Henry could not help being amusing company with his archness and pleasantry. Philip thought Henry indulged himself a little too much with the foibles of others, and seemed to take for granted the rightness of his instructing others, but they had a sincere friendship between them. Aside from wanting to forward his happiness, Philip knew he ought to surround himself with friends like Henry Tilney, those who admired him before he became Lord Vaughan.
“I have nothing to say against Henry or this Miss Morland staying whenever they like.”
“Do you mean that?” Eleanor asked softly. He watched the tilt of her chin, the swift change of expression in her dark eyes, and Philip felt anew all of his distaste for General Tilney.
“Who is the hostess of Belleville Hall? And who is entirely at your command?” Rather than let her answer, Philip gave her a long kiss, enjoying the way she hummed happily against his lips. “You must invite whomever you wish, whenever you wish.”
“And if I invite our friends, will you spend time with us, or will you hide in your old house?” Eleanor kept her arms around him, but looked at his table and said, “Why have you kept all of your tables and calculations here?”
Rather than answer her last question, he said, “I am not as shy as that, and certainly not amongst anyone you call a friend.”
“I suppose if you did want to avoid us, you are a viscount now. You have a thousand resources from any domestic uneasiness, from taverns, to politics, to travel, to friends, to gambling, to mistresses, to business. You need not sit in this empty house.”
Philip knew she was teasing and gave her another, fiercer kiss. He broke away to say quickly, “I need no mistress, nor taverns, nor gambling, nor politics. In fact, I have no domestic uneasiness. I am all ease when I am at home with you.” She was about to speak and he rushed to say, “How do you like being free from the evils of such a home as Northanger? You seem different after only a week.”
“Do you think marriage has changed me?” she asked, her voice raising in surprise.
She was always poised, but he had always seen her with a pensive countenance at the best of times, and with a want of spirits in her father’s presence. Now, she was still the same rational, patient Eleanor, but she smiled more often. There was a lightness, an ease and brightness to her now.
“I think you are happy, my dear. You are not oppressed, and you are entirely free to be yourself now. So, in a way, you are not changed so much as you are who you were always meant to be.”
“You have changed, too, you know, in a short time.”
“Have I?” he said, not believing it.
“More since your cousin died and you asked me to marry you rather than only since our marriage, but yes. You do not speak as hesitantly, and you do not shy away from speaking your mind as you once did.”
“Hmm, that is because my title and wealth force people to listen to me.”
Eleanor laughed. “You were always self-confident, but you preferred to avoid a confrontation.”
“I still do.”
“Yes, but you are not so diffident now. You do not fidget with your cuffs and avoid meeting people’s eye.”
“I suppose after what I have had to endure with General Tilney, I can now speak my mind to anyone.”
Eleanor agreed, and then gave him a knowing look. “You did not answer my question about your work.” She gestured with her chin to the table. “Are you avoiding a confrontation after all by not answering me?”
Philip sighed and was about to pull away to pace, but Eleanor tightened her grip around his shoulders. “No, I would never avoid speaking with you.”
“Then why are your papers here, and why have you not added or subtracted or whatever it is you do since your cousin died? Do you need a room in the hall to do your calculations? I think we could find one.”
“I thought that between Parliament and the season in town, and all the other responsibilities to my tenantry and Belleville, Plus Minus ought to retire solving questions.”
Eleanor gave him such a sad look. “No, you would be so unhappy to give up your work with mathematics. AnsweringThe Ladies’ Diary’s most puzzling questions is rewarding for you.”
“It hardly matters, Eleanor.The Diaryis supposed to be at the zenith of mathematical periodicals. However, the practice of British mathematics is less accomplished than comparable French institutions, especially since their revolution.” He shook his head, realising he was rambling. “It is a pastime, like Lady Alice’s novels, and a viscount has more pressing concerns.”
Philip knew that as challenging as the questions were and as ingenious as some of their answers, they played no part in any research program or extended theory. He solved the problems for his edification alone, and for others who enjoyed the pursuit like he did.
“Simply because you are now a viscount, it does not mean that everything that Philip Brampton had for himself is gone.”
“Like we have said, we must look forward.”
“But not at the expense of who you are. If you are unhappy with the state of mathematics in England, what could you sponsor as a viscount? What patronage could you give to some university? What attention could you bring to the study of advanced mathematics?”
Leave it to Eleanor to strike plainly and swiftly to the heart of a matter. He tightened his arms around her and pulled her close. “You think that I should? Do you want your husband to be the curious viscount who prefers to solve complex equations and write to scholars rather than sit in Parliament or move in fashionable circles in town?”
