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“He seems quite pleasant, and if I wasn’t a married lady, I do think I would consider him quite attractive. From what I can tell of him, I would think you would like him quite well.”
“Quite pleasant and rather attractive seems to be nearly as vague as treating his animals and servants well, and both you and my sister have told me those are not sufficient reasons to wed someone. Do be serious and help me with this list.”
Vicky held her breath, hoping her dear friend would allow the change of subject. The back of her neck tingled as though she could feel Georgia’s speculative gaze examining her. Vicky tried to keep her focus on checking if her pen was sharp enough and making sure the inkwell hadn’t dried up. Pulling a sheet of paper towards her, she stared out the window beside the desk, wondering what she ought to put on it.
Quite pleasant
Rather attractive
Does not mistreat animals or servants
“You are hopeless,” Georgia huffed on a laugh, causing Vicky to startle but thankfully, not spill the ink. Vicky had surprisingly almost forgotten about her scrutiny and hadn’t noticed that her friend had approached to watch over her shoulder. “Be serious, Vick, what do you find admirable in a gentleman?”
Intelligent
She tapped a finger from her free hand against her chin as she thought. “Do you think hard-working makes sense? Most nobles inherit their lands and title, others have to make their own way. While I wouldn’t want to be impoverished, I don’t feel I need to marry someone with renowned wealth. In fact, I think I would rather someone who has managed to achieve something on his own or at least is interested and knowledgeable about his estates.”
Georgia frowned a little. “Perhaps successful is a good word?”
“I’m not sure if that best encompasses my thoughts. After Father taught me about the running of his estates, I realized how very much is involved in it all. But I also understand that many nobles might take it for granted and leave it in the hands of their steward. I think I might find that difficult to respect.”
“A gentleman often needs to rely on his steward, especially if he has more than one estate, and also takes his seat in the House.”
“That’s true, but I wouldn’t want a husband who only rode to hounds all day and collected his rents. He should be aware of what’s taking place on his land and how his tenants are faring.”
“Perhaps, you need both words on your list, but you might want to consider a successful businessman if that’s how you feel.”
Vicky wrinkled her nose. “Someone not of theton? That might not be the most comfortable.”
“Well, no, that wasn’t what I meant, although I can assure you that there are perfectly nice people not of the gentry.”
Vicky laughed. “I didn’t mean to imply that I thought otherwise.”
“Anyhow, I was thinking about how hard Mr. Northcott must work. He seems to be very informed on every subject, and from what Crossley has said, he is very successful.”
“Seems to me you have atendrefor the man. Ought I to warn the earl?”
Georgia made a playful swat against her friend’s shoulder, careful not to bump her arm and thus splotch her ink.
“Now, you are just being ridiculous.”
“Anyhow, I don’t actually think Mr. Ashford Northcott fits my personal definition of successful and hard working. I think he vacillates too much between ignoring his business interests all together and then going away for a couple of years and only focusing on his business. Neither would make for a comfortable marital arrangement, in my opinion.”
“What makes you think that of him?” Georgia frowned.
“I don’t know him well, but when he was trying to court Rosabel before she wed Wexford, he spent some time with us. I know he had been away for years. But now, it doesn’t seem that he ever works, as he is always gadding about to social events and escorting debutantes here and there.”
Vicky again felt the prickling sensation of Georgia’s searching gaze.
“Including you,” she pointed out.
Vicky shrugged. “At your insistence,” she countered. “But never mind about him, help me finish this list and think of real candidates that I ought to consider.” Vicky didn’t want her friend to continue thinking Mr. Ashford Northcott would be a good match for her. “As a married lady and also my best friend, what do you think I ought to be considering as necessary qualities in a husband?”
Georgia’s face suffused with joy over Vicky’s words, and she finally left the subject of Northcott, at least for the time being. Vicky knew her tenacious friend and hostess well enough to be well aware that she couldn’t be easily dissuaded from an idea once she was convinced of something.
“Well, it might not make any sense. Even as I’m thinking it, I know you’re going to think I’m a candidate for Bedlam, but I think you might like a dictatorial gentleman.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I knew you’d think I’ve gone mad.”
Vicky nodded but grinned. “I suppose you’re saying that because your particular gentleman is forever trying to tell others what they ought to do. But perhaps, you like that because you’re the eldest in your family and are therefore quite used to telling everyone what to do yourself. So, it seems natural and normal to you. But I’m not so certain it would have quite the same effect upon me.”
“Well, it’s not exactly the dictatorial part that’s so lovely,” Georgia tried to explain as her cheeks flooded with colour. “It’s the sparks that end up flying when you resist being dictated to.”
Vicky couldn’t suppress the gales of laughter that followed. “Now, I know for certain it is because you are eldest. I would not produce sparks, I’m quite afraid. I would probably meekly submit to the pressure, despite resenting it dreadfully. It sounds like the perfect recipe for disaster.”
Georgia gazed at her in consternation before nodding. “Perhaps, you are correct,” she finally admitted. “Let us put this aside for now. It is time to begin our preparations for the evening anyhow. I would suggest that you try to keep an open mind about the gentlemen we encounter this evening, observe as many as possible, and we can revisit your list tomorrow.”
Vicky nodded even though she had little enthusiasm for the project. She would rather consider it on her own. Her friend’s extreme delight in her own marital state didn’t lend itself to being realistic about Vicky’s chances of finding the same. But despite her envy for her friend, Vicky was happy for her, even if she doubted she would achieve the same for herself.
