Page 27

PROLOGUE

“ S he takes far too much after you!”

Joceline winced as she sat in the window seat of the drawing room, hoping that neither of her parents became aware of her presence behind the curtain. She was doing as she always did at this time of the morning: reading in a quiet, cozy space with no one to interrupt her.

Though her mother and father believed that she was reading elsewhere and thus, they could speak openly and without her overhearing… though at this moment, Joceline very much wished that she could be elsewhere given that she was the topic of conversation.

“I know that you wish she was a good deal more like her sister, but I do not think there is anything wrong with Joceline’s love of reading,” she heard her father say, gently. “Come now, my dear, you are being a little too harsh, are you not?”

“Harsh?” The screech that came from her mother’s lips had Joceline wincing, curling her knees up against her chest, her arms wrapping around them as she listened.

“My dear husband, can you not see that we must find Joceline a match this Season? She has already had one Season and made little impact upon the ton in any way whatsoever! How are we meant to find her a suitable husband if she continues to behave in such a way?”

“In what way is she behaving?” Lord Melford asked, echoing Joceline’s own sentiments. “Yes, she is quieter than Sarah was but that does not mean –”

“She knows too much and speaks of that knowledge without thinking!” Lady Melford interrupted, speaking loudly and over the top of her husband.

“Yes, she is quieter but when she speaks, it is clear to all and sundry that she is nothing other than a bluestocking! You must prevent her from speaking out.”

Joceline blinked quickly, a tightness growing in her chest though her pain was somewhat lessened by her father’s hasty defense of her.

“I will not prevent Joceline from pursuing her love of reading, Martha,” he said, with a firmness that had been absent from the conversation thus far.

“I do not see it as a failing as you do. Rather, I think it perfectly suitable for any young lady to desire to expand their mind by reading and learning as Joceline does. It is a rare quality and one that ought to be supported.”

There was a breath of silence and, in that moment, Joceline thought that her mother might step aside and agree to all that her husband had said… only for that idea to be knocked away.

“Supported?” she exclaimed, making Joceline’s ears ring. “We cannot do such a thing as that! What will the ton say? What will society think? Believe me, if you do such a thing as this, then Joceline will never find a suitable husband.”

“I do not think that is true,” came the mild reply as tears came to Joceline’s eyes, broken over how little her mother seemed to care for her and instead, cared only for the match that Joceline was one day to make. “There are bound to be other gentlemen in society with the same opinion as I.”

This made Lady Melford snort disparagingly. “I hardly think so.”

“Martha.” This time, when Lord Melford spoke, it was with a trace of anger in his voice which, Joceline heard, seemed to quieten her mother a little.

“I will not have you quash Joceline. I understand that you desire to see her wed and that is a good desire. I too have the very same. However, I will not permit you to force Joceline to hide that part of herself from the ton. It is not to be done.”

“By why ever not?” came the question, a wheedling tone in the lady’s voice now. “Why would you say such a thing? Can you not see that her chances of a successful match are much diminished?”

There came another moment of silence, only for Lord Melford to sigh heavily. “And can you not see, my dear, that her chances of a happy future are entirely extinguished if we force her to wed a gentleman who does not know who she truly is?”

Tears began to fall from Joceline’s eyes, not only from the upset that came from hearing her mother speak so but also from the gentle comfort in her father’s clear understanding and care of her.

She pressed her hands to her cheeks, trying to stem the flow and doing her utmost to cry as silently as possible for fear of being discovered.

“I – I did not think…”

“We must consider Joceline herself,” Lord Melford finished.

“You may do as you please in London society, taking her to whatever occasions you think ought to be attended and presenting her to various gentlemen as you see fit. But do not ask her to keep her true self hidden from them all, for it will not bring her any sort of happiness though it might bring you a little contentment. Your desire to see all of our children married and settled is a good and reasonable one, my dear, but things are different when it comes to Joceline.”

Lady Melford let out such a heavy sigh that Joceline could practically feel the frustration emanating from her.

“Would that she was more like her sister,” Lady Melford muttered, darkly. “Sarah was everything a young lady of quality ought to be. You know as well as I that various gentlemen were pursuing her, though none are seeking out Joceline’s company!”

“And our son made his own choice, and all has worked out well, yes I know.” Lord Melford’s tone sounded a little heavier now, as though he was tiring of the conversation.

“Each of our children is very different to the others but that is not something to lament over, my dear. Please, we must think of Joceline’s happiness over our own. ”

Another sigh and Joceline wiped at her eyes, the ache in her chest returning with a fierceness that stole her breath. Her mother complained a little more but Joceline barely gave it any attention, struggling with the awareness that she disappointed her mother a great deal.

It was not something that many young ladies were encouraged in, Joceline knew, for to be bluestocking was seen as something of an embarrassment, something that ought to be hidden away.

Her father, the Viscount, had always encouraged her, however, both she and her sister to read and to learn and to explore as much as they wished, though Sarah had been less inclined to do so.

Instead, she had dreamed of balls and dancing and courtship while Joceline had been learning about some far-flung countries whose people and practices were so very different from her own.

Yes, Joceline had known that her mother was somewhat displeased with her learning and knowledge but she had never, until this moment, understood that her mother saw it as shameful.

She believed that Joceline would never make a suitable match without pretending she was not as learned as she was and would be quite contented for her to marry a gentleman who did not know her as she truly was!

Grateful for her father’s determination and his continued encouragement, Joceline dried her tears and picked up her book again, the room now silent.

It is a good deal better than other young ladies, who have been told from the beginning whom they will marry, she thought to herself, her eyes flickering over the page as she fought to find her place.

I am still permitted to be just as I am in the hope that I can find a gentleman interested enough in me to overlook my bluestocking ways!

A faint flickering hope that she would be able to do so quickly faded as she thought about her mother’s concern and lack of belief that Joceline would be in any way successful.

What would happen if, in her second Season, she had no more success than in the first?

Would her father’s attitude change? Would she be forced into a match she did not want?

Shaking her head as though to clear her thoughts, Joceline let out a slow breath and closed her eyes. She could not let herself think in such a way, not now, not when she had so much still to experience. At the present moment, she had her father’s support and that had to be enough.

Besides, I shall have my friends around me, she thought to herself as the edges of her mouth lifted, bringing them to mind.

I shall not be the only bluestocking in London and mayhap that shall be enough to soften Mama’s concern.

With that smile still lingering on her face, Joceline finally returned her full attention to her book and, with her mind now a good deal more settled, made her way into the story once more.