Page 5 of The Missing Book (Bluestocking Book Club #3)
“And she has you for a brother so I am sure you would not permit such a thing regardless.” Lord Huggan chuckled. “Though I must say, I am interested to know what she has done that is not correct?”
“She stepped away from me and onto the arm of a gentleman that I am not particularly well acquainted with,” Leopold told his friend, a little surprised when he did not immediately frown or click his tongue to show his disagreement.
“I told her that she had to stand beside me for the duration of the soiree and almost the moment we arrive, she thinks to do something else!”
Lord Huggan blinked but said nothing, making Leopold’s brows pull together.
“You do not think that improper?”
“I think that any young lady will not wish to spend the entirety of her soiree standing next to her brother,” Lord Huggan answered, with a small smile.
“I am not in the least bit surprised that she took her leave of you, truth be told. That is almost what I would expect, for how else is she to have conversation and the like?”
“She… she can have conversation when I am present, to make sure all is good and proper.”
This made his friend laugh, though he quickly apologized but not before Leopold’s heart twisted with a sudden uncertainty. Was he being a little too overbearing? Was that what Lord Huggan meant by that laughter?
“I only mean that no young lady will wish to stand beside her brother, father, or chaperone at any occasion,” Lord Huggan explained, no doubt seeing Leopold’s frown. “She will want to talk and to laugh and to smile and tease in freedom, though, of course, any good chaperone will remain near.”
Leopold’s lips tugged to one side. “That does not suit me particularly well.”
“I am sure it does not,” Lord Huggan answered, with a small smile. “You have always been very particular, I suppose. I know your heart will be in the right place, however. You will want what is best for Anna.”
At this, Leopold nodded fervently. “Yes, that is precisely what I want. I am not in the least bit convinced that this Lord Jedburgh will be a good influence upon her and – ”
“Oh, Lord Jedburgh is harmless enough,” Lord Huggan interrupted, quickly. “He is a very good friend of mine and I should not want you to think poorly of him. If he has taken Anna on his arm, then he will behave quite properly and will return her to you very soon.”
Leopold’s face flushed hot. He had not even stopped to think that Lord Jedburgh might be acquainted with Lord Huggan.
“You need not think that every gentleman is a scoundrel,” Lord Huggan continued, with a grin.
“They are not. Some of them are more than respectable and Lord Jedburgh is one of them. Though,” he continued, with a grimace, “if Lord Trafalgar comes near to either yourself or to Anna, I would not encourage that friendship. Nor would I go near to Baron Wishart. That gentleman is the disgrace of society!”
This piqued Leopold’s interest. “Oh?”
“Lord Wishart has lost not only his own money but money from his own brother’s estate also.
He took it by force, I understand, only to gamble it all away.
Lord Trafalgar, on the other hand, is quite wealthy and not at all foolish when it comes to gambling but he spoke very cruelly to a young lady recently,” Lord Jedburgh said, with a shake of his head.
“He insulted her, insulted all bluestockings, truth be told, and then suggested that no gentleman of quality would consider a bluestocking when it came to matrimony!”
The curiosity swirling in Leopold’s chest began to dampen.
Is that not true? he thought to himself, as Lord Jedburgh’s frown grew heavier.
A bluestocking is not what any young lady ought to be.
I think Lord Trafalgar is correct. Though I shall speak to my sister and inform her to stay far from Lord Wishart, at the very least!
“Lord Albury then came to defend himself,” Lord Huggan finished.
“He told Lord Trafalgar in no uncertain terms that a gentleman shows his true character not in what he rejects but in what he considers. He is, of course, to marry Miss Trentworth, who is part of the bluestocking book club. Lord Waverley, the other gentleman that was insulted, though he was not present, is very soon to engage himself to Lady Rosalyn, who is also part of the bluestocking book club.”
Leopold rubbed one hand over his eyes before pinching the bridge of his nose lightly. There were too many names and too many confusing utterances for him to fully understand. “The bluestocking book club?”
Lord Huggan waved a hand. “That is unimportant. Regardless, it was Lady Amelia who defended both the absent Lord Waverley and Lady Rosalyn, though Lord Albury only added to her defense thereafter. Lord Trafalgar was most insulting and did not even remark upon anything that was said by Lord Albury! Near everyone in London thinks poorly of him now and given his arrogance and pride, I would not advise befriending him.”
“I thank you for that advice.” Leopold considered this carefully, thinking to himself that Lord Trafalgar’s opinion was, to his mind, quite proper.
No gentleman ought to consider a bluestocking for that sort of young lady was most improper in such endeavors!
Yes, the gentleman ought not to have said such a thing and certainly should not have insulted Lord Waverley and Lord Albury but Leopold could not find fault with what had been stated.
“What did you say the name of the lady was?” he asked, as Lord Huggan smiled at an approaching acquaintance. “The one who defended them all?”
“Lady Amelia,” Lord Huggan said, before turning to greet another gentleman, directing him towards Leopold and introducing them both.
Though Leopold did all that was expected, greeting the fellow correctly, bowing, and then asking some vague details about the gentleman to show his interest, he did not let his mind fully settle upon him.
Instead, his thoughts were being constantly pulled back towards Lady Amelia.
Whoever she was, if she was a bluestocking and part of this ‘bluestocking club’, whatever that was, he would have to keep her far away from Anna – or forbid Anna from befriending her!
The last thing he needed was for there to be such a lady in his world and Anna most certainly did not require a bluestocking for a friend!
Still frowning, Leopold excused himself and went in search of Anna.
There would have to be a good deal said to her this evening about her behavior towards him today but, thereafter, he would have to instruct her about all things bluestocking.
That would make it clear to her exactly why he held such a concern and what his expectations were of her thereafter.
A bluestocking was someone shunned, albeit lightly, by society.
He could not have even a shadow of that touch Anna’s reputation, nor his own either!
Such impropriety was something Leopold could not even bear to hear and, his brow furrowed and determination settling deep into his heart, he went in search of his sister.
Yes, she would complain and yes, she would state that he was being most unfair but Leopold did not care. He knew what was expected and thus, he knew what was best no matter what she thought.
And that did not include befriending a bluestocking.