Page 33 of A Duke's Temptation Poetess
But we do not live in a better world,Clarissa thought. So we must make the best of the one we do have.
“You would do better to have no morals and money,” Clarissa’s mother said, “than to have no money and morals. If you love those silly old romances as much as you claim, surely you have learned what happens to good people. They are destroyed by those who are not good. It is better to sin and pay penance than to remain virtuous and destitute.”
Clarissa was not so sure of that, and she suspected that her mother, who had spent her entire life wealthy, was not wholly sure of it either.Then, perhaps, you ought to wed and save us both,Clarissa thought.
The words were too cruel for her to give voice to, but it seemed grossly unfair that her mother was casting both of their survival onto Clarissa’s shoulders. “If I do not marry His Grace, I shall become a poet,” Clarissa said, “and I will make certain that my art earns enough money for us both to survive.”
Her mother only sighed and shook her head in obvious disbelief.
***
Colin was ordinarily delighted to see his aunt, but after she arrived with Lady Bentley, his conversation with Lady Clarissa had turned entirely away from literature. Regrettably, poetry had never again become a topic of discussion, which was a pity. He had only been able to offer a single poem as a recommendation, and worse, Don Juan was something of a rakish gentleman.
If he intended to prove to Lady Clarissa that he truly was not a common rake, like much of the ton suggested, he surely ought to propose a few poets who were not inclined to write verses which praised the virtues of rakes. Colin paused, his pen pressed against his chin.But is what is good for my reputation, good for Lady Clarissa’s poetry?
Colin would have been surprised to learn that the lady had even been held before the incident the day before. He deliberated for a moment before scrawling down his recommendations:John Donne,“The Flea” and “To My Coy Mistress.”
He was also rather fond of Wheatley, whom Lady Clarissa had mentioned that she favoured. Colin wrote down the titles of his favourite Shakespeare poems, although he doubted someone as well-read as Lady Clarissa would not have read those already. Like most aspiring poets, she doubtlessly had a healthy admiration for the Bard already.
Colin searched his mind for some female poets who he might recommend, but to his embarrassment, none readily came to mind. Perhaps he ought to askherfor recommendations on those. His lips twitched into a small smile at the thought of having a lady who he might trade reading material with. It was such a bizarre idea.
There was a polite knock at his door. “Come in,” he said.
He gazed at his list, aware of the door opening and closing behind him. “What are you doing?” his aunt asked.
Colin smiled. “I am making a list of my favourite poems and poets to give to Lady Clarissa. I think she might enjoy them.”
His aunt’s face brightened. “I think she would. Poor Clarissa has never had much support for her talents.”
“No?”
Aunt Matilda shook her head. “I do adore Viola. We were very close when we were younger, and because of that friendship, I asked her to dine and travel with us. I know that you have been vexed by her.”
“I am vexed by most women of the ton with daughters of a marriageable age,” Colin replied dryly.
“I am aware,” his aunt said.
“I did it for Clarissa, too. I feel as though her mother is a little overbearing sometimes. She has always been that way, and I think her husband…well, it does not do to speak ill of the dead, but I think her late husband brought out the worst in Viola. I suppose I had hoped that joining us would remind her of all the joy we had when we were just a little younger than Clarissa is—enjoying all the social events, travelling, and gossiping.”
Colin felt a flicker of guilt, as he always did when his aunt mentioned her own failed Season. “You could have been happily married by now.”
Aunt Matilda smiled a little sadly. “I am happy with the path I chose and also that I had the freedom to make a decision about the course of my life. I wish the same for Clarissa. She is a bright, talented young woman, and it would be a loss to the world if she were unable to share all those beautiful poems inside her heart.”
“I agree.” Colin eyed his list, trying to decide which influences might inspire Lady Clarissa the most. “After we return to London, I may have to lend her some of my books. But then, I have not the faintest idea how large her own poetry collection may be.”
“Do you imagine that you will exchange correspondence with her after she and her mother leave Bath?” Aunt Matilda asked.
There was no judgement in her voice, only a sort of warm curiosity. In truth, Colin had not really thought about when, or if, he would want to remain in contact with Lady Clarissa. Since learning she was the mysterious poetess, it seemed as if he had just assumed that they would become fixtures in one another’s lives.
“I am unsure,” he confessed. “I have…I have very few female acquaintances, even fewer friends. I do not know if that would be welcome to her. I suppose I shall let the lady decide.”
However, there was one thing which he might be able to aid her with. It was highly improper for a young lady, especially one of Lady Clarissa’s standing, to engage in intercourse or romantic overtures with a man who was neither her intended nor her husband. With a sudden feeling of mischief, Colin thought of one way that he might be able to help Lady Clarissa learn about those sensations she was so desperate to describe.
Colin glanced at his aunt. She sat too far away to read his list; Colin was sure of that. So he wrote the name of the infamousVenus St. Clair, the pen name of an especially notorious poet who was known for describing amorous congress and other similar acts in shocking detail.
Colin doubted that Lady Clarissa had ever heard of the author; young women were not meant to be privy to such salacious works. He was sure thatthisyoung lady would find them especially enlightening, though, from a purely artistic perspective, of course.
He folded the list several times, making it small enough to be slipped unnoticed into the lady’s hand.
