Page 7 of The Missing Book (Bluestocking Book Club #3)

A small quirk flicked across Amelia’s lips.

“Indeed.” She wanted to say that she did not think anything of a gentleman’s title when it came to speaking with them, harshly or otherwise, for that was never a consideration to her.

If a gentleman – or even a lady for that matter – was being cruel and inconsiderate, then Amelia had no hesitation in speaking of it.

Whether it be Duke or Baron made no difference to her.

“Then might I?” Lady Gwendoline gestured to the lady beside her.

Seeing Amelia’s nod and smile, she beamed back at her.

“Then might I present my friend, Lady Anna. She is the sister to the Earl of Broughton who is also in London at present. Lady Anna, this is Lady Amelia. Her father is the Marquess of Shrewsbury.”

Lady Anna dropped into a curtsy. “I am delighted to make your acquaintance.”

“As I am to make yours,” Amelia answered, dropping into a curtsy of her own.

“Though you must not think that I am someone to be admired, Lady Anna. I can assure you, all of my friends would have done the very same thing.” She leaned a little closer, seeing Lady Anna’s lips pursed, seemingly unconvinced.

“I am also a bluestocking, so I am sure that the admiration the ton is giving me at the present moment will soon fade.”

“Oh, that does not matter to me in the least!” Lady Anna sounded eager and enthusiastic. “I can promise you that it does not trouble me. I would be glad to have you as an acquaintance, Lady Amelia, for whether you are a bluestocking or not makes no difference!”

Warming to the lady, Amelia smiled back at her. “You are very kind. I – ”

“Anna, will you stop walking away from me in such a manner!”

Amelia’s eyes rounded in surprise as a gentleman came to stand beside Lady Anna, one hand on her arm. He did not so much as glance at Amelia but instead, scowled hard at Lady Anna.

“Do I have to continually remind you of your duty? It is most improper for you – ”

“I think, brother, that you have to follow after me rather than expect me to stand with you,” Lady Anna interrupted, speaking a little more firmly than Amelia had anticipated, making her eyebrows lift.

“I am the one seeking to make a match, am I not? Your responsibility is to make certain I am well known in society so I have the best chance of making a good match. Is that not so?” Her eyebrow arched as she shook off his hand.

“And if it is, one must wonder why you are complaining that I am in the wrong?”

Amelia did not know what to do, feeling a little uncomfortable at the conversation unfolding in front of her.

As far as she was concerned, such remarks ought to be shared in private rather than at a gathering such as this.

Though, at the very same time, she did find herself agreeing with Lady Anna.

Her brother ought to be following her to make sure she was doing well rather than expecting her to stand quietly beside him as he made his way about the ballroom.

“Anna, I think – ”

“We have not been introduced.” Interrupting the gentleman before he could begin to berate his sister again, Amelia smiled quickly. “You are Lord Broughton, yes?”

The gentleman finally lifted his gaze to hers and Amelia’s breath hitched.

Goodness, he was handsome! With brown eyes that looked straight back into hers, a shock of dark hair, and a firm mouth, she found herself a little transfixed.

He was taller than his sister by a full head and a half, and his shoulders were broad though his countenance appeared a little severe.

“We are not acquainted and yet you are aware of my title.” This was said with a slight curtness that took the sensation of surprise away from Amelia rather quickly. “I think it would be best if we were formally introduced.” His gaze went away from Amelia and around the group. “To you all.”

Amelia looked away, disliking her reaction to the gentleman. At the first, she had been a little taken aback by his handsome face, only now to think him a little… disagreeable. She ought not to have noticed his good looks, she told herself. That was not like her at all!

“I shall make the introduction, shall I?” Lady Anna smiled though there was a hesitancy in her voice which Amelia wanted to quickly reassure. “Then might you, thereafter…?”

“Yes, of course.” Seeing what Lady Anna meant, Amelia nodded. “I shall introduce my friends.”

Lady Anna’s smile was wider now, clearly relieved. “I thank you.” She gestured to her brother. “Brother, this is Lady Amelia. Her father is the Marquess of Shrewsbury.” She smiled and then dropped her hand. “Lady Amelia, this is my brother, the Earl of Broughton.”

“How very good to make your acquaintance,” Amelia murmured, dropping into a curtsy just as she ought though the bow that Lord Broughton returned to her was short and sharp. “I am sure that – ”

“Did you say that your father is the Marquess of Shrewsbury?”

Amelia nodded, a frown threatening. “Yes, she did,” she responded, though the question had been directed to Lady Anna. “Why?”

Lord Broughton looked back at her without hesitation or apology on his lips. “You spoke to Lord Trafalgar recently, I understand.”

Heat hit Amelia’s cheeks in an instant. “Yes, I did. Though I am mortified to hear just how that has captured the attention of the ton. There is no need for such attention to be given.”

“Indeed.” Lord Broughton’s lip curled just a little. “I thought it somewhat improper, truth be told. And,” he continued before Amelia could respond, “I hear that you are a bluestocking?”

The way that he asked that particular question made Amelia’s stomach twist. It was clear to her that this gentleman did not think particularly highly of bluestockings given the way his brown eyes darkened as she nodded.

“I see. Then there is no need for further introductions, as I presume you all are part of this ‘bluestocking book club’ that I have heard about,” he said, with a sharpness to his tone that made Amelia’s frown. “I must insist that my sister does not further her acquaintance with any of you.”

“I beg your pardon?”

This time, Amelia was not the first to speak. Instead, it was Miss Trentworth, who came over directly towards the gentleman, coming to stand next to Amelia.

“Was I unclear?” the gentleman responded, with a lift of his chin. “I think bluestockings are most improper young ladies and I do not wish for my sister to have any close acquaintances with any of you. I am sure you can all understand.”

“No, I cannot,” Miss Trentworth said, as Amelia looked only to Lady Anna, seeing the horrified, wide-eyed expression on her face and realizing that the lady had not ever heard her brother say such things before. “There is nothing wrong with a lady eager to learn all that she can.”

“There most certainly is not,” Amelia agreed quickly. “Why should a gentleman be the only one permitted to read as much as he wishes? Why should a gentleman be the only one with an engaged mind?”

Lord Broughton drew himself up, pinning her with a fierce gaze. “You will find, Lady Amelia, that I am not required to give you an explanation and therefore, shall not do so. Now, if you will excuse me.”

He stepped away, clearly expecting his sister to follow him though, much to Amelia’s amusement, she did not.

Instead, she took Lady Gwendoline’s arm and stood exactly where she was, though Lady Gwendoline’s mouth opened and then closed again, her eyes going to Lord Broughton as though she feared he would reprimand them both!

“I am not in the same mind as my brother,” Lady Anna said, clearly. “I can only apologize for his ill manner and his rudeness. I do hope that you will forgive him for that.”

Amelia smiled at once, hoping that it would set the lady at ease. “Please, do not concern yourself.”

“Anna!” Lord Broughton marched back towards his sister, his face red now. “I told you that – ”

“You actually said, ‘If you will excuse me’,” Amelia interrupted, unable to help herself.

The gentleman had riled her and, truth be told, she wanted very much to defend Anna as best she could.

The lady was clearly embarrassed by her brother’s remarks and Amelia’s heart went out to her.

“You did not tell your sister that she had to make her way with you.”

Lord Broughton’s face turned scarlet as he sent a furious look towards Amelia. Amelia, however, only lifted one eyebrow but did not say anything, as Miss Trentworth narrowed her gaze back at him in response.

“Anna,” Lord Broughton stated, turning to look at his sister now. “We are to take our leave. Do you understand? You are to dance with Lord Cumbernauld for the next dance and he will be looking for you.”

“Then is it not better that I stay here?” Lady Anna asked as Amelia hid a smile, thinking to herself that Lady Anna was just as tenacious as she and delighting in it.

“To go searching for Lord Cumbernauld instead of waiting for him to come and find me would not be proper, would it? A lady does not go searching for a gentleman for their dance, does she?” Shooting a quick look towards Amelia, she smiled briefly and blinked up at her brother.

“No, I do not think I would advise any young lady to go searching for a gentleman when it came time for their dance,” Amelia said, seeing how Lord Broughton dropped his head, his frame taut. “We may be bluestockings, Lord Broughton but we are still very well aware of all that propriety asks of us.”

“It is a great pity, then, that you do not seek to fulfill all the requirements of society, then,” Lord Broughton gritted out, lifting his head to look straight into Amelia’s eyes.

“Bluestockings are not welcomed into the ton for good reason. Now if you will excuse me, my sister and I must take our leave.”

For a moment, it looked as though Lady Anna was about to protest but with a nod from Lady Gwendline, she sighed and then stepped away. As she passed Amelia, however, she leaned close for just a moment, pausing in her steps.

“I do hope we can speak again, Lady Amelia.”

“I will make sure of it,” Amelia answered with a smile, watching Lady Anna being half pulled away by Lady Gwendonline.

Miss Trentworth snorted. “That gentleman was just as dreadful as Lord Trafalgar, was he not?”

“He was not quite as bad,” Amelia admitted, with a wry smile as the other bluestockings came to join them both. “Though yes, I did find very disagreeable.”

Lady Isobella let out a small sigh. “I did feel a little sorry for Lady Anna, I must say. To have such a gentleman for a brother must be very trying.”

“Though she certainly has some persistence!” Miss Sherwood laughed, as Amelia smiled. “She was quite determined not to let her brother take her away, was she not?”

“And she did ask if she might speak with me – and us – again,” Amelia told them all. “I am more than inclined to find a way to do so, for she certainly is an interesting young lady!” With a wry smile, she looked back at her friends. “My heart did feel some sympathy for her also, I will admit.”

“As did mine,” Miss Trentworth agreed, with a smile. “But come, let us go and see if you are to have your dance card filled as we promenade around the ballroom. Surely everyone in the ballroom tonight will be eager to see you and mayhap even speak with you!”

Amelia rolled her eyes as her other friends laughed softly, making her smile. “I do not have any desire to dance,” she admitted, “but if I am asked, I shall have to agree, for it will certainly keep my father contented and happy.”

Lady Rosalyn slipped her arm through Amelia’s. “And it will prevent him from complaining about your bluestocking habits,” she reminded her. “All in all, Amelia, I think this has turned out very well indeed.”

“Mayhap it has,” Amelia admitted, putting Lord Broughton and his ill manner far behind her. “I shall have to simply wait and see.”