Page 3 of The Misfortunate Miss Farthington
“And when she does it’s entirely wrong.”
“Wrong how?” Tessa’s mother asked.
“She sounds far too…” Aunt Beatrice floundered for the word she was looking for.
“Intelligent?” Daphne offered.
“Yes.” Her mother pointed a finger at her in an accusatory fashion. “That’s it exactly.”
“Oh dear, how terrible,” Tessa murmured. The only person who seemed to sense that her mild comment was facetious was Daphne, who snickered beside her.
Tessa squelched a laugh.
“She doesn’t know how to speak about the right things,” her mother said.
“By that she means, I don’t know how to speak about nothing,” Daphne added under her breath.
“I see,” Tessa murmured.
“Yes, well…” Tessa’s mother cut off the conversation with a chastening look for her sister. “Before we worry about Daphne, we need to concentrate on getting my daughter wed. She’s not getting any younger.”
“Of course, of course.” Aunt Beatrice sniffed. “One problem at a time.”
Tessa turned to Daphne as the older women began talking about which eligible men would be in attendance, but it was clear to Tessa already that her mother had her sights set on the earl. With Tessa’s grandfather’s health failing, her own father would be inheriting an earldom soon, and her mother was intent that Tessa marry into a good title.
That, perhaps, had been the only saving grace to her engagement ending. Anthony had been the second son of an earl, and while both families had approved the match because of their close family friendship, her mother was sure Tessa could do better. She could snag a title now, if she wanted.
But she didn’t want to, because only one man had ever made her heart race…
And he certainly did not have a title. No, Mr. Richard Grant was nothing like what her mother wanted for her.
Which was fine, since Mr. Grant might have been friendly to her the few times they’d interacted. Indeed, as mutual friends of Lydia and Viscount Galena, they’d even had a bit of an adventure together…
Her lips twitched and her heart began to pound with excitement and amusement at the memory—until her mother’s voice interrupted. “I nearly forgot. A missive arrived for you earlier today.” She gestured toward the end table and Tessa hurried over.
She gasped with delight when she saw who it was from. Her former student and current friend Mary. She smiled as she read through the note, but then her heart was tripping and faltering and…oh dear.
If this was what it meant to be infatuated, she was not keen on the state.
“Who’s it from, dear?” her mother asked.
“My friend Mary,” she said.
“Ah, Lord Paul’s new wife.” Her mother’s voice dripped with pleasure. She might have despised Tessa’s role as headmistress, but she delighted in the fact that her students had gone on to become such admirable, well-connected ladies of society. “What does she want?”
“To invite me to an event,” Tessa said, speaking slowly to keep the nervous flutter from her voice. “A science symposium.”
“Science?” Daphne’s eyes lit with curiosity. “How marvelous.”
“I don’t know…” Aunt Beatrice started.
“Eloise will be there,” Tessa hurried on. “The new Lady Pickington. Her brother has so many unmarried friends, and—”
“Of course you should go,” her mother cut in. “There is no doubt about that. Not when a countess is expecting you.”
Daphne’s eyes were bright with pleasure when Tessa turned to her. “Would you care to join me, Cousin?”
“I’d be honored,” Daphne said, the demureness of her tone at odds with the way her eyes glittered.
