Page 397 of From Rakes to Riches

He nodded and sipped his coffee. “Do you read the paper, Victoria?”

“Not often enough. We had stopped receiving it, of course, after my father died. And before that, it seemed so…depressing.” She did not mention that education had not come easily to her.

“Young women do not discuss the news with each other?”

“No, my lord. From what I remember, it used to be gossip and fashion. My sisters were better at keeping up on that than I was. Although Meriel could converse with any man on the news of the day. Maybe I should read the paper, because that would be something you and I could talk about.”

“There are even papers devoted to the railway, if you’d be interested.” He smiled. “So do we need planned conversation topics? I could come up with a few, if you wish.”

Ah, she liked this relaxed side of him and hoped to see it more. It made his eyes sparkle like blue diamonds. She leaned her chin on her palm and regarded him. “Then what should we talk about?”

“Not the railway?”

She smiled. “Perhaps something different.”

“Did you know the Ojibwa Indians were coming from our Canadian colonies this summer? They’re going to demonstrate their archery skills in Regent’s Park.”

“Really? Maybe they’ll have a contest. That was one skill I almost excelled at.”

“Almost?”

He was watching her lips as she spoke, and it was distracting in a very pleasurable way.

“Well, it didn’t compare to needlework, of course.” Was she actually flirting with him? “But both were things I could do alone.”

“You did not have any girlhood friends besides your sisters?”

She met his gaze with deliberation. “Don’t you remember?”

There was a very revealing pause.

“I meant after we stopped writing,” he said.

“Ah, I see.” She gave him a small smile. “There were daughters among my parents’ friends, but Louisa and Meriel blended in far better than I did. In fact, I met a few of them last night. But when I was young, I preferred the companionship of my sisters.”

“I envied you, you know.”

She leaned toward him, glad to be the focus of his attention. “What do you mean?”

“I would have given anything for siblings.”

He spoke quietly, and her heart broke for him. It was one of those moments that she wished could go on forever, a moment that made her feel as if they might someday have a marriage to treasure. But how to make that happen?

He briskly folded the newspaper and set it beside her. “I’ll leave this in case you’re interested,” he said, getting to his feet. “I’ve instructed my steward about your pin money, so see him when you wish.”

“Thank you, my lord.”

“I’m not sure when I’ll return, so have a pleasant day, Victoria. I’m off for a ride through Hyde Park.”

“May I consult with your steward about the dinner party you’ve begun planning?”

“Of course.”

He hesitated, and their eyes met. She wondered if he was truly sorry he’d withheld things from her. Or did apologizing just make things easier for him?

He left the room, and several minutes later she heard the front door close. With a sigh, she slumped back in her chair. She had to do something to attract his interest, to give them more than newspaper articles to discuss.

She thought about him riding alone through the park, exercising his horse. Did he remember why she’d never learned to ride?

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