Page 64 of A Dreamy Match Made in Heaven
“Oh, indeed. It has been quite the sort of challenge that I have always been fond of. I find myself enthralled each and every day that I attend my work. My father has built up the business and I am most fortunate to be able to join him in his ventures,” Thomas said.
“Yes, that is quite fortunate,” she replied.
“Sometimes I feel a little bit guilty. Surely it was nepotism that enabled me to have the sort of opportunity that I now have,” he replied.
“Oh, I cannot imagine that. I imagine that it was purely related to your tremendous skills. Surely you know exactly what you are doing and it is your skill that led you to this position,” she insisted.
Thomas knew that she was meant to say things like that. He understood that there was nothing about the work he did that would lead anyone to believe he had merited the employment. But when wooing a young woman, it was her duty to appear fascinated by everything that came from his mouth.
“You are too kind, Lady Cranford. And I must say that you speak far too well of me. I shouldn’t wonder if you are simply trying to flatter me,” he teased.
“Oh, Officer Gregory, I would never,” she insisted, gasping.
He chuckled again and she began to laugh, realising that Thomas had only been joking with her rather than accusing her. Although they both knew that it was true, there would be no admittance of it.
The lighthearted banter continued and they were able to continue their conversation, enjoying one another and engaging in all sorts of topics of discussion.
Others around them were oblivious, each engaged in their own matches being made. Thomas was delighted to be amongst them.
It was true that the spark of love was not yet between himself and Lady Cranford, but she was a good woman. Beautiful and talented, very intelligent. He thought that if he could not find love, this was certainly the very best he could hope for.
Love would be too great a requirement. Love was something he would try to choose with this beautiful woman. It was not an immediate feeling between them. They would have to work towards it. But maybe that was enough. It had to be.
Although it seemed a hopeless mentality, it was all he could muster.
Thomas wondered how Lady Cranford felt about everything. Did she love him? Was she simply looking for any possible match? Or did she not love him at all but deem him to be the best option as well?
“I must confess that I know very little about your past,” Thomas began, realising that he might be pressing beyond what he ought to have been asking. He could hardly learn everything about her past and perhaps it was wrong to push for facts about it. But he still wondered why she had not found a match sooner.
“My past is hardly worth hearing. My mother and father raised me well, and they gave me everything I ever wanted or needed,” she replied.
“And you were unable to find a match during the London season?” Thomas asked forthrightly.
“It seems as much. I am honestly not sure why it has taken so long, but I found that any gentleman who was interested in me were not the sort that I or my parents would want me to be matched to. And the same in return. Those whom I deemed worth my attentions did not care for me in return,” she confessed.
Thomas noticed how her face fell at this and he wondered if there had been a particular man who had hurt her, or if she was simply embarrassed that she had ever had her affections unrequited. Either way, he was sad that she appeared disappointed at having to discuss it.
“Forgive me if my question was too brazen,” he said.
“Oh no, it is not that at all. I must say that it is refreshing to be asked. I do not think that many people care much about my reasons for not being married. Rather they seem obsessed with finding me a match so that I can be wed and create children as quickly as possible,” she laughed.
“It must be very difficult to be a woman,” Thomas acknowledged.
“I am rather proud to be one. For that very reason. I think in London society, all of the expectations placed upon women are quite significant and foolish. We are expected to be perfect and ideal in every way. But if we do not find a husband immediately, it is assumed that there is something wrong with us,” she admitted.
“Why would you be blamed?” Thomas asked.
“Because it means that we made a mistake somehow. That we were not worthy of the extended attentions of the man who rejected us,” she said.
Thomas thought about the fact that she felt this way, and realised that Sophia must have felt the very same way when the Earl of Bastion had rejected her.
The immediate thought of Sophia was enough to throw Thomas off and get him distracted. The distraction was entirely unwanted as he had been making an effort to learn more about this woman he was spending time with here and now.
But alas, wishing that he could comfort Sophia was an unpleasant and unexpected desire. The knowledge that there was nothing he could do to ease her immediate pain and humiliation was difficult.
Thomas turned his thoughts back to the woman who stood before him. He could not solve Sophia’s pain, but he could be here for Lady Cranford.
“I am sorry that you have to go through so much just to be a woman. It sounds like a difficult life to live and I am realising that there are many young ladies in London who go through this, aren’t there?” he asked.
