I swallowed a giggle.
“This refracting telescope,” she began again, resting her hand on the polished brass tube, “is modest compared to our grand instrument in Slough, but it serves us well. It is three feet in length and fitted with a lens capable of magnifying up to two hundred times. Small, yes, but itspower should not be underestimated. Later tonight, if the weather allows, we may glimpse Jupiter and its moons or even Saturn’s rings.”
The tripod, crafted from rich mahogany, gleamed under the candlelight. Its height was adjustable, the brass fittings catching the light as she adjusted it slightly to demonstrate.
With great reluctance, I left the telescope behind to dine with my hosts over a table set with polished silver and roast lamb. Lord Chudley offered witty remarks, Aunt praised every course, and the Herschels shared reflections that held even Edward’s attention.
Earlier, we had toured the observatory briefly, viewing the smaller instruments Miss Herschel and her brother used for demonstrations and learning about their work. But she’d promised something more spectacular after dinner—the opportunity to observe the night sky through their large telescope, should the weather permit. The memory of that towering instrument, standing silent and waiting, sent a thrill through me.
I had barely touched my plate. I couldn’t help but steal a glance in Sebastian’s direction, finding him deep in conversation with Mr. Herschel about some far-off battle in India. I strained to hear more, reminded again of how much he knew of my birthplace.
Lord Chudley leaned closer to me, drawing my attention back to him. “You seem positively alight tonight, Miss Grenville,” he murmured with an approving smile. “I daresay the company suits you. How glad I am that you joined me today.”
I returned his smile, though my heart fluttered with impatience for the true reason I was here.
After the last course was cleared, Miss Herschel stood, clasping her hands together. “If the company is agreeable,” she said with a small smile, “I believe it is time we kept our promise to Miss Grenville and returned to the observatory.”
I could hardly keep my excitement in check as I walked with the others through the narrow hallway that connected the dining room tothe observatory. The earlier tour had been fascinating, but I was eager to see the telescope in action. By the time we reached the vast, domed room, I felt almost weightless, like a feather drifting toward something magnificent.
Inside, the polished brass telescope dominated the room, angled toward the heavens as if reaching for the stars, surrounded by stacks of charts, instruments, and intricate sketches of celestial bodies that hinted at long nights of study and the Herschels’ unmatched dedication.
Miss Herschel led us again through the space, her questions directed largely at me as if testing my knowledge. With every answer, her expression brightened, and I savored her approval.
She ushered me forward before the men. “Would you like to try the telescope, Miss Grenville?”
“More than anything.” I reached for its cool surface, but just as I leaned in to peer through the lens, I felt someone brush close.
“Careful now, Miss Grenville,” Sebastian murmured, his breath stirring against my ear. “One might think the stars have stolen your heart.”
My hand slipped on the dial. I chuckled, determined to keep my attention on the telescope. “And what if they have? They’ve promised me a view you couldn’t possibly match.” Regardless, I felt myself pulled away and turned to look directly in his eyes.
Gray, with flecks of hazel.
He laughed, shifting closer. “Oh, but we poor mortals would try.”
“You are flirting with me, Mr. Sinclair,” I noted dryly. “Better to woo me by reading Miss Herschel’s latest treatise and discuss astronomical principles.”
A dimple carved out a spot on his cheek while a rough cough resounded behind me. Lord Chudley, who by any account now glowered.
“Miss Herschel, I find myself in dire need of reading material,” Sebastian said loudly.
My hostess laughed. “Then you shall have it, sir.”
Egad, but Sebastian Sinclair could charm when he chose it. Chewing the inside of my cheek, I watched him laugh as he chatted with her.
Ire swept through me and I refocused the dials, peering back to the heavens, which deserved my full attention.
I was nothing more than a means to his inheritance, as Sebastian had so readily disclosed. An arranged marriage awaited me—so unlike my parents’ passionate love affair. Aunt had once admitted that my mother, a young Muslim princess, had been instantly smitten with the dashing red-haired James Achilles Grenville and demanded introductions. I liked to imagine my parents having an unparalleled love match that defied everyone standing in their way.
A pox upon our grandfathers who treated us both as marionettes tied with tangled strings.
I dared not get tangled with him. I hated the Company and all it stood for. He admired it. Defended it with the disgusting loyalty of a lapdog.
Flustered, I returned to the telescope and peered through the lens.
The stars swam into view, bright and endless, stretching across the sky in a glittering expanse. They were magnificent, far more beautiful than I’d ever imagined. For a moment, the world fell away, and I was left alone with the vastness of the heavens, the order and mystery of it all unfathomable and perfect.
If only my life could have that same order, instead of feeling so utterly murky.
