They all sat down as soon as Marigold arrived. “Your Grace,” she said, her blue eyes bright and a big, dimpled smile on her pretty face as she hurried in, “what you have done here is astounding. I must return with my cousins and spend the entire day viewing the exhibits. Thank you for inviting me along.”
He gave the girl a cordial nod. “It is my pleasure.”
Marigold was also excited to meet Adela’s friends and quickly struck up a conversation with Gory. “Women in medicine? I think it is an excellent idea. Are we not naturally more compassionate and attentive to details?”
Ambrose’s brothers grinned at him.
Yes, another bluestocking in the making.
Since Ambrose was never one to chatter, he mostly sat back and sipped his wine while their luncheon was served. The fare was exquisitely prepared but not too elaborate or they would all be falling asleep during Dr. Nordberg’s lecture. They enjoyed a choice of honey-glazed quail, salt baked trout, and savory pie along with a variety of vegetables set out for their repast.
Dr. Nordberg offered to show Sydney some of his bone samples after the lecture. “They are in a private room across the street at the British Museum,” he said, eyeing Adela’s friend a little too avidly.
Sydney’s eyes lit up. “Oh, I would love that.”
Octavian set down his glass of wine. “Sounds fascinating. I’ll join you.”
Ambrose breathed a sigh of relief. The Danish professor was renowned in his field and considered a serious scholar, but he was also a wolf, and Ambrose did not wish to see Adela’s friend accosted.
It was obvious none of these young ladies, as clever as they were, had a clue about men and their baser urges. He’d noticed Nordberg eyeing Adela as well, but the old man knew better than to attempt anything with her, even though she looked delectable.
No doubt Eloise had not allowed her leave the house today without a thorough inspection. She was now betrothed to a duke and had to look the part. No pencils sprouting out of her haphazardly fashioned hairdo or gowns that hid ink stains.
Eloise must have given Adela’s maid instructions on what gown to set out for today’s lecture. Ambrose had to admit he liked her choice, for its soft lilac hue brought out the delicacy of Adela’s features.
Her hair was also becomingly styled. Nothing too severe or intricate, just loose waves drawn back to follow the nature curl of those tresses.
He found it oddly arousing that beneath her veneer of polish beat the heart of a passionate bluestocking. Was she not the perfect blend of social grace, intelligence, and spirit? Was it any wonder he was in lo–
He took another sip of his wine.
Who fell in love in under a month? Or a year, for that matter.
How could one’s heart justknow?
Yet, he was undeniably attracted to Adela and looked forward to marrying her.
“Dr. Nordberg, have you collected skulls from around the world?” Adela asked. “And are you able to determine how old they are? And have you found bones or drawings and other depictions of beasts that are unknown to us?”
“I understand the Egyptians and various other ancient civilizations had mastered the art of brain surgery,” Gory said. “Have you seen doctors perform this in our modern day? What medicines were used to numb the patient? Or does one’s brain somehow adapt to the pain?”
“What significant cranial variations have you noticed between our modern day man and those ancient skulls found on your archeological digs?” Sydney asked.
Dr. Nordberg held his hands up in a gesture of helplessness. “Ladies, I shall discuss many of these topics in my lecture.”
Adela and her friends were peppering the man with questions faster than he could answer them.
His brothers were highly entertained by these bluestockings.
Marigold remained mostly silent but followed their conversations with avid interest.
Well, he was glad Octavian and Julius had met them all, not only because they were Adela’s friends. He hoped his brothers, who also happened to be sought after bachelors, would expand their search for the right woman by including intelligence and independent thinking to the attributes they wished for in a wife.
Had this not been his mistake all these years?
Was it any wonder he had never found the right woman for himself until Adela had knocked him flat? He understood the reason for his constant failure now. He was always searching among thetondiamonds, most of whom relied on their looks and nothing more to entice a man.
He now realized they were done a disservice by looking so beautiful, for it held them back from developing character, compassion, or dreams to strive for beyond catching a wealthy, titled husband.
