He lowered his brows. “I don’t believe I understand.”
“No, I’m sure you wouldn’t.” She waved her hand before turning to stroll toward the next exhibit.
His curiosity was far too strong to let the conversation end. He moved up next to her before a mechanical boy who sat at a desk and wrote on a piece of paper. The boy, which looked like a puppet, was so far from looking lifelike that any interest he might have found in the machine itself disintegrated at once. The inner workings of Lady Joanna’s mind were far more riveting. “For one who is focused upon knowledge, it would appear you are in no haste to enlighten me.”
She turned at that, obviously startled by his accusation. “Not at all, if you wish to know?”
“I do.”
She scanned those nearby. “Walk with me, and I’ll be happy to educate you.”
A woman did not invite a man for a stroll, but instead of remarking on it, he offered his arm.
Taking it, she pointed. “I understand there is a silver swan at the other end of this room. Shall we view it?”
He angled them toward the middle of the hundred-foot room which remained empty since people gathered by the exhibits set up around the outer walls. “Now then. You were going to explain why you are laughed at, ridiculed, and pitied.”
“So I was. It’s not done in front of me, of course, but I hear comments I’m not supposed to, as do my sisters. I am what is considered a bluestocking. A woman of intelligence, and therefore with no marriage prospects. The marriage issue is the one for which I’m pitied.”
His gut tightened as anger swirled within it. Yes, Lady Joanna was not typical of most ladies he’d met, but he didn’t see her as unmarriageable nor a bluestocking. “That is ridiculous.”
She turned a startled gaze up at him. “Thank you for that, but there is no need for alarm.” She gave his arm a slight squeeze. “I don’t mind. I’m actually rather flattered that many in thetonthink I’m very intelligent.” She leaned in and lowered her voice again, though no one was near. “I think they are a tad afraid of me to tell you the truth.” She pulled back and wiggled her brow.
He wasn’t sure what to make of that.
“And as to the marriage issue. I’m quite well set up. My aunt kindly left her estate to me upon her passing.” She raised her hand as if he were about to interrupt. “And yes, she had an excellent solicitor who was able to insure that the property remains mine even if I should choose to marry. So you see, the thoughts of others about my person are of no consequence, but I do try to follow society’s dictates as much as possible for my family’s sake, especially Amelia and Teddy.”
A piece of the puzzle of Lady Joanna suddenly slipped into place. “And that was why you didn’t speak your mind the first night we met at my dinner party. You didn’t want to make a poor impression upon me because Lord Mabry is enamored with my cousin.”
She laughed softly. “I knew that very night that you were intelligent.”
As she smiled up at him, a wave of self-satisfaction flowed through him. He’d had many a woman flatter him. As an unmarried duke, he was forever a marriage prospect, and so praise, deserved or undeserved, was heaped upon him regularly by the fairer sex. But Lady Joanna’s praise felt like a gift. Somehow in their talks over the last weeks, he’d come to admire her, especially her mind.
He returned her smile. “And here I thought I had done so well to hide it.”
A laugh escaped her, causing a few people to turn around, but they lost interest in seconds. “Don’t try to be humble. You did your best to intimidate the other men at your dinner party. You clearly wanted them to know that you were in charge.”
Her observation was uncomfortably correct. “I was so obvious then?”
She nodded. “But no need to worry. It is quite expected of a duke, and as you are new to the London season, it’s an important distinction to make.” She paused as if not sure how to continue. “Is there a particular reason that you have avoided the season until now?”
If she had meant to be subtle, she’d failed miserably, but he found he preferred she be straightforward. It was refreshing. “I despise London.”
At that her eyes rounded, and her steps halted. “That is rather harsh. I do agree it has its drawbacks such as nasty smells, noisy docks, and clogged streets, but I wouldn’t dislike the entire city because of that. Is there something about Town that causes such strong feelings in you?”
Yes. It’s the city where I lost my mother forever. The feelings of anguish and anger that seethed beneath the surface of his consciousness whenever in the city bubbled up once again. He was an expert at controlling them, but for once he didn’t want to. “It was the last place I saw my mother before she left us.” He gestured to a tall window. “Here it’s quite easy to board a ship for America and be lost forever.”
He could still hear his father’s shouts, ranting at fate when the news had reached them before all talk of her stopped. Pressure on his arm made him look down and he recalled himself and his surroundings at the sympathy shining in Lady Joanna’s gaze.
“I’m sorry. If my mother…if that had happened to me, I would hate the place where it happened as well.”
He jerked his head in a short nod, acknowledging her unique understanding. He appreciated that she didn’t ask more questions. It said a lot about her character. It also said a lot about him because hewantedher to know more. There was a strange relief at telling her. He’d allowed the gates of his past to open, but he forced himself not to walk through. “It was a long time ago. I was barely seven. All that is left of that event is my dislike for London.” Even as he said the words, he knew them for the falsehood they were.
“So then it really is a sacrifice for you to be here for your cousin’s season.”
He grimaced. “Yes, but it’s a bit hard to play the martyr when I’ve combined it with my own hunt for a wife and business affairs that need to be tended to.”
She nodded. “Lady Caroline. She would make you a fine wife.”
