“When you marry a lord of the realm, you’ll receive a good many more, I suspect. Moving about in that world will have grand advantages, Fancy.”
Not if the man didn’t love her.
“I remain optimistic, Mick, that I’ll find happiness there.” Approaching him, she gave him a hug. “Thank you.”
That evening, when Fancy walked into the reading parlor to prepare it for the students’ arrival, she was surprised to find Matthew looking up at the painting above the fireplace. “Hello.”
He turned and smiled at her, genuine pleasure reflected in his green, green eyes. “Hello.”
It wasn’t that she was feeling off-kilter, but it seemed they should be greeting each other with a kiss or an embrace instead of this awkwardness. “I don’t have a ball to attend tonight.”
“I know, but I enjoyed teaching the other night and thought you might welcome my assistance. I have nothing else pressing.”
“I’d like that very much, and I’m fairly certain Lottie will as well.”
He laughed. The joyous sound that vibrated from deep within him made her chest feel as though it were expanding to encompass the world. “Perhaps I could take the gents and you could take the ladies.”
“I think that’s a rather splendid idea.” She eased up until the hem of her skirt touched the toes of his boots. “I’m glad you find these efforts worth your while.”
“Maybe I’m just using it as an excuse to spend more time in your company.”
“I’m glad of that as well.” Based upon the sudden warmth of her cheeks, she was fairly certain she was blushing. “The most astonishing thing happened this afternoon.”
“Indeed?”
“A solicitor came to see me on behalf of someone who wanted to make an anonymous donation to my lending library and other efforts. Five hundred pounds.”
“How will you use it?”
He said it so calmly as though it wasn’t an astronomical amount. “For books and slates and other supplies. I can hardly countenance that I have so much to work with. I’ve been striving to determine who could have been so generous.”
“Perhaps you should simply accept your good fortune.”
“I suppose you’re right. A fortune that is increasing because now I have another teacher.”
A teacher who was proving to be a distraction. He’d taken the gents to a far corner, but still his voice carried to her ears whenever he spoke. It was as though she noticed every aspect of him. He sat forward, his elbows resting on his thighs, the primer clasped between his hands, his brow furrowed as he concentrated on reading along with Mr. Davidson.
Matthew represented what she wanted in a husband. Someone who took an interest in the things that mattered to her. Someone who wanted to do more than spend time with her at balls, operas, and theater. Someone willing to give his time to improving the condition of others. Someone who looked up from his book and captured her gaze as unerringly as Robin Hood’s arrow hit its target—at least according to the serials about his adventures that her brothers had read her. It seemed she would never tire of the intensity with which Matthew observed her. Even though across the room, she felt as though he were beside her.
When the lessons ended, she felt a twinge of jealousy when Lottie sauntered over to Matthew and trailed her hand up his arm. He said something to her, and her throaty laugher echoed throughout the room. Fancy was tempted to grab the woman by the hair and pull her into the hallway—or at least inform her that she was no longer welcome to take classes here. But she wasn’t going to be as petty as all that. Lottie was striving to better herself. Fancy needed to respect that.
“If it’s any consolation, she was flirting with me earlier.”
With a huffed laugh, she turned to Mr. Tittlefitz. “Why would I care if she’s flirting?”
“I don’t think you care that she’s flirting. I think you care with whom she’s flirting.”
“I have no claim to him.”
He gave her a pointed look that indicated perhaps he knew that she wanted to have such a claim. But she wasn’t at all certain how her family would feel about him. If only she didn’t love them so much.
“I didn’t realize he was going to be helping out on the nights you are available,” he said.
“Neither did I, but I think it worked well and each of the students had more time to read aloud.”
He nodded. “Well, I’d best be off. I promised to walk Marianne home again.”
She smiled. “Thank you for that. I worry about her less when she’s in your care.”
