Page 12 of The Earl's Error
Lord Castleton nodded, seemingly eager to do so. “Because I know very little about the war with France and here you all are, stating that it is almost disloyal to stand in ignorance!”
Watching him as he spoke, Joceline became increasingly convinced that Lord Castleton was genuine in all he said. There was no mocking glance toward Lord Albury, no slight quirk of his lips as he spoke and, slowly, Joceline began to release the twirling tension within her.
“I find the subject interesting, certainly,” Lady Amelia said, clearly and with great confidence, displaying quite proudly that she was, in fact, a bluestocking. “I know a good deal but there is still much for me to understand.”
“And as I am sure you overheard me say, I am very eager indeed to understand it as best I can, though I do not desire to do any great study on the subject. That is a little too weighty for my mind, I confess.”
Lord Albury’s eyebrow lifted. “You prefer novels, I think.”
Joceline scowled at him, the lightness in his tone irritating her. “I will not pretend that I do not enjoy escaping into an excellent, well written story, Lord Albury, but as I was only just saying to my friends, I think I desire now to read something that is not simply a story. I was told that there have been some excellent discoveries in the animal kingdom of late and that issomething that captures my interest.” Letting her scowl fade, she arched one eyebrow, seeing how his eyes had rounded as she had spoken. “In fact, we were now planning a visit to the library so that we might find more books to read and to learn from.”
Lord Albury blinked, then looked away, one hand rubbing over his chin. There came a small but weighty silence and Joceline’s heart began to thud in her chest. It was not the first time that she had spoken so clearly, not the first time that she had made it more than apparent that she was a bluestocking but there was something about this conversation, something about thisgentlemanthat made her feel ill at ease.
“I think that is good,” Lord Castleton said, casting a glance towards Lord Albury and then looking back to Joceline. “My wife is a great reader also.”
“A bluestocking, then?” Lord Albury frowned. “You areallbluestockings?”
With a firm nod, Joceline held his gaze without so much as blinking. “Yes, we are.” She said nothing more than this, gave no further explanation but instead, waited for his response. To her eyes, it appeared as though Lord Albury had not been expecting her to speak so confidently, for he quickly dropped his gaze and then looked away, his hand rubbing at his chin again. Lord Castleton opened his mouth, shot a look at his friend and then snapped it closed again, a small smile playing around the edges of his mouth. Could it be that he found Lord Albury’s reaction somewhat mirthful? Joceline’s heart quickened just a little as Lord Albury lifted his gaze to hers again, not because of any interest in the gentleman certainly but because of the uncertainty over what he would say.
“That is… interesting.”
Joceline’s shoulders dropped, her heart quickly returning to a calm, steady beat. Lord Albury had said nothing by such a remark, seemingly choosing not to tell her whether he thoughtwell of her or not. There was a hesitation there, certainly, but that might well have come from his lack of awareness as to what he ought to say.
“I think it a fine thing, as I have said,” Lord Castleton said, seeming now to rescue his friend from the situation. “My dear wife enjoys reading all manner of things and I have never prevented her from choosing whatever books she pleases.”
This made Joceline’s lips curve into a genuine smile. “I think I should like to meet your wife, Lord Castleton.”
“As should I.”
The gentleman beamed at them both, his chest lifting a little as though it was puffed up with pride – though not for himself, Joceline considered, but rather for his wife. She began to think well of Lord Castleton, though for whatever reason, her gaze kept sliding towards Lord Albury. A touch of red was in his cheeks but he said nothing more to any of them, a slight frown pulling at his brows as though he was considering all that had been said. Joceline was surprised at herself, at the clear longing within her to know what it was he thought of her bluestocking ways. Why, she had no reason to care as to whether or not he approved of her! And had she not just finished telling her friend all about his strange behavior the night before? There was no reason for her to have even the smallest of interest in him!
“Then shall I take you now?” Lord Castleton asked, as Joceline pulled all thought away from the Earl. “Lady Rosalyn is already there, is she not?”
“Yes, let us go,” Joceline said decisively, before her friend could speak. “An excellent suggestion, Lord Castleton. I should be delighted to meet your wife, especially since it seems that she too might be as understanding as you when it comes to our bluestocking ways!”
Lord Castleton nodded fervently. “Oh, indeed she is! Let me take you to her now.”
Joceline made to follow him, only for Lord Albury to clear his throat. “I shall excuse myself, I think.”
Though this did not surprise Joceline, it made her stomach dip low as though, in saying such a thing, he had disappointed her though that, Joceline told herself, was a foolish thing to think.
“But of course,” Lord Castleton said, with a nod. “Come, Miss Trentworth, Lady Amelia. My wife is just over here.”
With only a glance towards Lord Albury, Joceline followed after him, her head held high. Whether Lord Albury approved of her learning and reading, she did not care, she told herself, though inwardly, there was a lingering sense of frustration. How much she wanted to be accepted by society! How much she wanted to be seen for who she was without fear of judgment! A slow growing sense of despair settled within her, as she walked alongside Lord Castleton. He appeared to be delighted with his wife and her love of reading, though she did not think that there would be very many gentlemen like that. Her parents expected her to make a match, though her father had made it clear enough that she was to find happiness in that if she could.
IfI can, she thought, an ache in her chest.And what if I cannot?The ache grew all the heavier.What then? What is to become of me?
6
“Ido not much like Lady Melford.”
Theodore rolled his eyes and picked up his glass of port. “There is no need for you to attend their soiree this evening, then.”
“Do not be so ridiculous,” his mother answered, sharply. “You know as well as I that I cannot be absent.”
Given that, as yet, he had not decided what he ought to do as regarded his mother’s presence in his home, Theodore found every moment with her near enough unbearable. He had spoken to Lord Castleton about the heirlooms and his mother’s lack of respect for his decision but his friend had been very careful indeed, choosing not to offer any sort of advice but instead, listening and asking questions so that Theodore might unburden himself a little.
“I saw you in the company of her daughter,” the lady continued, as Theodore took another swig of his port. “You were talking together in the park a few days ago.”
