Page 22 of An Heiress and An Astronomer (Gentleman Scholars #3)

G reta’s suspicions were confirmed when Lord Eustace presented himself to make an offer for her. He spoke to Lady Gertrude, though, not Greta.

Lamenting the fact that she hadn’t yet found a way to discuss her unusual expectations with him, Greta was determined to do so when Aunt Gertrude started telling her about Lord Eustace’s request.

“Why didn’t he ask to speak to me?” Greta asked, frowning with confusion. “Surely you didn’t accept on my behalf without allowing me a say on the matter.”

“I didn’t think you were willing, to be honest,” Lady Gertrude replied in what Greta suspected was a less than truthful answer.

“But I think we ought to wait another year, don’t you?” the older woman said, shocking Greta down to her toes. She had suspected her aunt wanted to get her hands on Greta’s fortune. Why would she prolong the process?

“Another year?” Greta repeated, frowning at her relative. “I thought you were disappointed that I didn’t take last year.”

“That was foolish of me. I want you to find the best possible partner for your future.”

“Was there something objectionable about Lord Eustace? It was you who thought he would be a good match for me.” Greta was thoroughly confused.

“Had you set your heart upon him, then? I could easily recall the gentleman if you want to consider his offer.”

Greta opened her mouth to reply but nothing came out. She didn’t know. She had allowed herself to become preoccupied with searching the bookstore looking for clues to the Scholars’ treasure and hadn’t been pursuing the true reason she was even in Town.

What she really wished for was to go home. But she didn’t want to go home with her aunt tagging along and she didn’t see how she could rid herself of the woman if she hadn’t found her match yet.

“I would have thought he would speak to me, at the very least,” Greta murmured, unsure how to react to this odd situation.

“I didn’t want you to be put to the blush, dear,” Lady Gertrude said, trying to sound conciliatory but it sat strangely on her.

“Of course,” Greta replied. She wasn’t sure if she had really wanted to be courted by the gentleman but surely, she ought to have been given the opportunity to choose for herself. She was a grown woman after all.

Taking a deep breath, Greta tried to get to the bottom of her aunt’s behaviour. “Might I ask what your reasoning was on why you didn’t think he would be an appropriate husband for me, my lady? After making his acquaintance, I understood you were quite convinced otherwise.”

“Oh, well, truly there was nothing that wrong with him,” Gertrude sputtered a little in her explanation, bringing a frown to Greta’s face.

“And I understood you were actually hoping to profit from my marriage settlements. Was he not willing to negotiate with you?”

Heat filled her aunt’s face, but Greta wasn’t sure if it was from guilt or anger.

“I never said I wished to profit from your settlements, Greta,” she protested. “That is just how you understood the conversation.” When Greta merely raised her eyebrows with incredulity, her aunt continued. “I just thought you ought to find someone you could share a little more in common with. And another Season will do us both well.”

“Why would you think so?” Greta asked, still confused. “I thought you were missing your own home and husband.”

“Not terribly,” Gertrude said, waving away her niece’s concerns. “I am enjoying this far too much to return to the country and our steady, dreary life.”

Understanding dawned for Greta. Her aunt wanted to continue living off her largesse. Greta couldn’t decide if she was flattered or dismayed. In either case, she couldn’t allow her aunt to continue thinking it was her decision to make.

“I appreciate that you’ve been enjoying your time in Town, but I would much rather get on with my life. Being a debutante is not to my taste, Lady Gertrude.”

Her aunt’s stare was filled with confusion. “That doesn’t make sense, my dear.”

Greta couldn’t prevent a slight bark of laughter. “You think I ought to enjoy the constant parading through the Marriage Mart hoping to catch the eye of someone you will consider acceptable? It ought to be me who is making the choice, for one thing. For another, it feels much like I would think the cattle at Tatterstall’s feel, except that I am a reasoning human, not a beast of burden.”

Gertrude tittered in an annoying display of mirth. “No, no, Greta, surely not. You are hardly a beast up for auction.”

“No, for there would surely be several bidders if that were the case. Instead, I am left feeling as though I have no options. I would rather return to my home and remain unwed, but you have insisted that cannot be countenanced.”

Gertrude stared at Greta with equal amounts of dismay and disdain written on her features. “You are a most unnatural girl, Greta. Your mother would be appalled.”

“I think she would be appalled that I am still unwed in my second Season, not that I want to return home. I am reasonably certain my mother would have done something to ensure I took. I don’t know what that something could be, but she would not merely sit idly by and expect me to figure it all out.”

Gertrude ruffled up with offence over her niece’s words. “What would you have me do?”

“If I knew that, I would ask it of you. How did you arrange for your daughter’s marriage?” Greta asked, with sincere curiosity.

“She was a pretty, sweet, biddable girl who gained popularity as soon as she stepped foot in her first ballroom,” Gertrude stated with pride evident in every syllable.

“Well, that’s helpful,” Greta said sarcastically before sighing. “I’m sure you’ve meant well,” she began before stopping herself. “Actually, I’m not even certain of that. What have been your intentions, my lady? You showed up on my doorstep, insisting that I must wed, and we must purchase all manner of gowns and fripperies and let this house and leave my own home and for what? Why are you doing this?”

“I have told you often enough, your mother would have wanted me to support you.”

“Perhaps that is true, but you didn’t even attend the funeral. Surely my mother would have wanted you to support me then rather than now. I would have preferred it if given a choice.”

“So, you don’t appreciate what I’ve done for you, then,” Gertrude huffed.

Greta sighed, torn between frustration and dismay.

“I appreciate that you remembered about me,” she said, trying to remain diplomatic. Despite her mixed feelings about her aunt’s motivations as well as her interference in her life, Greta had no other family and didn’t wish to alienate the one relative who had come forward, even if a little late.

Lady Gertrude sniffed in disdain. “I have half a mind to leave you to your own devices.”

“I truly wouldn’t mind that, my lady. I hate to sound churlish, but I fear entering Society was a mistake for me.”

“We cannot turn back now,” Lady Gertrude protested despite what she had just said. “If not this Season, surely the next you will find your match. We will just need to devise a strategy.”

Greta held onto her frustration by a hair’s breadth. She was getting nowhere with her aunt. Perhaps she could speak to Lord Eustace herself that evening or at another suitable occasion to ascertain his thoughts on inheritances.

Whatever her aunt’s opinion on the matter, Greta had no intention of bearing up under another Season.

“It is likely time for me to begin my preparations,” Greta said by way of escaping her aunt’s overbearing presence. “I think I will take a nap before the evening is upon us.”

“That is likely for the best, dear. You are looking a trifle peaked.”

Greta nearly snorted. No one wanted to hear that said to them. But it was very likely true. She had every reason to look how she felt. But if she was going to find herself a match, she needed as many advantages as possible. She made her way to her bedchamber and hoped for a miracle.

Sleep evaded her. She was not the napping sort. But she had managed to arrange her thoughts into order. She would speak with as many gentlemen as she could find who were known to have their pockets to let. If she could ascertain their thoughts on whether or not they would be willing to agree to her conditions on providing for future children, then perhaps she would be so bold as to suggest a match herself.

She would begin with Lord Eustace.

“I was sorry to hear I had missed you when you called,” Greta said to him by way of greeting when she encountered him at the ball that evening.

His bow to her was bordering on curt and he answered her stiffly. “That is fine, your aunt took care of my call quite well.”

Heat suffused Greta and she wasn’t certain what to say next. Obviously, the gentleman had been offended by Gertrude’s treatment of him. Ought she to apologize? Should she brazen it out and try to ascertain whether or not he could come up to scratch once more?

Being in company in the crowded ballroom precluded a truly honest conversation if Greta wished to avoid scandal. Considering his seeming offence, there wasn’t much Greta could do. She nodded a little as though in acknowledgement of his attitude or his rejection or however she wanted to put it, dipped him a slight curtsy, and turned away. There were other gentlemen she could approach. She needn’t debase herself.

Lord Jarvis had displayed very mild interest in her on previous occasions. Greta hadn’t paid attention at the time, but perhaps he would do. She ought to try to know him a little. And he was standing nearby.

“Good evening, my lord,” she said with a smile she hoped appeared normal, but it wasn’t sitting comfortably on her face. Greta wished she were at home in the nursery wing of her estate with her parents safely ensconced in their chambers. Futile perhaps, but a little comforting in the moment.

“Miss Billingsley, how do you do?” The gentleman’s greeting was at least slightly more enthusiastic than Lord Eustace’s.

“I am well, thank you. A charming evening tonight,” she added with as much truth as she could muster.

“That it is. Might I have the pleasure of escorting you to the dance floor?” Lord Jarvis asked with a bow.

Greta was pleased that he appeared to be cooperative. Perhaps he would fall in with her plans nicely. She didn’t know much about him. He was a baron who had inherited fairly young. His estates had been mismanaged on his behalf from what she had been able to understand, but he was trying to bring them about with an infusion of funds through marriage. Perhaps he wasn’t the most industrious gentleman she could encounter if that were true, but she wasn’t in a position to be terribly choosy.

“Have you found the Season to be as enjoyable as you had hoped?” he asked solicitously.

Greta opened her mouth with the intention of being honest, but she couldn’t quite manage it. How was she to answer? Did he find it enjoyable? Was he going to be pursuing entertainment for the rest of his life? Would that be a good thing, getting him out of her hair for a time so she could pursue her industrial interests? Or would it be an irritant for both of them?

“It has been pleasant to be sure,” she finally choked out as she fought the urge to weep.

Greta didn’t think she could really pursue a gentleman after all. They ought to be courting her. Trying to engage her interest. She couldn’t sell herself short by pursuing a husband or she would have to do it for the rest of her life. She needed to place a high enough value upon herself to at least expect that much. She was bringing much to a marriage.

The rest of the dance passed quickly, much to Greta’s relief. It was the sort of country dance where dancers exchanged partners frequently, so she wasn’t forced to converse in any depth with anyone. She did end up back in Lord Jarvis’ arms at the end and he escorted her from the dance floor.

“Might I have the pleasure of strolling with you in the Park one afternoon?” he asked before leaving her side.

Greta’s flagging spirits perked up slightly. At least he was taking some initiative.

“That would be enjoyable, thank you, my lord,” she finally answered. It wasn’t filled with enthusiasm, but she thought it matched the nature of his words. If he did, indeed, present himself for a walk in the park, she would consider him more seriously.

After taking her leave of Lord Jarvis, Greta thought to go in search of Lord Engleburn. He had been the first gentleman she had been considering days ago. His interest had been lukewarm, but perhaps he could be persuaded of her suitability to become his viscountess.

“What are you doing?”

Pierce’s deep voice sent warmth from her centre to her toes and to the top of her head, touching everywhere in between. She wasn’t even startled by his speaking to her. It was as though she had been aware of him constantly or perhaps just thinking of him constantly despite her insistence to herself that she wasn’t.

“Whatever do you mean?” she countered, hoping to brazen it out.