Page 21 of The Perks of Loving a Wallflower

Philippa supposed, in Polite Society, it did.

Even if the Balcovian baron hadn’t been “foreign” and a Wynchester, his delighted willingness to entertain Philippa’s awkward, extended equine metaphor had lost him favor with her mother. The baron also seemed tolikePhilippa’s oddness, which made him a little odd as well.

That trait was perhaps Philippa’s favorite thing about him.

“Therefore,” Mother announced, “you should welcome Baron Vanderbean’s flirtations.”

Philippa stared at her. “You want me to marry Baron Vanderbean?”

How curious. The notion did not fill her with the revulsion her mother’s schemes usually provoked. Although Philippa didn’t know Baron Vanderbean well enough to categorically state that shewantedhim, their brief interaction was by far the highlight of Philippa’s five years on the marriage mart. If further acquaintance with the baron proved just as—

“Of course you cannot marry Baron Vanderbean,” Mother said. “You’re to use him as a stepping-stone and marry someone else.”

“Use him,” Philippa repeated. “To marry someone else.”

“Someonebetter,” Mother clarified, as though Philippa might not be following along with the plan. “A baron’s attention should catch the eye of a viscount. A viscount’s attention could catch the eye of an earl. An earl’s attention could catch the eye of a marquess. And a marquess’s attention could catch the eye of a duke!”

“Arethere any unmarried dukes now that Faircliffe’s been taken?” Philippa asked.

“Marry someone other than Vanderbean,” Mother snapped. “I will accept a viscount at this point, as long as he is respectable and English.”

“And has a nice library,” Philippa added. “They really should add that toDebrett’s.”

“Listen carefully,” Mother said. “The advantage of Baron Vanderbean is his title and his wealth. He doesn’tneedyour dowry. Gossips will jump to the conclusion he’s actually interested inyou.”

“So illogical,” Philippa murmured. “What must he be thinking?”

“Thedisadvantageof Baron Vanderbean…is that he is a Wynchester,” Mother concluded. “You’re to lead him on without reeling him in. Keep him interested but not quite ready to pounce, until you have a better offer on the line.”

“And if he offers, tell him, ‘No, I shall betroth myself instead to someone less foreign and higher ranking’?”

“Exactly,” Mother said with satisfaction. “His interest will help to increase your popularity, which can open up countless better opportunities.”

“I think we could count them.” Philippa tried to edge her mother out of her dressing room. “There are eight unmarried lords above the rank of baron, only half of which are currently in town. This is a very ambitious plan.”

“I will accept heirs apparent,” Mother said begrudgingly. “Many of those are here in London. According to the scandal columns, several gentlemen’s clubs remain open year-round. You could still be a duchess.”

“No more dukes.”

“Then a countess or marchioness.” Mother cast her gaze over Philippa and smiled. “Once you’ve an acceptable gentleman or two in the wings, perhaps we can allowtwohours per week with your little reading circle.”

Philippa jerked her eyes toward her mother’s. “If I’m being courted, I can have some of my freedoms back?”

“Courted by therightgentleman,” Mother reminded her firmly.

An important distinction. Philippa dropped her gaze. It was impossible.

“However,” her mother said craftily, “if youdomanage to secure and sustain Baron Vanderbean’s interest, I shall relay this to your father as a sincere effort of good faith.”

“Why does it feel like blackmail?” Philippa muttered. She wished her father would speak to her himself. There was a thing or two she’d like to tell him.

“Everyone extorts everyone else all the time, darling.”

“Do they?” Philippa said doubtfully.

Her mother pursed her lips. “That’s what a societyis. A group of people with agreed-upon methods of social extortion. ‘Do this, or suffer the consequences.’ We call it ‘proper comportment’ so that it sounds nice. You cannot fight it. It’s just the way things are.”

The way things are.Philippa was sotiredof the way things were.