Page 5 of The Viscount's Diamond Bride
“But… But surely your mother would never do such a thing.”
There was a long silence between the two. Graham chewed the inside of his cheek, staring at his collection of books. Most of them had been collected by his forefathers, but in the years since he’d been Viscount, Graham had added a few hundred himself.
“To be truthful, I’m not entirely sure what my mother would do,” Graham said at last, his voice quiet. “She’s determined that I should wed and produce an heir as soon as possible, and I truly do not know what she’d be willing to do to make it happen. Frankly, I confess, I am somewhat apprehensive.”
The silence stretched out again, until at last Jonathan slapped his thighs and got to his feet.
“Well, I won’t allow you to sit here and mope,” he said firmly. “Come, let’s go and take a look at my library – I have a few manuscripts I believe you will find of great interest. Better yet, let’s go to Hatchard’s and take a look at the books there. At any rate, let’s put this maudlin nonsense aside. You aren’t going to be compromised, and if you do choose to wed, you’ll have your choice of bride.”
I wish I could believe that,Graham thought miserably.
Chapter Two
“It is the common failing of an ambitious mind to over-rate itself – to imagine that it has been, by the caprices of fortune, defrauded of the high honours due to its supposed superiority.”–Glenarvon, Lady Caroline Lamb
Charlotte’s arrival was like a weight off Ursula’s mind. At last, Mama had gone off to attend to her correspondence, since the calling hours were over and her time was now her own.
“Wemustgo to Hatchard’s,” Charlotte said fervently. “They have several volumes of…” she paused, shooting a significant look at Ursula, “… of a book you and I particularly enjoy.”
Glenarvon,Ursula thought, with a rush of excitement. It would be pleasant to have a copy of her own book rather than borrowing it from other, slower readers.
“Hatchard’s?” Georgie piped up, having trailed after Ursula from the drawing room to the library. “The bookshop?”
“Yes, and you ought to come with us, Georgiana.” Charlotte said, very neatly extending the invitation.
Charlotte always knows the right thing to say,Ursula thought with a wry smile.
Charlotte was twenty-two years old, nudging the dreaded Spinsterish age. Her parents were keen for her to wed, but Charlotte seemed entirely unhurried and unconcerned by theirurgency. She was considered rather plain, an unflattering label which Ursula resented fervently on behalf of her friend. Privately, Ursula thought that if Charlotte tried to curl her straight brown hair and wore dresses that were more colourful and fashionable, people might notice her beautiful, clear blue eyes and her fine-boned features.
Not that Charlotte cared for such things.Shewas entirely too practical. At that moment, she was wearing a simply cut grey gown with a plain straw bonnet. Alongside Ursula’s ruched violet-coloured muslin and Georgie’s flouncy green silk, she seemed entirely ordinary. This upset Ursula, who knew fine well that her friend was notordinary.
“I should like to come to Hatchard’s,” Georgie said, and Charlotte smiled.
“It’s settled, then. Shall we go now?”
“Whose carriage shall we take?” Georgie asked, looking a little wary.
“It isn’t too far away,” Ursula responded, slinging a shawl over her shoulder and tugging on a pair of gloves. “We’ll walk.”
Georgie scowled. “Walk? I don’t think so. Not in this silk. If you really aren’t going to be sensible, I think I shall just go home.”
Charlotte discreetly said nothing, leaving Ursula to deal with the situation.
“Well, if you wish,” Ursula said at last. “But it really isn’t far.”
Georgie wouldn’t be swayed. Clearly in a bad temper, she pulled on her gloves and shoved her bonnet onto her curls at a comical angle and stamped out to where her own carriage waited. The two remaining women watched her leave.
“Good riddance,” Charlotte muttered.
“Charlotte!”
“Oh, do forgive me, Ursula, but I am not particularly fond of your cousin. And I feel quite sure that the feeling is mutual. She’s so very jealous all the time. She was fairly raging when you were dubbed the Season’s Diamond and not her.”
Ursula tutted, buttoning up her gloves. “Those silly, made-up titles mean nothing. It’s already bad enough, being forced to fight against one’s own friends for a man’s attentions. I will never resort to that.”
“I quite believe it,” Charlotte responded, looping her arm through her friend’s. “Now, shall we go?”
***
