“You think to wed,” she stated as her eyes widened. “You are, in fact, here hunting a fortune, aren’t you, Roderick Northcott?”
Roderick stepped closer to her and for the briefest, most delicious moment, Lucy thought he meant to grab hold of her. Perhaps he meant to shake her, it didn’t matter. But he caught himself before laying hands upon her.
“You needn’t announce it to the entireton, Miss Scranton,” he drawled with distaste.
“I would have never thought it of you.”
“What did you think I was to do with myself, then?” he demanded with a disgusted frown. “Live off my father’s generosity for the rest of my life? Or did you think I was going to change my mind and join the army or the clergy as all younger sons ought to do?”
Lucy blinked at him in indecision, unsure how to answer, unsure how to even feel about his words. “Of course not,” she finally said. “I don’t think you’d be well suited to either pursuit. But I did think that with all your studies, something would turn out to be of financial gain.”
“Even if it does, don’t you think that would put me beyond the reach of polite Society? Will you welcome me into your receiving room if I were to start selling something I’ve discovered or invented?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” Lucy demanded. “That ought to be celebrated, not scorned.”
Roderick only stared at her as though she had lost her mind. Perhaps she had. But she couldn’t imagine anything that would ever make her not receive Roderick Northcott.
“From your knowledge of life in Society, do you really think others are going to feel similarly?”
Lucy had to pause and take a deep breath. He was right no matter how hotly she might wish to deny it. While everyone loved to gossip about the size of each other’s fortunes, no one would think it anything but vulgar to actually go out and make an effort to increase one’s holdings in any way other than through property. Like if a mine could be dug on one’s ancestral lands, that was to be applauded, but going into trade would have some of the highest sticklers giving the cut direct.
“So what are you going to do then, give up your studies?”
“No, I’m going to give up Society,” he countered.
It was a concept Lucy couldn’t quite fathom, but it did hold appeal.
“Do you think Miss Bastion will agree with your choices?” she asked quietly, hoping to make him see that he wasn’t making a sound decision without needing to be indelicate. She was already treading on the boundaries of what was acceptable in having this conversation at all.
Roderick actually shrugged, much to her shock, as though he didn’t really much care about the other woman’s feelings on the topic. That assured Lucy that Rod’s warmer feelings weren’t actually engaged, but she wasn’t sure if that made the matter any better.
“I rather think she might find a way to hide my doings and if I’m not present to contradict, everyone can be happily ignorant.”
“But you despise ignorance,” Lucy pointed out in a small voice.
“True. But in this one case I shall make an exception.”
Lucy felt helpless. Various influences were vying to direct her. Her older brother had been friends with Roderick’s family for as long as she could remember. Therefore, she had always considered the Northcott family to be friends of her own. Roderick especially, as they were closest in age and had spent time together when she was a little girl and on occasion through the years since.
Roderick had always fought against ignorance of any kind. Even as a boy he had wanted to know everything. And he had always wanted to share that knowledge with everyone else, including her whenever she’d been around.
Until she had become too preoccupied with her pursuit of being fashionable, that was.
But which was more important?
Her desire to live up to her father’s expectations? Or Roderick’s research being shared with the world, including fashionable Society, who might not appreciate that knowledge?
Lucy sighed, not sure what to do.
The expression on Roderick’s face was patient and avuncular, setting Lucy’s teeth on edge. “Don’t worry about it, Lucy, it’s not your problem. I promise, it’s perfectly fine. I haven’t much use for Society events anyway. I won’t even miss them.” He paused for a moment, searching her face, and then his gaze flickered behind her. “I believe your sister is looking for you. You ought to be fluttering about dazzling all the others, not standing here debating with me.”
Without further conversation, he disappeared from before her, slipping into the crowd and seemingly being swallowed by it. Lucy was left feeling bereft, as though she had lost something she hadn’t sufficiently valued. She wished she could recall him to her side but then shook off the ridiculous impulse. Roderick was right. She had other things with which to concern herself.
Chapter Six
Roderick made good his escape from the beautiful temptation of Miss Lucy Scranton. He needed to stay far from her delectable presence. She certainly wouldn’t be happy with the future he had in mind. He couldn’t picture her happily handing over her fortune for the furtherance of scientific studies, especially not at the risk of social isolation for herself. He made his way through the room, trying to engage a couple other young women in conversation. Even though Miss Bastion had seemed somewhat amenable to his company, as had Miss Billingsley, neither held a great deal of appeal, and he ought to consider as many options as possible. That was the way to conduct good research.
But his mind kept straying toward Lucy. It was one more reason why he ought to hurry up with his business and get on with his life. He couldn’t imagine getting a great deal of work done in her distracting company. None of his scholarly friends were likely to feel comfortable with her in residence. Thinking about his studious friends reminded him that he ought to ensure Sean was comfortable in these exalted environs.
