Page 15 of The Missing Book (Bluestocking Book Club #3)

Aware that he ought to be on his feet to bid her farewell, Leopold pushed himself up quickly, making to bow and then bid her good day – but before he could do so, she had already spun on her heel and was walking away.

The words dried on his lips as he sank back down into his chair, a weightiness upon him now.

“Why must you always interject yourself into every conversation and remark?” Anna exclaimed, the second Lady Amelia had closed the door. “I am already very well aware of your harsh standards and your near constant criticism but must you push yourself upon my time with my acquaintances also?”

Leopold’s jaw tightened. “If I had not, then you would have already arranged to step out with Lady Amelia tomorrow afternoon.”

“That is not so!” Surprising Leopold with her fist slamming down on the table and hot tears splashing onto her cheeks, Anna half rose out of her chair.

“I would have told her that I would very much like to join her but that I would have to discuss the matter with you! I am well aware of my responsibilities here, Broughton! Just because I rail against your harshness does not mean I will not align myself with those I know to be good and right.”

“I – I had not expected you to do such a thing.”

Anna closed her eyes and then shook her head.

“Then you do not know me at all,” she said, hoarsely, rising to her feet completely.

“You are much too caught up on what should or should not be done that you cannot see where I am, in fact, in agreement with you. That is on your shoulders, Broughton, not mine.”

She soon followed in the steps of Lady Amelia, walking out of the dining room and closing the door behind her.

Leopold sat down heavily, staring somewhat morosely at the coffee cup in front of him.

Ever since he had come to London, things had become a good deal more difficult for him.

Some had been his own failings, yes, but Anna also had become more trying and obstinate.

He refused to accept that she had any point to make, telling himself that she was only upset that she had been refused permission to go with Lady Amelia.

And now I have said we are to go to the ball this evening, he thought to himself, frustrated. I must once again return to society and pray that they will not look at me with any sort of disdain after what happened with Lady Gwendoline.

One thing was for certain, however, Leopold told himself.

He would not be standing up with anyone, would not even think about dancing with any young lady this evening for fear that he would embarrass himself again.

He would avoid the dance floor at all costs, fearful even of the whispers that would pursue him should he so much as look at it!

Picking up his coffee cup, he drained it and set his jaw tight.

He was already disinclined towards the idea of the ball but, given his responsibility towards Anna, he had no choice.

He could only pray it would not bring him any more shame.

“How goes the ball?”

Leopold accepted the glass of ratafia from his friend. “It is tolerable, I thank you.”

Lord Huggan grinned broadly, a gleam in his eye that Leopold did not much like. “You were deeply concerned, I can tell but there is nothing for you to worry about! The ton is filled with naught but gossip at the present moment and none of it is about you.”

Managing to smile, Leopold took a sip of the ratafia. “That is good, at least,” he muttered, glancing around the room.

“And where is your dear sister?” Lord Huggan asked, with a lift of his eyebrow. “I should very much like to ask her to dance.”

“There.” Leopold scowled as he saw that Lady Amelia had joined Anna, as well as two of the other bluestockings. “Though I am not content with the company she is in at present.”

Lord Huggan snorted. “Bluestockings are not a concern, surely? They are a little more learned than others, that is all.”

“They seek to put themselves on the same standing as gentlemen,” Leopold answered, still looking towards Lady Amelia and struggling to pull his eyes from her though he told himself it was only because he sought to protect Anna in all of this. “I cannot think that as a good thing.”

“No?”

A little surprised to hear the doubt in Lord Huggan’s voice, Leopold looked at him. “You do not agree?”

Lord Huggan lifted his shoulders and then let them fall. “All I mean is that I would much prefer to have an intelligent wife than a dullard.”

Considering this, Leopold found his thoughts not instantly disagreeing with his friend. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that he would agree with Lord Huggan. Yes, he did not want a dullard for a wife either, for what sort of contentment would that bring him?

“There is a difference between a bluestocking and an intelligent lady, I am sure.”

“Really?” Lord Huggan’s grin stabbed at Leopold’s confidence.

“One can only be intelligent through study and reading, surely?” When Leopold did not answer, he continued quickly.

“If my wife, whoever she may be, is the person I am to spend the majority of my time with, the person I am to have the most conversations with during our years together. I would prefer it if those conversations were good ones, filled with discussion and interest. To have nothing but remarks about the weather, the latest gossip from London, or what fashion plates have been sent from London makes me wince at the thought!”

“As do I,” Leopold answered, truthfully. “But so does the thought of having my wife discuss my stocks and investments, or having more knowledge about a certain subject than I.”

Lord Huggan’s smile fell. He leaned closer and tapped one finger on Leopold’s chest, his eyes holding fast to his. “I am afraid that is arrogance then, my friend. Nothing more than that.”

Leopold could not answer, his face falling into a frown.

He did not want to be accused of pride, for that was not at all suitable for a gentleman!

To have such a characteristic was very displeasing, he knew, though it was typical of a rogue – and he certainly did not want to be considered anything like one of them!

“You are too harsh with your judgments,” Lord Huggan continued, though he spoke quietly now, no severity in his voice. “Do you not think?”

Wanting to defend himself, Leopold opened his mouth to say no, he thought he was only doing what any gentleman ought, only to catch Anna’s gaze.

She was laughing at something only for that laughter to instantly fade when her eyes snagged on his.

She was waiting, it seemed, for him to march across towards her and pull her from the present conversation, given that there were bluestockings with her.

Was that the only thing she expected of him, then?

She did not exactly seem pleased to know he was near.

“Are you to dance this evening?” Lord Huggan asked, as Leopold shook his head. “No? Why not?”

“Because of what happened with Lady Gwendoline,” Leopold answered, honestly. “I shall not risk shaming myself again.”

“Nonsense!” Lord Huggan exclaimed, setting one hand to Leopold’s shoulder. “You cannot hide from that. To refuse to dance because of one mistake is foolishness. I tell you this, my friend, you will draw more attention to yourself by staying back from it all rather than stepping out again.”

Leopold snorted. “I highly doubt that.”

“Oh, it is quite so,” Lord Huggan murmured, making his way from Leopold and going towards Anna and her companions. “I have heard the word, ‘coward’ being spoken already.”

Fear lurched in Leopold’s heart. Could that be true?

He did not know whether to believe Lord Huggan or not, for if that was being said of him, then it was a very harsh judgment indeed and not one that Leopold thought he deserved.

That fear drove him directly towards his sister and the others with him, that fear pushed him to open his mouth and that fear had him looking directly into Lady Amelia’s face.

“Should you like to dance this evening?”