with my tutor at the end of my stay. He asked me two easy questions to which I gave the correct answers and then he told me I had my degree.”
“Is that customary?”
“My late father contributed funds to build a handsome library for the college. In such circumstances, yes, it is customary. Besides, the aristocracy cannot appear to fail.”
“Women should be allowed to go to university.”
“The next thing you will be saying is that they ought to have a vote.”
“I do not see why not. We have minds, we have intelligence.”
“That is not the general opinion.”
“And what is the general opinion, as if I did not know?”
He smiled. “Women are the weaker sex, like children, put on this earth to please and support men and to bear them offspring.”
“And that is what you believe? There are many such ladies who would agree with your description. Each Season abounds with debutantes who have been rigorously trained to think they are lesser creatures. So why haven’t you married one?”
He gave her a limpid look. “You forget Griselda,” he said sadly.
“Now, I do not believe that a man such as you has spent years pining away for a dead girl.”
“You have a very unfeminine, ruthless streak, do you know that? Perhaps I should explain that once you have found true love, then nothing else will do.”
“Perhaps you read too many romances, my lord.”
“Not I. I am a gentleman of great sensibility.”
“You are mocking me!”
“I am being truthful. Why will you not accept the truth of my statements? Is it because you do not want to?”
“My lord, if I did not want to believe your statements, it would be because I was romantically interested in you myself, which I most definitely am not.”
Again he experienced that stab of pique that she could remain so indifferent to him.
“If you ‘do’ the Season with your young niece, then perhaps you yourself will find a mate.”
Harriet laughed. “My lord, I will be seated with the other chaperones watching the success or otherwise of our protegées jealously. We will give tea parties and make calls to discuss which gentlemen are eligible, which are to be avoided. Will you be on such a list, or do you have a dreadful reputation that I should know about?”
“I have a dreadful reputation.”
“And how can that be? Not with the ladies, surely?”
“Yes, with the ladies.”
“You are not very faithful to Griselda’s memory, then.”
“I am. I am, I assure you. That is what makes me so fickle. No lady can match my Griselda.”
“Life goes on,” said Harriet sententiously. “You surely want heirs.”
“My brother has four sons. There is no need for me to do my duty to secure the family line.”
His eyes were mocking and she felt hot and uncomfortable. She was beginning to find his presence somewhat overwhelming. There was a silence as they both ate their food, and at the end of the meal, when the covers were removed, she rose to her feet with an air of relief. “I will leave you to your wine, my lord.”
He walked with her to the door and then raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. Her hand trembled for a moment in his before she snatched it away. She dropped him a low curtsy.
“Until tomorrow, Miss Tremayne,” he said softly.
Harriet walked to her room with a fast-beating heart. She went straight to the window and looked out. The snow had ceased to fall. She opened the window and leaned out. The air felt warmer and melting snow was already dripping from the eaves.
With any luck, she would be on her way tomorrow and would never have to meet the disturbing Lord Dangerfield again.
But the following day, although the snow was melting fast, the roads were considered too bad for traveling. Lord Dangerfield learned to his annoyance that Miss Tremayne was breakfasting in her room.
He walked around to
“Is that customary?”
“My late father contributed funds to build a handsome library for the college. In such circumstances, yes, it is customary. Besides, the aristocracy cannot appear to fail.”
“Women should be allowed to go to university.”
“The next thing you will be saying is that they ought to have a vote.”
“I do not see why not. We have minds, we have intelligence.”
“That is not the general opinion.”
“And what is the general opinion, as if I did not know?”
He smiled. “Women are the weaker sex, like children, put on this earth to please and support men and to bear them offspring.”
“And that is what you believe? There are many such ladies who would agree with your description. Each Season abounds with debutantes who have been rigorously trained to think they are lesser creatures. So why haven’t you married one?”
He gave her a limpid look. “You forget Griselda,” he said sadly.
“Now, I do not believe that a man such as you has spent years pining away for a dead girl.”
“You have a very unfeminine, ruthless streak, do you know that? Perhaps I should explain that once you have found true love, then nothing else will do.”
“Perhaps you read too many romances, my lord.”
“Not I. I am a gentleman of great sensibility.”
“You are mocking me!”
“I am being truthful. Why will you not accept the truth of my statements? Is it because you do not want to?”
“My lord, if I did not want to believe your statements, it would be because I was romantically interested in you myself, which I most definitely am not.”
Again he experienced that stab of pique that she could remain so indifferent to him.
“If you ‘do’ the Season with your young niece, then perhaps you yourself will find a mate.”
Harriet laughed. “My lord, I will be seated with the other chaperones watching the success or otherwise of our protegées jealously. We will give tea parties and make calls to discuss which gentlemen are eligible, which are to be avoided. Will you be on such a list, or do you have a dreadful reputation that I should know about?”
“I have a dreadful reputation.”
“And how can that be? Not with the ladies, surely?”
“Yes, with the ladies.”
“You are not very faithful to Griselda’s memory, then.”
“I am. I am, I assure you. That is what makes me so fickle. No lady can match my Griselda.”
“Life goes on,” said Harriet sententiously. “You surely want heirs.”
“My brother has four sons. There is no need for me to do my duty to secure the family line.”
His eyes were mocking and she felt hot and uncomfortable. She was beginning to find his presence somewhat overwhelming. There was a silence as they both ate their food, and at the end of the meal, when the covers were removed, she rose to her feet with an air of relief. “I will leave you to your wine, my lord.”
He walked with her to the door and then raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. Her hand trembled for a moment in his before she snatched it away. She dropped him a low curtsy.
“Until tomorrow, Miss Tremayne,” he said softly.
Harriet walked to her room with a fast-beating heart. She went straight to the window and looked out. The snow had ceased to fall. She opened the window and leaned out. The air felt warmer and melting snow was already dripping from the eaves.
With any luck, she would be on her way tomorrow and would never have to meet the disturbing Lord Dangerfield again.
But the following day, although the snow was melting fast, the roads were considered too bad for traveling. Lord Dangerfield learned to his annoyance that Miss Tremayne was breakfasting in her room.
He walked around to
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