Page 6 of The Missing Book (Bluestocking Book Club #3)
“ F ather, I will not pretend.” Amelia lifted her chin as she descended from the carriage, keeping her head held high. “You know very well I will not.”
“But you must!” Lord Shrewsbury said though he kept his voice low. “Everyone in society now knows of you as the lady who spoke against Lord Trafalgar and that is not a good thing.”
“Why is it not?” Amelia challenged, knowing full well she had her mother’s support in this. Even if she was absent, Amelia could easily bring that back to her father’s mind. “I spoke to support my friends and it is not I who has come across as overbearing and arrogant, is it?”
Lord Shrewsbury sighed and shook his head, one hand passing over his grey beard which, Amelia knew, was a sign not only of exasperation but of giving up.
“No, it is not,” he said, slowly. “But that does not mean that I like society speaking of you in this way, Amelia. To my mind, it would be best for a young lady such as yourself to now fade a little more into the background. Your brother thinks the very same.”
“That does not surprise me,” Amelia answered, relieved that her brother was not present this evening but had chosen to go to a different occasion instead.
“Come now, father! You must not let Melford influence you in such a way. You see things just as they are, I am sure. I know for certain that one of the reasons you love my mother so very dearly is because she is not afraid to speak plainly.” She glanced at him, seeing the way he smiled just a little. “I am the very same.”
Another sigh came from him but it was not as heavy as the previous one. “I suppose that is true. You are your mother’s daughter, of course. I cannot deny that and I know she would have my hide if I were to insist that you pretend you were not a… a bluestocking.”
Amelia smiled at the way he hesitated before he said that word.
He had never much cared about whether or not she read and learned in the way her brother did, not until it had come time for her to enter society.
Now, it seemed, he felt the responsibility for her future a good deal heavier than it had been, though Amelia herself had no concerns.
Two of her friends had, thus far, found affection with two gentlemen who cared for them just as they were, so she had to believe that there were more gentlemen of the same ilk; ones who would not care that she was a bluestocking but would, instead, delight in it.
“All will be well, father, I assure you,” she said, though his smile quickly faded as they stepped inside. “You will see.”
“Lady Amelia, how delighted we are to have you here!”
Much to Amelia’s surprise, Lord Devon, their host for the evening, practically ran at her as she and her father made their way towards them, ready to greet them and thank them for the invitation to the ball. “Good evening, Lord Devon.”
“Right this way, right this way.” He gestured for her to come towards his wife who had the very same bright smile on her face as her husband. “How glad we are to have you here this evening! We are honored, truly.”
“Honored?” Amelia repeated, a little confused. “Lord Devon, there is no need for such remarks, surely.”
Lord Devon’s eyes widened. “But of course there is! You must be aware of what the ton has been saying of you.”
Exchanging a look with her father who appeared just as confused as she, Amelia forced a smile, a niggle of worry in her heart. “I do not.”
“My son said that society was speaking of my daughter,” Lord Shrewsbury said, entering the conversation for the first time. “I have been concerned, of course, but – ”
“But why should you be?” Lady Devon exclaimed as some other guests came into the house, ready to join the receiving line.
“Everyone is speaking so well of Lady Amelia, for it is not often that we have such strong young ladies amongst us. To hear of how she defended not only her friends but also Lord Waverley when they were being spoken of in such an ill manner is to be commended! It is not often that young ladies of quality show such courage. You must be truly delighted, Lord Shrewsbury.”
This was such a surprise that Amelia did not know how to react.
There came no great swell of pride, no great sense of happiness that burst through her.
She could hear her father stating that yes, he was very pleased indeed and was exceptionally glad that Amelia had such strength within her but she could only stand there, staring blankly into Lady Devon’s face.
“It is integrity ,” Lord Devon declared, firmly. “ That is what you possess, Lady Amelia. A characteristic that ought to be a good deal more sought after than it is. Please, do go in and enjoy the ball. I hope you have an excellent evening.”
“I thank you,” Amelia managed to murmur, taking her father’s arm and walking into the ballroom with him. She felt her skin tingling at the back of her neck as though she was receiving a good many glances from the guests behind her though she felt a little unnerved by it all.
“Goodness, that was… unexpected.”
Looking at her father, Amelia was surprised to see the broad smile spreading across his face, bringing a light into his expression that she had not seen before.
“To think that I was rebuking you for doing such a thing!” he continued, as they made their way into the ballroom. “Never for a single moment did I think that the ton would look to you with such favor! And yet now, it seems, you are to be celebrated because of what you did.”
“I should much rather fade into the background,” Amelia murmured, not at all delighting in the fact that she would be supposedly celebrated by the ton . “Father, there are my friends. Might I go to stand with them?”
“Yes, yes, of course. I shall be nearby.” Her father took her hand and pressed it for a moment. “I think I may have been wrong in my judgment of you, my dear. You showed integrity and courage, is that not what was said?”
Amelia flushed. “Please, father, there is no need – ”
“And I am sure you shall have your dance card filled within a few minutes!” he continued, not seeming to realize she had been speaking.
“I shall stay close to you, of course, but yes, go and enjoy the evening. I think it shall be an excellent ball indeed! What a pity that your brother is not here to see it.”
With a nod, Amelia took her hand from her father’s and made her way directly towards the other bluestockings, her face still hot with all that her father had said.
She did not want to have any undue attention from the ton.
In fact, she would much prefer to have as little scrutiny as possible, which was not something that, at the present moment, she would be able to enjoy given the way everyone kept glancing at her.
“Ah, here comes the lady in question!”
Amelia winced as Lady Isobella held out one hand to her. “Please, do not tell me that you are all to join in with Lord and Lady Devon?”
“In congratulating you?” Miss Sherwood grinned at her. “We are all to look up to you, or so I hear. An example amongst the young ladies of London!”
“And a bluestocking with it,” Lady Rosalyn added, with a wink.
“Though that part is being downplayed significantly. It seems that the ton is very eager for their daughters or sisters to show loyalty and bravery when it comes to defending their friends but does not expect them to have any interest in book learning, aside from what is expected.” She sighed though the smile on her face remained.
“Though it must be delightful indeed to be so hailed.”
“It is not in the least,” Amelia answered, a little dully. “I did not even know of this until I arrived! I find it highly embarrassing.”
“Oh, but you will be the talk of society! And I am sure many a gentleman will be interested in your company,” Lady Rosalyn continued, with a chuckle. “Though alas, I cannot be sure if their interest would linger.”
“Indeed not,” Miss Trentworth said, wryly. “Many a gentleman is only interested in a young lady if they are the object of society’s attention because, in turn, it then elevates them a little, does it not?”
“Precisely.” Amelia rolled her eyes. “My father is delighted that I shall have most of my dance card filled this evening, though I am a little less than delighted.”
Lady Isobella smiled. “Though it is good if he is happy with the outcome of it all, is it not?”
Considering this, Amelia had to nod. “Yes, I suppose that it is. He did speak to me again on our way to the ball, insisting that I pretend I am not a bluestocking, that I do not speak as though I am a bluestocking and seek only to dance and to smile just as many other young ladies do. Now, however, you may be right, Isobella. This may be just what he needs to change his opinion of me!”
“Pardon me, but I must be very rude and break into your conversation, if I may?”
Amelia turned, a little surprised to see two young ladies coming to join them.
One she recognized, the other she did not.
It was not usual for anyone to come and interrupt the bluestockings, given that not many from society wished to be seen in the company of such ladies! “Lady Gwendoline, good evening.”
“Good evening.” Lady Gwendoline, a previous acquaintance, smiled warmly at them all though her gaze returned quickly to Amelia. “I was just telling my new friend here all about what you did at the soiree some days ago, Lady Amelia, and she did beg so to be introduced! I hope you do not mind.”
Taken by surprise, it took Amelia a moment to respond. “You – you wish to introduce your friend to me based solely on the fact that I spoke sharply to Lord Trafalgar?”
“Oh, but it took such courage for you to speak clearly and in front of so many!” Lady Gwendoline exclaimed, as her friend nodded fervently. “And to a gentleman of such stature, no less!”