Page 9 of The Baron and the Bluestocking

“Spiders,” she replied brightly. “Especially hairy ones.” She might have detailed their body parts like their chelicerae, or fangs, used for catching prey, creating silk, or even making noise but his nose had curled even more, looking as though he’d smelled something foul. She likely didn’t need to go into any more detail. She’d already thoroughly disgusted him. Good.

“Tillie,” her mother repeated, even louder and longer. “Do stop.”

She gave her mother her most innocent stare. “I was only making conversation. But you’re right. Lord Bancroft said he didn’t like insects.” She gave the other man a glowing smile. She knew very well from his silk coat to his high collar that the man preferred the indoors, where he apparently didn’t read books, but she pretended ignorance instead. “We could walk to the south field. It’s a fine walk. Only two or three miles.”

Bancroft reached up and adjusted the knot of his cravat. “I’d much rather take the carriage and then…picnic.”

Alex covered his mouth with his hand, his eyes dancing as he glanced at Tillie. Was he amused by her? What an interesting change. She found heat rising into her cheeks once again made all the warmer by his next words. “I’d be happy to walk with you, Lady Matilda. It is a fine trail for walking, and I’d like to learn it during the day to make it easier to traverse at night.”

“Why would you wish to traverse the trail at night?” Bancroft asked, sounding both mystified and slightly disgusted.

“Lord Greenburg is an astronomer,” Tillie said. “And I’d very much like to walk with you, my lord. But you must tell me all about how your telescope works and what event you’re hoping to witness. It’s not the occultation, is it?”

Alex stared at her for a moment, looking as though she might have lost her mind.

Tillie stared back. She’d meant to be ridiculous with Bancroft. The man was not the sort for her at all.

But she hadn’t a clue what she’d said wrong to Alex. Still, she likely shouldn’t be surprised. When it came to people, she rarely knew the right words and she’d missed them again today.

Regret lanced through her to know that she’d inadvertently misstepped.

She wasn’t even certain why it mattered, except that heat threatened to flush her cheeks even now as she waited for his answer.

* * *

Alex stared down at Tillie,lost for words.

How had she known about the occultation? Most people who were close to him still couldn’t remember the event. Then again, Tillie knew just about everything. Finally, after clearing his throat, he managed to mumble, “It is the occultation.” He was somehow overwhelmed with gratitude and the emotion had tied his tongue. Ridiculous.

“Oh,” she said faintly, her gaze casting to the ground.

“You’ve heard of it?” Had his silence offended her? He hadn’t meant it. He grimaced to think that he’d hurt her.

Shyly, Tillie looked up through her lashes at him. When had Tillie done anything with hesitation? She was normally fearless. “I read about it in a science journal. Upcoming scientific events of note. I don’t know much, just that one planet will pass in front of another, at least from our vantage point here on Earth and that’s it’s very rare.” She clasped her hands.

“It hasn’t happened for three hundred years.” He’d like to touch her arm and comfort her. She looked as he’d never seen her before. Insecure. It didn’t suit Tillie at all. She should always appear fearless.

“You’ll have to tell me more about the event on our walk.”

“I’d like that very much,” he said, anticipation pulsing through his veins. Then he paused. The idea of spending time with Tillie once again filled him with excitement. He gave his head a small shake. That wasn’t right. It was the idea of having someone to discuss his hobby with, wasn’t it? But as they turned back to the buffet, beginning to serve themselves breakfast, he had to wonder.

Had his feelings about Tillie changed? They weren’t children any longer and he had to confess, what he’d disliked about her then had far less to do with her and far more to do with his own insecurities. What boy wished to be regularly outpaced by a younger girl?

Bancroft ended up between him and Tillie, the man looking perpetually as though he’d smelled something foul. Alex wished he was next to Tillie. He had a great many feelings to sift through when it came to the lady in question.

Bancroft cleared his throat. “You’re an astronomer?”

“Well.” He shrugged. “I’m actually a baron.”

Tillie stifled a giggle and he found himself grinning too.

“But you look through a telescope…for fun?”

Alex’s smile disappeared. What was so wrong with that? It wasn’t that he hadn’t met with the judgmental attitude before. He had. Often. He just didn’t understand why his pastime seemed odd. The sky was vast and limitless and teeming with excitement well beyond their reach. His gaze drifted to Tillie again. It was not unlike a certain lady he knew…

But he digressed. Had it occurred to anyone else that he had the right of it when he’d developed a passionate hobby. Sure, he didn’t bet on horse races, or drink endless amounts of scotch, or spend his nights gaming. He’d tried all that and found it dull after a time.

It required little effort, few actual thoughts, and the monotonous bad behavior had somehow worn at his soul.

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