Greta answered. “Not from the amount of dust I’ve disturbed,” she added by way of explanation. “I didn’t want to ask too many questions. You didn’t seem inclined to include any others, so I didn’t wish to tell the shopkeeper what I was after.”

Pierce’s strong cheekbones turned a slight pink shade that was oddly endearing. Greta hadn’t meant to make him uncomfortable, but she was glad that he seemed to understand her own discomfort.

“Thank you, Greta,” he said with a sheepish smile. “You are remarkably kind.”

Now Greta frowned. “Why do you say so?” she asked before stammering out her thanks. “I ought to say thank you, of course, but it’s odd of you to say I am kind for not involving the shopkeeper in my search.”

“I meant it was kind of you to accept my churlish behaviour and still be here, pleasantly carrying on your search.”

“Curiosity is not confined to scientists, Mr. Darby,” Greta countered with starch in her tone, bringing another smile back to the gentleman’s face.

“Very true,” he said approvingly. “Now tell me which books you’ve set aside despite their lack of helpfulness.”

Greta wanted to preen like a cat over his interest and had to sternly order herself into propriety. His interest was merely curiosity, not actual interest, she reminded herself. Not interest in her as a potential helpmeet in any case.

Just because she was desperately searching for someone to help her get back to her aunt-less life didn’t mean every person she encountered was in the Marriage Mart. Certainly not a scientist preoccupied with his personal accomplishments.

And a scholar couldn’t possibly be interested in the fairy tales she had chosen. Some of the books might interest him, though. Ought she to admit that one of the volumes was about astronomy? What would that tell him about her?

Heat flamed her face as she glanced down at the pile and hoped to avoid answering his question altogether.

“I should probably be getting back home now. I have been gone far longer than I had intended already.”