“Was there something else?”
“Father, I am thinking of getting married.”
“Good. You are five and twenty now, which is a proper age to begin looking about for a wife. Unless… perhaps you have someone in mind already?”
“I do, in fact.”
“I trust she is not one of these two friends of Julia’s who arrived on our doorstep the day you were expected home, and not by accident, I suspect. As the possible heir to an earldom, you are a person of the greatest interest to young ladies of a certain type.”
“I am happy to reassure you that young ladies of a certain type are of no interest to me. I would like the Miss Pailthorpes better if someone could convince either of them that their singing is not fit for public performance.”
His father winced. “Oh, Lord, yes! They are terrible! Miss Parish is the only girl in these parts with any aptitude for music, since Izzy moved away. Lily Strong, I suppose, and at least the harp is a peaceful instrument. One can sleep through it very well, I find, which one cannot do with the Miss Pailthorpes. But if not one of those two, then it must be someone you met at Landerby.”
“Not exactly. Someone I already knew. Bea Franklyn.”
His father’s eyebrows shot up. “Bea Franklyn? This would be the Bea Franklyn that Lucas describes, not without some justification, as a leech?”
Bertram laughed. “Yes,thatBea Franklyn.”
“The one you swore never to marry? The one whose own father suggested you leave the country to avoid?”
“The very same. I have got to know her a little better these past weeks.”
“Bertram, are you in difficulties with the girl? Have you done anything you should not have done?”
“Done anything—? Oh! No, no, no, nothing of that sort. She has not been compromised, if that is what you mean. Father, you must know that I would never—”
“Yes, of course, but she is a conniving minx, and I would not put it past her to try a trick like that.”
“She would not stoop to such stratagems,” Bertram said huffily. “She is open and straightforward in all her dealings, you must know that of her.”
His father gave a grunt that might have been laughter. “There is something in what you say. After all, she said openly that she intended to marry you, but you were steady in your resolve not to be drawn in, as I recall. What happened to change your mind… if you can tell me, that is?”
“I kissed her,” Bertram said, smiling at the memory. “Or rather, she kissed me and… and I suppose I realised there was more to life than Roman poets.”
“There is more to life than Bea Franklyn, too,” his father said sharply. “But… have you spoken to her already?”
“No… at least, not precisely.”
“What does that mean?”
Bertram sighed heavily. “She was so miserable at Landerby, Father. She had begun learning Latin, and recited a Horace ode so splendidly, but then Lady Esther would not permit it, and Bea was quite cast down. So I… several of us, in fact… went to her and… and offered to marry her. She turned us down… all of us, but at least she knows now that I am willing. It was too precipitate, of course, I realise that now. I cannot in all conscience offer for Bea… foranyoneuntil I know whether I am to inherit the title or not, so until Uncle Charles decides, I can do nothing.”
“Even then, you might not know,” his father said. “If he remarries your aunt, then that settles the matter, but suppose he decides to marry someone younger. The marriage might not be fruitful at all. Or it might produce only girls. Or, even if a son is born, he might not survive infancy. Life is uncertain, Bertram. You and I might both be carried off with putrid fevers and Lucas would inherit. None of us can foretell the future, so we can never be guided by it. That doesnotmean that you should rush out and offer for Bea Franklyn immediately, however. I can see that you have developed an attachment to her, but I am by no means convinced that she is the right wife for you. If you are minded to marry, I am very happy to hear it, but I would prefer you to fish from a larger pool than this one small corner of Yorkshire. Let me take you to town and—”
Bertram shuddered.
“Well, perhaps not. But York, perhaps, in the autumn. You would meet a much wider range of potential brides at the assemblies and entertainments there, and the Franklyns might be inclined to spend a few weeks there, as well. Then you can make a rational comparison. Will you consider it? Or at least reassure me that you will not rush into anything.”
“I have no intention of rushing into it. I should like you and Mother to get to know Bea a little better, Father. Indeed, I should like to get to know her better myself. These Latin lessons are the ideal means to allow us both to discover what we want. At the moment, she says that she does not wish to marry at all, and Latin consumes her every thought, so there is no question of anything more between us. Franklyn chaperons us ferociously, you know. His presence not ten feet away is a great deterrent against any impropriety.”
His father chuckled. “Franklyn is a sensible man. So you will do nothing to further your cause with Miss Franklyn?”
“Not yet. I think we both need a time of reflection.”
“Good. And we might discuss the issue of York with your mother. She will be taking Emily there this year, so your presence will attract no comment, and I confess I should be very glad to see you taking your proper place in society, instead of burying yourself in your books all the time.”
“You have never mentioned it before, Father.”
