Page 58 of The Spinster's Stolen Hear
Nathan stared into the depths of his tea.
“I think I’m in love with Pippa Randall,” he burst out.
There was a short silence.
I can’t believe I just said that. What was I thinking?
He glanced up, and found his mother staring at him, eyes round with shock.
“Well,” Rose managed. “I knew you were fond of her, but I never thought… heavens, Nathan, you are inlove?”
“I’ve never been in love before,” he mumbled, “but I think this is what it feels like. I… I can’t stop thinking about her. She’s intelligent, and amusing, and so very sincere that I only ever want to be entirely honest and frank with her. I long for her company. I replay our conversations over and over in my head, and I… I can’t bear the thought of her marrying Lord Barwick. Of course, I can’t bear the thought ofanyhapless young woman marrying Lord Barwick.”
Rose winced. “Indeed, that is quite a predicament. What you have described bears a striking resemblance to love, my dear. It makes sense that you cannot love Amanda, not when your heart is otherwise engaged. What do you intend to do, then?”
“Do?”
She smiled faintly. “Yes, dear. Do. Are you going to let your feelings eat you up from the inside, or do you plan to do something about it?”
He breathed in deeply. “Her engagement with Lord Barwick is not official.”
“No betrothal is official until it appears in theGazette. And no marriage begins until one’s vows are exchanged at the altar,” Rose remarked wisely, shooting him a glance.
Nathan swallowed thickly. “I do plan to speak to her. Tonight, if I can.”
She frowned. “Tonight? At a soiree, in full view of everyone? How on earth will you find the opportunity?”
He deflated a little. “I…I don’t know.”
“Really, you ought to speak to her mother first.”
Nathan let out a ragged sigh. “Lady Randall does not like me. I’d go so far as to say she despises me. She tries to keep her daughter away from me, as urgently as if I have the plague.”
Rose pursed her lips. “I think she has rather overestimated her daughter’s value on the marriage mart. Not to be impolite to Miss Randall, of course. She is pretty, and most charming, but those qualities matter little when compared to birth and wealth. Well, I shall not dissuade you from speaking to the girl yourself but do be careful. And don’t lose your nerve!”
Nathan gave a short laugh. Now that he’d decided what to do, he felt relieved, almost light-headed.
“Lose my nerve? Why, I won’t do that, Mother.”
She gave him a knowing look. “You think so? Braver men than you have said the same and been disappointed.”
“Well,Iwon’t,” Nathan insisted, although he was conscious of a stinging worry at his own confidence.
The least she can do is say no,he told himself.I’ll only tell her how I feel. And who knows where it might go?
Chapter Nineteen
Lavinia and William’s soiree was going very well, it seemed. There were plenty of people here, yet it was not the stifling crush that Pippa had grown used to in Society. The aim of her cousins was not, it seemed, to fill their homes with as many people as would come. No, their gatherings were smaller, quieter, and more select, and apparently that made members of Society all the more eager to attend.
Pippa was privately aware that an invitation to any Willenshire gathering was quite a sought-after thing. As a member of the family, she was, of course, invited by default, but it seemed that other members of Society resented her. She supposedtheydid not consider her as a proper part of the family. She was poor and friendless, after all, and did not even carry the Willenshire name. There had been a few resentful glances and pointed comments over the days leading up to the soiree.
Pippa had learned not to mind. There would always be people whodisapprovedof her, for one reason or another.
Her mother was the most recent addition to their ranks.
Things had been strained between Pippa and her mother of late, perhaps unsurprisingly. Conversation was limited to small talk and vague remarks when they were with others. When they were alone, they didn’t talk at all. The private parlour set aside for Bridget and Pippa’s use was never used at all and sat empty.
Indeed, things were difficult between them. Pippa was privately relieved that Lord Barwick and his hawkish mother were not at the soiree. Not only did it mean that she avoided his company, but Bridget also seemed to relax her guardianship.
