Page 15 of An Offer for a Spinster
She shot a quick glance at him. “What a refreshing outlook!”
He lifted an eyebrow. She was not looking at Lord Barwood now.
“Refreshing? How so? I was of the understanding that everybody reads and enjoys novels.”
“Oh, they do, make no mistake. However, it’s incrediblygaucheto admit that one likes novels. One must pretend to find them silly and over-dramatic. One must repudiate the sentiments and excess romance found in such books. One must pick apart the writing, and tear the plot to shreds, and claim that one found the heroine far too silly and nonsensical.”
She rolled her eyes, and Timothy found himself laughing.
“You speak from experience, I think.”
“I certainly do. Why must reading beimproving? Why can a person not read simply for enjoyment?”
“Ah, there we do not agree. I believe that all readingisimproving, regardless of the subject. I don’t believe a person can read a book and find themselves more foolish at the end of it. Enjoying a story is never a waste of time and being enthralled bya set of characters and a plot – no matter how ridiculous – will always be improving. In my opinion, that is.”
“Very cleverly put,” she laughed. “I’ll try and remember that next time somebody complains about my choice of novels. For such a quiet man, Mr. Rutherford, you have quite a way with words.”
To his horror, Timothy felt colour tinging his cheeks. Blushing like a schoolgirl, how ridiculous.
No,he thought, suppressing a smile despite it all.Blushing like a heroine.
“I take it you read novels yourself?” Lady Katherine asked.
“Oh, yes, although I haven’t read one in some time, I’m afraid. Not since Mrs. Radcliffe’s last publication.”
“Oh, I adore Mrs. Radcliffe. I read the last volume ofUdolphoin one sitting.”
“Goodness, how admirable.”
“For myself,” she said, reaching for her wine glass, “I have just finished the most wonderful novel. Perhaps you’ve heard of it –Rosalie’s Trials? I have just finished the second volume, and I simply cannot wait for the third. I wish the wretched author would release all the volumes at once.”
A tingle ran down Timothy’s spine. His hand shook where he held his soup spoon, and he laid it down so as not to disgrace himself.
“I’m familiar with the book,” he managed. “The third volume is coming along slowly, I’ve been told. You… you enjoyed it?”
“Enjoyed it? I adored it. Rosalie is exactly the sort of heroine every novel should have. I quite loved her. I cannot wait to find out what pickle she’ll get herself into next. The author is remarkably talented. L. Sterling, that is their name. It’s said to be a pseudonym, of course. I’ve read all of their novels.”
Timothy swallowed hard. “All of them? Even… evenMarianne? That was said to be something of a flop.”
“Oh, I don’t think so. It didn’t reach the same heights of success of Rosalie’s adventures, but it was a remarkable book, nonetheless. The first novel I read wasThe Lodger of Addam House, and the ending made me cry so hard I thought I should die.”
Timothy gave a nervous laugh. “I imagine the writer cried themselves, writing that ending.”
“I hope so, the wretch. You’ve read those books too, I take it?”
“I have read them all,” Timothy said, before he could think to make a more cautious answer. “I’ve read them all countless times, each and every one.”
She shifted in her seat to face him properly, her expression bright.
“It’s so good to find a fellow admirer of L. Sterling!”
He smiled weakly. “I’m not sureadmireris the word.”
Chapter Five
It was hard for Katherine not to let herself be swept away by excitement. Rules were rules, and she had to remain restrained and decorous at the dinner table, no matter how eager she was to talk about L. Sterling with Timothy. Who would have thought that quiet, sweet Timothy would have known so much of her favourite novels! The man had an almost encyclopedic knowledge of the characters, of the plots, of the themes that were explored!
The minutes slipped away, and the chatter and noise around them simply vanished.
