He’d seen other gentlemen’s glances too and would not be the least surprised if she very speedily collected herself a pile of suitors. The diamond of the season, they’d all say.
She probably was the diamond of the season already, though he wished not so many gentlemen had seemed to notice it.
When they’d danced, her geniality was confirmed. His thoughts had raced far ahead of him. Would it not be the best course for his life to complete his studies of a day and then leave his library to find a beautiful and genial baroness waiting for him? He rather thought it was.
What confounded him was the conversation they’d had at supper. Even though he’d cautioned himself not to mention hisresearch, hehadmentioned it. Then she’d claimed to be looking into the very same question. He really did not believe it, though. When he asked her if she’d come to any conclusions, she’d just rearranged the words of the topic.
The carriage rattled along the streets to Berkeley Square while his Aunt Pegatha eyed him from the other side of the carriage. “I only say, she is very pretty,” she said. “She is a duke’s daughter, too. Quite a mad duke, but I do not get the idea it runs in the family, so no harm there. In any case, I find his brand of madness wildly entertaining. You could do worse.”
Henry was well aware that his aunt spoke of Lady Verity. Even if the duke had not been mentioned, he would know it. “There was something odd that came up, though. I do not know what to make of it.”
He gazed out the window and felt the sudden rap of a fan on his leg. “Gracious me, you are not to tell me something odd has happened and then not expound on it, you rascal.”
Henry hardly knew how to explain it. He did not wish to name Lady Verity a liar…but he was relatively certain she was a liar.
“Come now, what did you discover?” Lady Pegatha asked. “Is she a murderess? A spy for the French? An impostor of some sort?”
“Not that I know of. However, I mentioned my research, and yes, I am aware that I should not have, as it will bore a lady—”
“Good heavens, do not tell me she was not bored, that peculiar girl.”
“Aunt, she claimed she was looking into the same question. I was startled, I can tell you, as I had not imagined any young lady was examining the circulatory systems of slow-moving animals—”
“Nor I.”
“So I asked her if she’d come to any conclusions and she only rearranged the words. She said she believed the animals moved slow because of their circulatory system.”
Lady Pegatha snorted. “Did she now?”
“Yes, she did. I do not like to say it, but…I really believe she was lying.”
This caused his aunt to heave with laughter. When she caught her breath, she said, “That unconscionable little flirt. Oh goodness, I am amused.”
Henry was taken aback. “Do you mean to say that was some sort of flirtatious gambit?”
“Of course I mean to say it, as I just did say it. She is young and inexperienced and thought she might be a looking glass reflecting your interests back on you. Hmm, I wonder how far she will take it.”
“How far? I think she’s gone quite far enough. How much further could she go?”
Lady Pegatha shrugged. “She is the Duke of Pelham’s daughter, who knows how far she’ll take it. It’s bound to be amusing.”
Henry leaned back. He was not altogether certain what he thought of it. On the one hand, it was gratifying to imagine that Lady Verity had attempted to flirt with him. On the other hand, it was really a very odd thing to claim.
Perhaps it had only been nerves. Perhaps his aunt was right—she was young and inexperienced and had attempted to impress him with an ill-advised gambit.
“By the by,” he said, “the duke has invited us to dine on Friday. Actually, it might even have been an order as he did not actually ask. I suppose we will go?”
“Of course we will go, I would not miss out on it for the world. I would like to get a closer look at this lady who has caught your eye.”
“I did not say she has caught my eye.”
“Hasn’t she?”
“Maybe. But what she said—”
“Wembly, I am certain you will hear nothing further about her supposed research. She probably died inside as soon as she said it. She’ll not utter another word about it. It would behoove you to pretend you’d never heard it.”
Henry nodded. His aunt was likely right. After all, what did he know of a lady’s flirtations? Up until now, he’d been oblivious to the fairer sex, he’d been entirely taken up with his research and The Royal Society. He would not embarrass her by raising the subject. As one of his tutors used to say, sometimes it was better to allow an awkward moment to die a quiet death.
