Page 16 of Claiming His Lost Duchess
“Do not worry. You look fine, and our guest isn't a man if… high tastes. You'll do well enough to attract his attention at least,” Georgina said, her face lighting up as she heard the sound of a carriage roll towards the house.
Joan felt her nerves grow and threaten to consume her as Georgina opened the door to welcome their guest, and she wondered what would be said of her if she ran away.
She did not get to consider the proper, because soon, a man was sauntering into the house. His expression was critical as he looked around the foyer, and when his gaze fell on Joan, he seemed to be appraising her.
Joan felt humiliated, as though she had been made into a spectacle like livestock in a market, and just as she had begun to wonder if, perhaps, she should feel, the man stepped forward and her cousin introduced him.
“Joan, this is Adam Caddy, Baron of Highcastle. Lord Highcastle, this is my cousin, Miss Joan Brooks.”
Joan forced herself into a curtsey as she said,
“It is a pleasure to meet you, my lord.”
The man grunted, still looking at Joan as though he had not yet settled on an estimation of her worth.
“Of course. I should certainly hope so, Miss Brooks, with how highly your cousin has spoken of you,” Lord Highcastle replied, glancing at Georgina.
“Right this way, Lord Highcastle. Our cook had prepared the finest meals his skills would allow, and I hope you enjoy them,” Georgina spoke as she led him to the dining hall.
Joan learned rather quickly that Lord Highcastle was the sort of man who boasted about his many friends, but in reality, he was likely an isolated embarrassment.
That much was clear by the way he spoke, his tone condescending and filled with disdain, as though he were the King himself. Joan had tried her best to focus on her meal, but the man was rather intent on knowing more about her. At least for the sake of judging her unworthy of him.
“Your cousin tells me you work as a tutor.”
Joan tightened her grip on her utensils as she wondered exactly what her cousin had been feeding this man. He regarded her as though he had received a glowing recommendation about her, only to arrive and meet a disappointing view.
“That is correct, my lord. I have always valued propriety, and so I felt greatly inspired to instill such a virtue in other young ladies. It isn’t in any case a spectacular job, but I enjoy it,” she told him with a little smile.
Highcastle shook his head in disapproval.
“You sound so proud of yourself for having the independence you do. That is quite unattractive, Miss Brooks. Well-bred ladies are to be the very picture of grace and etiquette, not daydreamers who fantasize of a life filled with work and strife. You are the sort that a husband cannot trust to remain in the home to manage the household. The very sort who whine about the prevalence of injustice in marriages, when the woman’s jobis to submit to her husband at all costs,” he responded, downing his glass of wine and beckoning the servant to pour another.
Georgina nodded, “That is true, my lord. But Joan doesn’t plan to continue working after marriage. Right, Cousin?”
“Certainly not! What sort of wife tends to other affairs outside the home she has? How is the household expected to run without her supervision? Good help is so hard to find these days, so does she mean to leave it up to the servants entirely? What about his care and well-being?” the Baron cut in without giving Joan a chance to speak.
She could only stare at them, wondering if Georgina could hear the same things she did. But when her cousin turned to her and stated,
“You must leave your work behind once your wedding starts to approach. You must prove that you can be a reliable wife who will place her husband above all else. No man would want a wife who has other businesses outside their home.”
It was easier to let them reach whatever conclusion they desired, Joan realized. Because with the way things were progressing, she was growing livid and might say something she would regret.
She had hoped that her work would be the worst of it, but it seemed Lord Highcastle was intent on critiquing every aspect of her life.
“You have not been a part of society for quite a while, Miss Joan. Where did you go?” he inquired, cutting into his stake with unnecessary pressure.
“I… my aunt — a distant relative of my mother — was ill. And since she lived alone, it was decided that I would join her for a while, during her recovery. She lived in the countryside, and that is where I have been,” Joan said carefully.
“Even so, could you not visit London often? You abandoned your cousin and uncle for years — up until his passing. This is the problem with women like you who view life as a choice and hardly ever a sacrifice,” Highcastle remarked unkindly.
Joan turned to her cousin, knowing that her eyes were wide with disbelief, but not caring anyway. However, Georgina only shrugged lightly, nodding.
“It would have been nice to see you more during that time. Father was gone most of the time, and it was only me here. We couldn't live good lives together during that time,” she said.
Joan couldn't believe what she was hearing. Georgina had never implied that she resented Joan for leaving, but the way she conceded to the opinions of this narrow-minded man made her want to scream.
“Somehow, I doubt they could have been as ‘good’ as you wish to believe,” Joan pointed out through gritted teeth.
