“Heavens, Lord Grayson,” Miss Danworth said, as the lord entered the room.
Chapter Six
Kitty was bothastounded and embarrassed that Lord Grayson had arrived to Miss Danworth’s house. Of course, he had been aware of their plan to meet with Mr. Crackwilder and examine some of the Palaskar books, but it had nothing to do with him! Further, there was the ridiculous book he’d sent to her that must be acknowledged.
Kitty had assumed she would see Lord Grayson again at some ball or dinner. She’d planned to thank him and delve no more deeply into it than that. She was certain he did not know the volume he’d sent her was a jest and she had no intention of pointing it out. He rather deserved it, she was certain he’d not looked at the volume for a moment before buying it. Always, the intellectually incurious would seek out shortcuts and easy ways, and that was precisely what he must have done to have fallen for the literary ruse. For all that, she would not intentionally embarrass him—one should never point out a fault that another could not rectify and she was certain that Lord Grayson’s mind could not work any harder than it currently did.
For all her consternation at seeing him, Kitty could not ignore the little flutter that went through her. How could he look so dashing absolutely all of the time?
“I am pleased you have come, Lord Grayson,” Miss Danworth said pleasantly, “though surprised to find you interested in my father’s library. Here is Mr. Crackwilder, is he the same that you knew in the war?”
“Indeed, he is,” Lord Grayson said, nodding to Mr. Crackwilder. “And I consider him a friend, as he does me.”
“Such as he is,” Mr. Crackwilder said.
Kitty looked with some surprise at Mr. Crackwilder. It was not so usual for a person of his standing to speak to a lord in such a manner.
Lord Grayson seemed to take no notice of it and said, “As for your surprise in my interest in the Palkar collection, Miss Danworth, I cannot account for it. Naturally I am interested. Who would not be interested?”
“Palaskar,” Sir John said. “It is thePalaskarcollection.”
Lord Grayson ignored Sir John’s correction. He said, “Miss Dell will comprehend my interest in literature, having just received a volume of some note.”
Kitty felt her cheeks pink and prayed Lord Grayson would go no further. To end the topic, she said, “Very kind, Lord Grayson.”
“Lord Grayson has sent you a book, Miss Dell?” Miss Danworth asked.
Before Kitty could answer, Sir John muttered, “Some dreadful French novel, I presume.”
“Indeed not, Sir John,” Lord Grayson said, staring him down. “It was in fact an examination of geocentric cosmology and a defense of Aristotle’s theory written by Reverend H. Bête, a book I am certain you’ve never heard of. And, it was magnificently bound.”
“A jest?” Sir John said derisively. “I would not have thought Miss Dell would be interested in satire. It is rather a waste of paper, in my opinion.”
“Jest?” Lord Grayson said, rather more loudly than was called for.
“I do enjoy that sort of thing, as it happens,” Kitty said, working to stop the conversation from going further.
Lord Grayson, seeming oblivious to the ghastly direction he was headed, said, “Satire?”
Mr. Crackwilder hurried to Lord Grayson’s side and gripped his shoulder hard. “Hah! You see, Lord Grayson is such a wit that even now he plays along with the game. Everyone knows how he adores those sorts of books. It is the cleverness, you see.”
Kitty thought shedidsee. Lord Grayson had not suspected for a moment that the volume was anything less than a scholarly reflection on Aristotle’s theory. As he would not have the first idea of what that theory had been, he would not understand the ridiculousness of a person wishing to defend it. Now his friend, Mr. Crackwilder, had perceived the situation and attempted a rescue.
Lord Grayson looked enquiringly at Mr. Crackwilder. In a low tone, Mr. Crackwilder said, “Just as we discussed the other evening. A magnificent jest.”
“It sounds amusing, Miss Dell,” Miss Danworth said. “You must tell me how you find it. Now, Mr. Crackwilder, if you would select some books from the collection, I will pour the tea.”
While Kitty had not found Miss Danworth to be the warmest of persons, she was grateful beyond measure that her hostess had the presence of mind to change the conversation.
Mr. Crackwilder nodded to Miss Danworth and then requested Lord Grayson accompany him to the table to assist him. It was the silliest thing in the world, on its face. However, Kitty had the notion that Mr. Crackwilder intended to warn his friend to avoid saying another thing about Aristotle’s theories.
If it were so, then Mr. Crackwilder was indeed a good friend.
Sir John, of them all, was not so eager to leave the topic behind. “Did you indeed find the tome amusing, Miss Dell?” he asked.
Kitty had no intention of revealing any opinion at all and only said, “I am afraid I have not had a moment to look at it, Sir John.”
“I do not have the facility for such lightheartedness myself,” Miss Danworth said, “though I admire the ability in others. Lord Grayson has that sort of happy temperament that always seems to find the sunny side of things.”
