She closed her eyes, imagining staying at Craymore Hall for the next two months. She could read. Father would be happy to purchase more texts. She could help Mother with running the house and Father with his books. But what would she do after the first four days? She stood again. “Think, Joanna. There is always a solution. If not readily seeable, look deeper.” She started pacing again. It was so much easier to think when pacing. Her mind spun with possible paths out of her predicament. She halted. If Northwick knew she had the book, why hadn’t he requested it back?
That gave her pause. She grinned. Because he didn’t know for sure if she had it. That had to be it. If that was true, she must continue as she was, doing what she always had done, so he wouldn’t suspect anything and neither would her family. Mariel knew she had taken a book, but hadn’t mentioned it, nor would she. Mariel never said anything about any of the volumes she’d borrowed.
Guilt sprinkled through her conscience at hiding her theft from everyone else, but she had no choice. Even if Teddy married Lady Elsbeth one day, and they were all related, she’d just have to keep her secret. She halted in front of the book. She’d been right. It was the apple that banished man from Eden, and it was this book that banished her from her ignorance as well as innocence.
Bending over, she scooped it up. If she had to keep this secret, she might as well know all of it. Settling onto her settee, she opened the book to where she left off and turned the page.
*
James smiled likean Indian tiger spotting his prey as he stepped into the building. Lord Mabry had been quite forthcoming in his eagerness to help him. Not only had he learned from the young man that none of the gentlemen had wandered near his desk the night his book disappeared, but he’d also ascertained quite a bit about the Mabry ladies’ schedule for the week. Their various activities had him discovering more about Town than he had on all his past visits combined. The Mabry family appeared to enjoy all London had to offer, but he wasn’t at the Weeks’s Museum of Mechanical Curiosities to delve into its exhibits. He hadn’t even been aware there was such a place. His sole purpose in this visit was to teach Lady Joanna that there was much of a man’s world that she would prefer not to know.
Spotting his quarry in a strawberry-red dress standing before a mechanical hawk that opened its wings to scratch before closing them and looking at the bystanders, he walked through the light crowd to stand behind her. “I find the real ones much more impressive.”
Lady Joanna whirled around. “You. I mean, Your Grace.” She gave a quick curtsy. “I didn’t know you had an interest in mechanical motion.”
He grinned. “Much like you, I have an interest in many things.”
She flushed. Nowthatwas different. “Actually, I’m fascinated by the mathematics that goes behind every movement.”
He grimaced. “I find the creation of the parts to be the most interesting.” He pointed past her to the breast of the bird. “Finding just the right color metal, for example, to make this hawk’s feathers to best emulate the natural bird takes an artist’s eye.”
Lady Joanna gave him a lopsided grin. “Then you’d do best to tour this museum with my sister Amelia.” She scanned the crowd then shook her head. “She’s most likely off viewing the Bird of Paradise.” Her gaze returned to him. “She’s an artist and a rather good one at that. She has also studied the paintings of various genius artists while she was on tour with my aunt.”
“I would posit, then, that if you and your sister were to work with a man who knows his much about metals, you could create something far more impressive than this bird.”
She cocked her head. “I would prefer to work with a woman like Rebecca Emes, the silversmith, because then I wouldn’t have to argue every nuance. But even if the three of us were to undertake such a task, to what end?”
He raised his brows. “To what end does a painter paint, or a builder build, or a chef cook? For man’s enjoyment.”
“Man’s enjoyment? What of woman’s enjoyment?”
Bringing her into a debate was far too easy. “I would assume that women enjoy gazing at paintings, walking into buildings such as this, and eating mascarpone ice cream as well as any man.”
“Exactly. So why not say that the purpose of such creations is for man and woman to enjoy?”
He shrugged. “It is assumed that women are included in that case.”
She raised her index finger. “Then by that logic, Brooks’s should be opening the doors wide for me to become a member.”
He hadn’t expected that argument. A man would have mentioned far more mundane avenues such as seats in Parliament or appointments to the church. Her mind worked far differently than any man’s. “That would be a moot point as Brooks’s is agentleman’sclub. Many men are not allowed to be members. I would suggest that Almack’s is a similar instance as only certain ladies and certain men who are approved by thefemalepatronesses are allowed inside its hallowed doors.”
“Do you wish to enter?” She gave him a sly smile. “I’m sure I could have my mother suggest your name to one of those fine ladies.”
He didn’t engage her on that subject. She was far too good at distracting her opponent, but he’d noticed that before. “Why your mother and not you?”
Her eyes rounded. “Me? Surely you know that I’m not married.” She leaned closer and lowered her voice, “nor am I in a quest to be.”
When she straightened, he was left with the scent of sweet spice in his nostrils. It was unusual enough to remark upon, yet familiar in a comforting way.
“My mother is of one of the finest families and is well respected in theton.I, on the other hand, am…”
He waited as she searched for the right word. It couldn’t be that difficult– accepted would work. “You are what?”
She lifted her hand palm up. “I’m tolerated.”
Now that was interesting.
“Though I daresay I’m also laughed at, ridiculed, and pitied.”
