Woodward coughed as his ears turned red. “Ah, no, my lord, I could not.”
He set the tray down on the sideboard, then bowed — but to Miss Keswick’s maid of all things. At the girl’s soft smile, suddenly it was clear. Oliver looked over to Miss Keswick, who was watching as well. She turned to him and quirked an eyebrow, as they both realized the same thing — that the maid and the butler were interested in one another.
Oliver could drown in Miss Keswick’s stare. She was not a beauty by any means, but her freckled face was endearing, and her pink lips stretched into such a wide smile that there would never be any fear of not knowing her true emotions.
Unlike Venetia. Oliver never had any idea what that woman was thinking. Not that he tried particularly hard. In fact, come to think of it, he never spent much time in conversation with her alone. There were always many other people about.
Venetia. The reason why he should not be here, thinking of how much another woman called to him.
“What do you think of this?” Celeste asked, startling him out of his reverie. She turned the paper around for him to look at, and he leaned over it, noting as he did that his butler was now in conversation with her maid, and neither was paying the least bit attention to them anymore.
She began to explain her calculation to him with more enthusiasm than most would deem mathematics warranted. He bent over the paper, and when he looked up to watch her speak, their faces were but a breath apart. He swallowed hard as her lips continued to move, she apparently still unaware of how close he was to leaning in and kissing her.
When she continued to move her pencil across the paper, his ungloved hand brushed against hers. He could never have imagined that a simple touch could send such a wave of heat through him, but she apparently felt it too, for her words suddenly came to a halt, and she looked up at him in turn.
He lifted a hand, about to brush it across her cheek, when suddenly a voice cut through the air.
“Lord Essex, what is going on here?”
Lord Essex crashed back into his chair as though he had been shot, and Celeste whipped around to see who had intruded on this moment — the moment when the man of her dreams was about to kiss her. When it had seemed as though the angels in heaven were playing a chorus of harps, telling her that all was right in the world. That there was someone who would want her despite her propensity for mathematics, knowledge, and the sky above. Who would overlook the fact that she was prone to flying over balconies and saying the entirely wrong thing at the wrong time. Who was attracted to her despite the fact that she was rather awkward and he looked the part of a proper English lord.
The woman who had interrupted them was everything Celeste was not. Her coloring was nearly as dark as Lord Essex’s, her suspicious, accusing eyes blue, her lips red and plump, her figure curvy in all of the right places, unlike Celeste’s own gangly build.
There was a pause for a moment, until it seemed that Lord Essex resigned himself to do what he must and make introductions.
“Lady Venetia, I am not sure if you have had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of Miss Keswick. Miss Keswick, Lady Venetia.”
Lady Venetia stared at him, as though she was willing him to say more,
“My—ah…” he looked from Celeste back to the woman, a pained expression crossing his face for a moment before he masked it, “my betrothed.”
Celeste could only stare at him as she lost all breath. It was like the time she had tried to climb the tree after her brother and had fallen from one of the low branches. All of the air had been knocked out of her and for a moment she had wondered if she would ever breathe again.
Lord Essex was engaged. But why would he not be? All of the reasons she had given herself for why he would never become enamored with her were the very reasons why another young woman — one such as this Lady Venetia — would be so well suited for him.
“Con-congratulations,” she finally managed with a smile. “I am so pleased for you. For both of you. And a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Venetia.”
“Likewise,” the woman murmured, looking Celeste up and down, as though questioning her choice of attire. Or perhaps she had sensed Celeste’s own interest in the man who was to become her husband. Celeste couldn’t be entirely sure. Though they had been in a somewhat compromising position. Celeste looked back to see that Sophia and Lord Essex’s butler were still in the room — thank goodness.
“Miss Keswick is the sister of one of my colleagues at the Astronomical Society,” Lord Essex began, apparently also assessing the woman’s desire for an explanation. “She was recommended to me as an assistant.”
Lady Venetia’s eyebrows rose so high that Celeste wondered if it was possible they could actually meet her hairline.
“An assistant?” she said in disbelief. “A woman?”
“Yes,” Lord Essex said with a nod, his jaw setting firmly, and Celeste could have kissed him for his apparent defense of her. Well, she could have kissed him no matter what, but it seemed that was no longer an option. “Miss Keswick is one of the most brilliant minds in London. She was just showing me her calculation of the distance between… Oh, never mind. I know you have no care for this, Venetia.”
“I wasn’t aware that you needed an assistant.”
“Nor was I,” said Lord Essex with a bit of a laugh. “But this should provide me with much more time to… well, to spend with you,” he said, and Celeste couldn’t be sure, but she thought his smile seemed forced. Or maybe she was just wishing that it was so.
“Well, at least now I see what kept your butler from announcing me,” Lady Venetia continued. “A maid finally answered my persistent knocking upon the door and then had no idea where you were. After quite some time waiting in your foyer, I told her that I would find you myself. This will, after all, be my home soon enough.”
Lord Essex nodded.
“Of course, Venetia.”
There was a pause, and it was as though they were all locked in a tableau, no one entirely sure what to say. Tension filled the air, and finally Celeste could stand it no longer.
“I best be going,” she said, rising, her chair scraping the floor as she pushed it back, and she nearly knocked it over in her haste. She managed to catch it just in time, though Lord Essex stood as though to help her. “Perhaps, Lord Essex, you could send a note round as to when you would require my assistance once more.”
“Very well. Thank you, Miss Keswick.”
Lady Venetia only pursed her lips and stared at Celeste as she hurried out of the room, Sophia following.
Celeste looked into her bag as the butler led them down the corridor, for she felt as though she had forgotten something. Then she realized what she had left behind.
Her heart.
7
“Well,” Venetia said as she walked into the room, undoing the ribbons of her bonnet as she took the seat Miss Keswick had previously occupied. Her maid trailed her and took up the seat across the room. It was as though the two women had just been exchanged, and Oliver knew he should be pleased to see his betrothed. Instead, however, he couldn’t help the melancholy that filled him knowing Miss Keswick was gone. She reminded him of a bright star who injected light wherever she went. Venetia… well, Venetia was more like a moon that orbited another planet. “She seems to be an interesting character.”
“That she is,” Oliver said carefully. He had been surprised when he had caught a glimpse of Miss Keswick’s face when he had introduced her to Venetia. She had seemed almost… crestfallen, he thought might be the word to describe it. It had taken him aback. While he had been fighting his own attraction toward her, he hadn’t taken the opportunity to realize that she might be feeling the same about him. He had been of the impression that he must ensure their relationship was strictly professional, whereas it seemed she was harboring feelings of her own. His pulse began to pound as he thought of it. The problem was, it didn’t matter how either of them felt — for he was spoken for.
; Then Venetia laughed, all of her previous tension dissipating. “Oh, Oliver, for a moment when I walked in, I thought that I had caught you in a compromising position with another woman. Then I saw her and was immediately relieved, for I knew that a man like you would never be with a woman like her. I should be displeased that you would hire a woman to be your assistant, but upon seeing her, I know I have nothing to fear.”
Oliver frowned. He should be pleased that Venetia was not opposed to Miss Keswick’s presence and that she didn’t harbor any ill feelings, and yet he was also not at all happy with his betrothed’s assessment of her. Just because a woman was not quite as polished as one such as Venetia did not mean she had nothing to offer.
“I am fortunate to have been told of Miss Keswick’s availability,” he said carefully. “She is one of the most intelligent people — man or woman — I have ever met.”
“I shall never understand women who choose to work in such fields,” said Venetia, and then she laughed again, “or who choose to work at all.”
“Some don’t have a choice.”
“I suppose that is true,” she said flippantly. “Well, since you now have an assistant who will ensure that you have additional time to yourself, what would you say about a turn through the park?”
Oliver tried not to wince outwardly, but he had no desire to accompany Venetia through Hyde Park. The truth was, he had no desire to accompany Venetia anywhere.
Which was a problem, as he was supposed to be spending the rest of his life with her.
“I actually still have quite a bit of work to do, Venetia, so perhaps—”
She raised an eyebrow. “Denying me again, Oliver?”
He sighed. “Fine. A quick turn about the park, and then I must finish a few things. Will that suffice?”
“Very well,” she said, standing. “Come,” she summoned her maid before holding out her arm, expecting Oliver to offer his. “Away we go.”
Oliver rubbed his temple with his other hand. This was not how he had expected his afternoon to go. He had been looking forward to spending time doing what he loved, with a woman he... admired? Instead, he was now going to be walking around the park, likely primarily for Venetia to show off her latest gown or parasol or bonnet or whatever it was she was currently the proudest of. He wouldn’t really know. He was not particularly fond of fashions and allowed his valet to choose what he wore each day. There were far more important things with which to be concerned. Like how he was going to calculate where to search for this mysterious planet. Whether his telescope was strong enough to see it. And if he could do it before another beat him to it.
There was one more thing that raced across his mind. A thought that had no place in being there.
When was he going to see Miss Keswick again?
“Tell me, Celeste, what did you find out today?” Nicholas greeted Celeste before she had taken three steps through the front door.
She cringed. She should have spent her carriage ride home deciding how she was going to convince her brother that there was nothing to tell. Instead, she had been alternatively daydreaming about Lord Essex and despairing of the fact that he was unavailable to her — for multiple reasons.
“Nothing,” she said, deciding to stay to the truth as close as she could. “I had hardly arrived when his betrothed came to visit.”
“His betrothed?” Nicholas raised his eyebrows as he rocked back on his heels. “Didn’t know the chap was set to marry.”
Neither did I. Had she known, it would have changed everything.
“Did he mention Georgium Sidus?”
“He did not.”
Which was somewhat true. She was the one who had brought it up and had done the calculations.
“Drat. I was hoping to get a lead. Did you get a glimpse of his telescope?”
“Just a small one in his study. Nicholas… I cannot spy on him. It isn’t right.”
“Celeste,” he said with exasperation, and she pursed her lips as she stared at him in displeasure. “It’s not spying. It’s… well, it’s all fair in this line of work. It happens all the time. There is nothing to feel guilty about. If you’re not there to spy, then you have no reason to be there, and I will speak with Mother and Father about it. Understood?”
She bit her lip, torn inside. She could never spy on Lord Essex, and yet she couldn’t help wanting an excuse to see him once more. She knew it was wrong — he was betrothed, for goodness sake — but perhaps she would go just once or twice more to spend time with him. Then he would be married, she would find an excuse to leave his employ, and she would have those memories with him forever while he moved on with his life. And if they discovered this new planet in the process? Even better.
“You must ask next time if he doesn’t offer it, understood?”
“Ask what?” she said, confused now.
“To use the telescope,” Nicholas said impatiently.
“Ah. Yes.”
“Celeste.”
“Oh, very well, Nicholas,” she said, shooting him a look of ire. “You know you are completely vexing, do you not?”
“Of course I do,” he said with a wink.
She rolled her eyes as she continued on her way, shaking her head as she went.
The afternoon was as horrific as Oliver had imagined it could be. He was paraded around like Venetia’s dog as she greeted one person after another. Hyde Park had been full of people who all simply wanted to be seen by each other — a waste of time, in his estimation.
“How was your walk?”
“Alice!” he exclaimed, jumping when his sister seemed to appear from nowhere. “You startled me. Where did you come from?
“The library. I’ve been waiting for you to return. How was Hyde Park?”
“How did you even know I was there?” he muttered.
She shrugged. “I hear things.”
“You listen by the doorknobs is more like it.”
“I admit nothing.” She lifted an eyebrow, still awaiting his answer.
“Hyde Park was Hyde Park. Same as always.”
Alice sighed. “Well, you may despair of it, but I look forward to the day when I am escorted around Hyde Park in the finest of wardrobes. How was Lady Venetia?”
“Lady Venetia was… Lady Venetia.”
“And how were the stars last night?”
“Oh, the sky was clear as could be. Siris shone as brilliantly as ever, and you could see Orion’s Belt so completely with the naked eye. It was actually quite wondrous, Alice, you should—”
He stopped when she began to laugh.
“I see your point,” he grumbled.
“Yes. You can wax on about the stars, but you have nothing to say about the woman you will marry except that she is who she is.”
He shrugged. “What would you like me to say?”
“Surely she has some admirable qualities.” His sister observed him with a glimmer in her eye, as though she could sense his true feelings.
He scratched his head, looking up and down the long room in hopes that someone — anyone — would appear and rescue him from this conversation, but it seemed he would not be so lucky.
“Venetia is beautiful, that is for certain,” he said, to which Alice nodded, though she waited for him to continue. “She is polished, which is to be expected for the daughter of a viscount. She is an extraordinary dancer.”
“You’ve said nothing of her character.”
“Oh, come off it, Alice,” he said, annoyed as he brushed past her. “I have no need to explain myself to you.”
She sighed, obviously purposefully so that he could hear it.
“I’m only ensuring you are going to be happy, that’s all,” she said. “I’m looking out for you. I know you love your work, but I hardly understand why you told Mother to choose a woman for you.”
He shrugged. “It was much easier than courting. I’m a thirty-two-year-old man, Alice. I can look out for myself, but thank you for your concern.” He paused, his thoughts moving to
when he would next need Celeste Keswick. “What’s the date today?”
“The date?” She wrinkled her nose.
“Yes.”
“It’s the eleventh of September.”
“Oh!” he brightened. “There’s a lunar eclipse tomorrow.”
“A lunar eclipse?”
“Yes. A penumbral one, but an eclipse nonetheless.”
“I am not going to pretend I know what that means.”
“I’ll explain it to you,” he said impatiently. “But first, I must do something.”
He had to make sure Miss Keswick would join him.
Celeste’s lips curled upward as she read the note in front of her. Lord Essex was requesting her to join him for the lunar eclipse. How splendid. She had already been planning to watch it, of course, but to watch it with him… She sighed. She would allow herself this little daydream, to pretend that he wanted her there because he enjoyed spending time with her, and not because he simply required her assistance.
“What are you smiling about?”
She looked up from the paper at her mother, who was sitting across the room. Celeste was well aware that her mother wanted only what was best for her, but she was in a somewhat curious position. They had the wealth of many noble families, but not the titles that accompanied them, which could mean a world of difference.
“Oh, just a reminder that the lunar eclipse is the following night.”
“Tomorrow?” her mother frowned. “I hope it shouldn’t take long. Our annual dance is shortly upon us. You will be prepared, will you not, Celeste? I know you don’t exactly have seasons such as other young women, but perhaps it will be the opportunity for you to come to better know some young gentlemen. It is time, you know.”
She sighed. “I am aware, Mother, for you have told me once or twice. I shall be there, not to worry.”
“I do not mean to nag you, darling. It is simply that I do not want you to be one of those women who has to rely on her brother for the rest of her life. It can become a difficult relationship.”
Discovering the Baron (The Bluestocking Scandals Book 3) Page 5
