Page 64 of One Bed for the Bluestocking
And so long as she and Nathaniel were together, everything would be right with the world.
Epilogue
It happened that Jasper was not willing to set Nathaniel up with a church living.
As the duke wrote to his soon-to-be brother-in-law:
Please do not mistake my refusal as a slight.It is born only out of affection for my sister-in-law.I think we will both agree that Kate would much rather be wed to a professor of natural history, and, furthermore, it seems that your talents would be much better utilized in such a role.It happens that I have been meaning to make an academic endowment of some sort.Therefore, a professor you shall be.
Within days, the University of Edinburgh was abuzz with gossip about a new professorship being endowed by an English duke, the Norwoodian Chair of Zoography.
The duke made it clear that his endowment of this professorship was contingent upon his candidate of choice being selected as the inaugural holder of the chair.He also made it clear that he did not give a single damn about the “petty gossip,” as he put it, sweeping the university.It was his money, and if they wanted it, they had better do precisely as he said.
As grateful as Nathaniel felt toward the duke, he confessed to Kate that it also made him feel ill at ease.He had wanted to feel that he had earned his way in the world and couldn’t help but question if there was any difference between living off a dowry provided by his brother-in-law and living off a professorship endowed by him.But it happened that the news broke one week after he published his paper on the golden eagles of Lewis, which was a spectacular success in spite of the scandal.As Nathaniel had hoped, an exhibition was planned in the Upper Museum for that autumn featuring his research alongside Kate’s paintings.
Before the next general council meeting, Principal Baird made a point to congratulate Nathaniel upon his appointment to the professorship.The principal commented that it had only been “a matter of time.”There was a bit of grumbling amongst those not fortunate enough to be betrothed to the sister-in-law of a duke.But the general consensus was that Nathaniel was a worthy addition to the university’s faculty, and that having an additional academic living available for men like them would benefit everyone.Andrew Thompson was genuinely happy for Nat and confessed that he was glad they would not be pitted against one another when Professor Kerr eventually stepped down.The consensus of his peers that he was worthy of the good fortune he had received went a long way toward assuaging Nat’s worries.
And so it was that on a sunny Thursday morning, Kate and Nathaniel married at Trinity College Church.Eleanor was unable to travel as she was with child, and Clarissa was off having adventures in parts unknown with her new husband, Rupert.But Great-Aunt Agatha was in attendance, along with Nat’s brother, Thomas, who came over from Glasgow for the happy occasion.Thomas and Andrew stood up with Nathaniel, and Arthur, Colin, and Roderick insisted upon standing up with Kate.
“We’re probably the ugliest bridesmaids the world has ever seen,” Roderick noted.
“But we are your friends,” Arthur added.And really, that was the only thing that mattered.
The vicar was unexpectedly detained, leaving the wedding party to wait for a half hour before the start of the ceremony.Kate, being Kate, had brought along a sketchpad.And so, she occupied herself sketching the church, the wedding party, and, of course, her handsome bridegroom.
One month later, when Kate and Nathaniel were free for the summer break, the newlyweds traveled to London so Nathaniel could meet his brother- and sisters-in-law.Clarissa and Rupert happened to be in Town, making it a proper reunion of the Weatherby sisters.
And so it came to pass that Kate found herself sitting on a white stone bench in the garden of Jasper’s palatial London townhouse, showing her sisters the sketches she had made just before her wedding.
“This one is Colin,” Kate explained.“And this is Arthur, and this is Roderick.”
“Arthur is quite handsome!”Clarissa exclaimed.She nudged her youngest sister with her elbow.“Don’t you think so, Pip?”
“Oh!”Pippa looked genuinely surprised.“I suppose he is.”
“And he probably has a Welsh accent,” Clarissa mused.“I find a Welsh accent tremendously appealing.”
Pippa shrugged.“I guess so.”
“Personally, I think Roderick is the dashing one,” Eleanor said.“There’s something about a man in a kilt, isn’t there?”
“Roderick will inherit his uncle’s estate one day,” Kate noted.“And, as budding naturalists, they’re all great lovers of animals.”This was a significant selling point where Pippa was concerned.She was a great lover of cats, and since coming to London, she had thrown herself into fundraising for a new organization called the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Pippa tilted her head, studying the drawing.“I’m sure they’re all wonderful young men.But I must confess, I don’t find any of them appealing in that particular way.”
Kate exchanged an uneasy look with her two elder sisters.“Pippa,” Clarissa said gently, “it isn’t like you to be so indifferent to a handsome man.”
Pippa shrugged again, but she didn’t say anything, nor did she meet their eyes.After a moment, Eleanor said, “It makes me wonder if you’re still pining after Felix.”
Felix St.James was the younger brother of Eleanor’s husband, Jasper.Last year, after their father had sold their house and the four sisters had been desperately trying to catch husbands, it had seemed like Pippa would be the one to rescue them from their predicament by bringing Felix up to scratch.But then, a young lady named Anna-Maria Robertson, who was hoping to marry Felix herself, had stolen Pippa’s journal and read a passage out of context that made it sound as if Pippa was only interested in Felix for his money.It was untrue, but Felix had fled the house party before the misunderstanding could be explained, and they hadn’t heard from him in some months.
Pippa lifted her chin.“I don’t know thatpiningis the word I would use.Although, if no young man has struck me as being as honorable, as kind, and as agreeable as Lord Felix, then surely it is understandable that, having experienced the depth of feelings that are possible with such a man, I would not be willing to settle for anything less.”
Kate took Pippa’s hand.“We just don’t want you to be disappointed if it turns out that Felix has changed his mind.”
“Don’t worry,” Pippa said breezily.“I am made of sterner stuff than that.”
Kate exchanged a look with Eleanor and Clarissa.Pippa was about as tough as cobwebs.But it did not seem that there was anything to be gained by arguing with her.
