She nodded. “I understand what it’s like to be about those who fixate on a single topic. It can be utterly boring and I—” She stopped. She had just promised herself not to discuss female equality among those who had heard her talk of it before. Had she bored them, as well as made them nervous she’d pass judgment?
“And you what?”
Bravely, she met her father’s gaze. “And I am determined not to be one of those. I am turning over a new leaf.”
His lips quirked. “Another one? My dear, I think you’ve turned over a whole tree by now.”
Though she flushed because he was right, she wouldn’t back down. “One can always improve oneself.”
“Ah, yes, I do agree with you there. But why do you think you bore people by fixating on one topic?”
She rolled her eyes. “Have you not noticed that I often discuss the need for women to be treated more as equals?”
“Of course. It is something you are passionate about. I’m pleased that you have a strong interest in such a noble subject.”
She silently sighed. Her father’s lack of social awareness could be a failing at times. “Yes, but I should not speak to everyone about it every time I’m in their company. I would be much like Lord Hennings was last night, boring.”
Her father raised his brows in understanding. “Yes, I see how that could become tiresome. Though I cannot imagine anyone finding you boring.”
She smiled. “Thank you. I’d best get this book put away and find Mariel. She’s expecting my help today.” She turned and strode toward her cabinet. Pulling a key from her pocket, she unlocked it and set the book on a half-empty shelf. The cabinet had been a gift from her father after the burned book incident with Amelia. It still held many keepsakes, including a miniature that Belinda had made her of the two of them. Touching the small amateur painting briefly, she quickly closed the cabinet and dropped the key back into her pocket.
When she turned back, her father had resumed his seat, his newspaper held close to his face. She headed for the door then stopped. She’d almost forgotten. “Father?”
She waited a few moments. It always took him time to make note of where he left off.
The paper lowered. “Yes.”
“Would you be interested in escorting Amelia and I to the Royal Institution on Friday evening to see Lord Davy speak on his new design for a safe coal mining lamp?”
“Coal mining lamp? Are those not the ones that explode on occasion?” He shook his head. “Such a violent way to die down there in the darkness.”
“Yes. Lord Davy has a new design that is expected to keep that from happening.”
Her father grinned. “Couldn’t get Teddy to go, could you?”
She grimaced. “The only way he would have gone was if Lady Elsbeth was attending, which she isn’t. In fact, he will be dancing attendance on her and her cousin who are attending the Worthington ladies’ recital that evening.”
“Then I would be happy to escort you. I’m very pleased that Amelia has taken an interest in such mechanical progress.”
Not wanting to disappoint him, she kept Amelia’s reason for attending to herself. “I can’t imagine having a more dashing escort than you.”
“Flattery will get you anything from me, so be off before you turn my head.”
She chuckled, before striding toward the door. By the time she’d closed it, he was already back to his paper.
She looked forward to attending the lecture. It may not be in an area that she was well-read in, but that made it more beneficial. With Amelia and her father along with her, she couldn’t think of a more enjoyable evening. She could even be confident that the Duke of Northwick wouldn’t be there since he was otherwise engaged.
Chapter Six
James gave hiscane and hat to the man at the door and escorted Caroline and her father into the Royal Institution. It had been a fairly easy task to beg off from the recital and offer instead the theater the following night. Elsbeth had been excited, though his aunt was in a bit of a dither about clothing and whatnot. By switching outings, he could both accomplish what he wanted and disappoint one of Elsbeth’s suitors. Pleased with his success on that front, he’d invited Lady Caroline and her father to accompany him to the lecture. When they entered the large, tiered room, he discovered everyone had already taken their seats, so he stopped before the empty back row on the main tier. “It appears they are about to start.”
Lord Holburn nodded and preceded his daughter, leaving her to sit between them. Pleased with the arrangement, James slipped into his seat, giving Lady Caroline an encouraging smile. “If there is anything you have questions about, I will try to answer them after the lecture, but I admit this is not my area of expertise.” He kept his voice low to avoid drawing attention.
Astutely, she took her cue from him and leaned toward him, the scent of roses filling his nostrils from either her perfume or her hair, he knew not which. “I’m sure I may need you to interpret the entire discourse as I had never thought about how coal was made until you mentioned this outing.”
He nodded. “I understand.”
She straightened, her posture exceptional, her alabaster skin unblemished. Her pale blonde curls framed her head, and a small loose bun contained miniature white roses. She would make an excellent duchess.
