Lady Ramsbury smiled at her. “As have I. I think you and I might have a great deal in common. You are of a bookish sort, yes?”
Clarissa winced. Indeed, she had always loved to read and study up on every subject she could find. As a young girl, her parents hadn’t seemed to care enough to put her love of learning to a stop. But after her first Season out when she hadn’t landed a husband, they’d begun to intervene. Imply that she might be viewed as a bluestocking and seen as less desirable if she were too clever.
“I-I fear I have little time for books anymore,” she said.
Lady Ramsbury’s brow knitted as if she didn’t fully understand that idea. “Well, if you are of a mind, Sebastian and I finished up a very good novel on our way from London. I’d be happy to lend it to you.”
“You and the earl…read together?” Clarissa asked, looking again at Ramsbury at the other end of the table. He was laughing at something one of his companions said.
“Oh, yes,” Lady Ramsbury replied. “He’s always been a great reader and enjoys sharing a story with me, or deeper fare where we can discuss history or even politics.”
Clarissa pursed her lips. The idea of finding a mate who might actually celebrate her mind was a bewitching one. And yet that wasn’t the way she classified the men she encountered in her search for a husband. Compatibility had more to do with rank and influence and steering away from anyone she didn’t think she could stand for the rest of her life.
“That’s lovely,” she said.
Lady Ramsbury looked at her a moment, then changed the subject. They began to talk of the recently ended Season and Clarissa relaxed at the more benign topic. Sometimes when she was forced to face her husband hunt, there was a flare of panic in her chest. A true terror. But she couldn’t afford that.
Soon enough the supper ended and the men separated from the women to have their port and a game of billiards. The women began to make their way toward the parlor where the group would reconvene later to play some games and talk. Clarissa saw that her motherwas waiting for her to help lead the group and hustled to walk with her.
“You spoke with Lady Ramsbury for a long time during supper,” Mrs. Lockhart said without much preamble.
Clarissa nodded. “Yes, I was so pleased to get a chance to reconnect with her and?—”
“But you all but ignored the marquess. He was seated on your right,” her mother interrupted.
Clarissa bit her tongue so she would not reply too sharply or swiftly. Respect for one’s parents. She had to recall that. “I suppose I didn’t,” she agreed. “He is…he’s much older than I am, you know. I think he fell asleep during supper.”
They entered the parlor and her mother faced her. “What does his age matter? He’s a fine prospect, for his late wife only gave him daughters and he wants a son, which you could provide.”
Clarissa gasped at such an uncouth suggestion. “Mama, please lower your voice.”
Mrs. Lockhart glared at her but did so. “And he is finely situated. He could definitely help right things for your father and I.”
Clarissa didn’t respond. How could she? This was the constant conversation, after all. The constant desperate stir that her mother created when the topic came up. “Yes, Mama.”
Her mother shook her head. “If you don’t like him, then there are others, you know. Even your cousin has provided us with a fine and unexpected opportunity by bringing the Earl of Kirkwood. He’s certainly young enough for your lofty standards and no one could say he isn’t handsome.”
Clarissa stepped back. “We wouldn’t suit.”
Mrs. Lockhart shook her head and a great sadness entered her gaze. “You would be so selfish, would you? You would deny your parents?”
She tsked and then walked away to some of the other women, leaving Clarissa to watch after her with a heavy heart. Despite all her attempts to be open to the needs and wants of her parents, despitetrying to honor and respect them, the fact that neither of them seemed to count her happiness when they thought of her future was…
Painful. It was painful. But it was also a fact of life. And so she pushed the emotion away and she hoped cleared it from her expression before she stepped up to speak to some of the other ladies in attendance. The way to end the interference in her life was to simply do what her family required.
And that was to find the right husband as swiftly as possible. Before either of them decided to take matters into their own hands.
CHAPTER 3
Roderick always forgot how utterly tedious a country party could be until he was trapped in the midst of one. And now, three days after his arrival to Mr. and Mrs. Lockhart’s, he found himself nearly going out of his skull with boredom as he stood over the sideboard, looking at what was left in the selection of breakfast.
Oh, he had friends here. Lockhart and Ramsbury were great fun, though Ramsbury now sequestered himself with his wife more often than not. They were in love. Head over heels. Roderick couldn’t begrudge his friend that, as it was exactly what he, himself, sought.
As if conjured by the thought, Ramsbury entered the breakfast room, his hair a little mussed and his eyes slightly bleary despite the late hour.
“Kirkwood,” he said with a good-natured slap on the shoulder. “You’re up early.”
“It’s eleven,” Roderick laughed as he handed over a plate and stepped aside so they could look at the spread together. “I think we might be the last ones.”
