Page 2 of The Missing Book (Bluestocking Book Club #3)

S ighing to herself, Amelia looked down at her clasped hands and wished desperately that she could have taken her book with her. This soiree was one of the dullest she had ever attended and, to her mind, this time could have been spent a good deal better.

“Your father is looking at you.”

A whisper caught her attention as she lifted her head.

“You had best smile,” her friend continued, nudging her. “Or at the very least, look as though you are enjoying the conversation.”

“I thank you,” she murmured, realizing that she had been so bored by the conversation, she had not even noticed Lady Rosalyn joining her. “Goodness, I have never heard such tedious remarks, I do not think!”

Lady Rosalyn hid a smile, glancing to the others around them and then looking back to Amelia. “Then why do we not take our leave?”

Amelia rolled her eyes. “I cannot,” she whispered back. “My brother is here. He is expecting me to stay.”

It was more than that, Amelia knew. It was not only that her brother thought she might stay present and listen to the conversation, it was that he hoped she might be of interest to one or two of the gentlemen present.

Given that they were all speaking on their present stocks and investments, Amelia was quite sure that none of them would be of interest to her though that did not seem to matter to her brother.

“He is meant to be looking for his own bride,” she continued, still keeping her voice low as the gentlemen laughed at something her brother had said. “I do not know why I am here!”

Lady Rosalyn grinned, her eyes dancing before, with that smile still on her face, she turned to Amelia’s brother and spoke directly to him.

“Good evening, Lord Thane. I do hope you will not mind if I steal your sister away for a short while. We are such dear friends and I confess there is so very much I should like to speak with her about this evening.”

Amelia could not help but beam with delight as her brother glanced first at her and then back to Lady Rosalyn. Her friend had chosen to be bold, to interrupt a conversation so that she might rescue Amelia from them and it seemed that boldness was to be repaid.

“Good evening, Lady Rosalyn.” Lord Thane dropped into a quick bow, then offered a smile which did not lift into his eyes. “If you must, then of course.”

“I thank you,” Lady Rosalyn said, with the warmest of smiles on her face. “You are so very kind, Lord Thane. Do excuse us.”

With that delighted smile still on her face, Amelia let her friend lead her away. She did not break into a squeal of delight until they were far enough out of earshot for them to hear her, slipping her arm through her friend’s. “Oh thank you! You cannot know how much I had to restrain myself.”

“I can imagine just how difficult that was for you,” Lady Rosalyn answered with a chuckle. “Either you will have been eager to say something – either to correct them or to be a part of the conversation – or you will have been frustrated with just how little substance there was to all they said!”

Amelia laughed ruefully. “On this occasion, it was the latter.” Sighing, she shook her head.

“Can gentlemen truly think of nothing other than their wealth and how to increase it? There are so many other things that they could speak of, so many wonderful things that they could learn if only they took their mind off their coin!”

Lady Rosalyn nodded. “I quite agree. That is why I am grateful that Lord Waverley is not particularly wealthy, for he is not at all inclined towards such conversation. Yes, he wants to keep us in good standing and in comfort once we are wed, but he has no great desire to become the wealthiest gentleman in all of London as, it seemed, so many of them wish to be.”

Amelia felt herself relaxing, her shoulders dropping a little as she walked through the drawing room and into the hallway.

“Indeed. I am very grateful for your interruption, Rosalyn. My brother told me to join him for he wanted me to be introduced to a few individuals, though quite why he thought any of them would be interested in me, I cannot imagine! Once they learn that I am a bluestocking, I am quite certain they will turn their back on me directly.” She said this without even the smallest hint of upset or concern, knowing full well that the majority of society did not approve of her bluestocking ways.

Even her own father and brother – both of whom were here with her in London – did not approve of it, though her mother had insisted that Amelia do just as she please.

Her mother had also once been considered a bluestocking and had brought Amelia up to love reading and learning just as she did, so it was not as though Amelia’s father, the Marquess of Shrewsbury, could do anything to complain!

“Indeed, though you may be just as fortunate as I and Judith and find a gentleman who cares for you regardless,” Lady Rosalyn said, with a small smile, her cheeks warming. “Your brother and father may soon be quite contented for you will be engaged and happy – and then, their duty is at an end!”

Amelia laughed out loud at this. “As much as I might hope for this, my father is quite determined that I shall marry a very specific type of gentleman. I highly doubt that such a gentleman would be delighted in having a bluestocking for a wife!”

“Oh?” Lady Rosalyn did not smile. “What do you mean?”

With her smile fading, Amelia recalled the conversation she had shared with her father a little before they made their way to London. “My father has said that I am the daughter of a Marquess and must, therefore, marry above my station.”

“He wants you to marry a Duke?” The exclamation from Lady Rosalyn made Amelia hush her quickly, her face burning though Lady Rosalyn quickly apologized.

“Yes, that is so. A Marquess would also be suitable, apparently.” A knot tightened in her stomach as she recalled the force with which she had been spoken to.

“My father made it clear that he did not think for a moment that gentlemen with these titles would be in the least bit contented to have a bluestocking for a wife. My mother, thankfully, joined us and made it clear that he had wed a bluestocking and therefore, had no right to say such things. However, my father has not changed his opinion on that. We have only been here a month or so and he has repeatedly told me to remain silent in conversation, to say very little when spoken to and to hide the fact I am a bluestocking for as long as I can.”

“Though you have not done so.”

This made Amelia smile. “No, I have not,” she answered, with a chuckle.

“Joining the bluestocking book club is not exactly hiding, is it?” The bluestocking book club was something she and her other friends had formed only a few weeks ago, and, thus far, Amelia had found it very enjoyable – mainly due to the fact they had solved two strange mysteries for two different gentlemen!

It had helped her to use her mind and what she had already learned in a new way, working alongside her friends to come to a conclusion.

“No, it is not,” Lady Rosalyn answered, though she did not smile. “I do hope that you are quite all right, however. It must be difficult for you to struggle so with all that is said to you from your father and your brother.”

Acknowledging this with a nod, Amelia did not say anything more, stopping only to reach for a glass of champagne.

Her mother was not present in London, having chosen to go to see her eldest daughter in her confinement.

She had reassured Amelia repeatedly that all would be well, that she did not need to make a match this Season, and to ignore all that was said to her from both her father and her brother and her regular letters were an encouragement also.

That being said, Amelia did miss her presence.

Her father was becoming a little overbearing in his demands for her to hide the truth of herself from any prospective gentlemen and even her brother was beginning to do the same.

But I shall not, Amelia told herself, firmly. I am a bluestocking and I shall not pretend otherwise.

“Good evening, Lady Amelia, Lady Rosalyn!” A gentleman that Amelia recognized from a previous introduction bowed his head and then gestured to the gentleman standing beside him. “Let me introduce you to Lord Trafalgar.”

Amelia smiled. “But of course, Lord Gifford.” She turned her attention to the gentleman in question, taking in his fair hair, his green eyes, and the small but firm smile on his lips.

Her stomach dipped, thinking him handsome but at the same time, a little uncertain of the way that he seemed to look down at them both. Was there a touch of arrogance there?

“The Marquess of Trafalgar,” Lord Gifford said, gesturing to the other gentleman. “Might I introduce Lady Amelia, daughter to the Marquess of Shrewsbury? And this is Lady Rosalyn, her brother is Lord Fairchild.”

“A pleasure to be introduced to you both,” Lord Trafalgar said, bowing low. “Lord Fairchild, did you say?”

Lady Rosalyn nodded. “Yes, that is so.”

“And you are being courted by Lord Waverley?”

“Yes, though he is not present this evening.”

Amelia caught the glance that Lady Rosalyn sent in her direction, finding herself a little confused as to why Lord Trafalgar was asking such questions.

“Strange.” Lord Trafalgar sniffed and pulled his gaze away as if he had seen something distasteful. “I would have thought a gentleman of Lord Waverley’s standing would have chosen better than a bluestocking.”