Page 4 of The Scholar's Key
“Richard, you will not be accompanying us?”
Percy took a seat on the wide settee in the corner of the drawing room. She was facing the crimson and gold decorated room but here in the corner, no one could see what she was actually reading.
Their book of the month was certainly not one of which her mother would approve, but she had it hidden within the pages of another. As far as her mother was aware, she was reading a book of poetry which was, in truth, so dry that sometimes she read it when she couldn’t fall asleep as it never failed to make her eyes heavy.
“I will not,” her brother said. “I have other business to attend to.”
“Other business being Lady Jane?” Percy asked, wiggling her eyebrows, causing her brother to shoot her an annoyed look.
“Yes, if you must know, although it has no bearing on you.”
“Actually, it does,” Percy retorted. “For if she is going to become your wife, then she will be part of our family and I will be spending a great deal of time with her in the future. Do you know how much time women must spend conversing without men? A great deal. And if she is boring or doesn’t speak then I will be the one expected to fill the silence and having a one-sided conversation is not ideal. So yes, it does have a great deal of bearing on me.”
She lifted her nose as she felt she had won that argument before she returned to her book.
“You’re impossible,” Richard said with a sigh. “Lady Jane is a lovely young woman from a good family. I cannot see how you would have anything contrary to say about her.”
“I wouldn’t know as of yet. I do not know her well as she is younger than I am. Which means she isfaryounger than you. She will want to speak of games and dancing and trivial matters whereas you are far more boring and educated and interested in politics and farming and the like.”
“Enough, Persephone,” her mother finally said, chiming in from across the room where she sipped her tea and read her own book of poetry. Her mother loved poetry. Hence, the reason Percy had to attempt to read this book at some point — her mother might wish to speak about it. “Your brother is, at least, interested in marrying. You could learn something from him. Besides, sometimes having different interests can be beneficial.”
Richard sent a gloating grin her way, and she rolled her eyes at him when her mother wasn’t looking.
The truth was, she would miss her brother when they visited Bath. It had been some time since she had been there, but it was where her aunt lived, and her mother sorely missed her sister. They would spend some time at the baths and taking in the social season there, of course. Percy also had this odd feeling that her mother had another motive for travelling there, although when Percy had asked her – for she always found it best to go directly to the source to determine what she wanted to know – her mother had remained mum on the subject.
“How soon will we leave?” she asked instead.
“In a week,” her mother said, to which Percy nodded, as she wondered how she and Mr. Rowley would manage to access this necklace from Cassandra’s aunt. As it happened, she was not currently in possession of the key, for Lord Ashford had decided to give it to Mr. Rowley instead.
Of course, he would trust a man over her, even though if there was ever a person one would consider trustworthy, it was Mr. Rowley.
Cassandra had been very clear, however. She felt her Aunt Eve would be much more responsive to Percy than to Mr. Rowley. In fact, Cassandra had implored her to find a way to get the key and then do this all herself.
They could hardly imagine how Mr. Rowley would convince Cassandra’s aunt to part with her most prized possession. That was where Percy would come in.
She smiled. She could hardly wait to arrive.
* * *
“Are you certain about this?It is not too late to withdraw.”
“Of course,” Noah said, crossing his arms as he stood in the doorway of his brother’s study. Eric was, both literally and figuratively, born for the role of earl. He was responsible enough to look after all that was required — and quite happy to accept their mother’s assistance — while egregious enough to fulfill all of his social obligations.
The only thing he hadn’t done yet was take a wife, but Noah knew that was just a matter of time.
“Noah,” Eric said, holding out a hand to him in supplication. “You know that you always have a home here. There is more than enough space for the three of us.”
“I know that,” Noah said. “But soon I’m sure you will find a bride. You do not need a strange uncle lurking about the house, especially once Mother moves to the dower house.”
“You are not strange.”
“I would be if I lived with you and your family for the rest of my life,” he said.
“We have the small estate in Kent. Why do you not live there and look after it?”
“Alone?”
“You would be rather far,” Eric considered. “But Bath is even farther.”
