difficult to imagine that a young lady such as yourself has no interest in getting married.”
“Then you obviously have a very poor imagination.”
He laughed out loud at that. An appreciative laugh, deep and full of mirth. Then, with an intense stare, he questioned her. “Why are you having a Season then, Miss Armstrong, if not to look for a husband?”
“Because my grandmother expects me to.” The truth was out of Caroline’s mouth before she could consider what she was saying. It was a relief to finally be honest about how she felt. Even to a complete stranger. And a very handsome stranger at that. “She, along with everyone else in society, seems to think that it is of the utmost importance for me to get married as quickly as possible.”
“You don’t agree with that sentiment?”
“Not particularly, no.”
“What if a suitable young man offers for you? What will you do then?”
“That won’t happen because I shall not encourage anyone. I’ll be a bluestocking, deadly dull, a boring old spinster.” Now she had confessed her plan to him. What was she thinking?
“I don’t think you could convince anyone that you are a boring old spinster.”
“My, but you are full of opinions, Mr. Woodward.”
“As are you, Miss Armstrong. But I stand by my opinion that you couldn’t convince anyone that you are a boring old spinster. Not with your looks, anyway.” His eyes moved over her, and her cheeks warmed under his regard.
“You didn’t see me dance with Lord Kingston earlier. I think he found me most disagreeable.” She grinned in satisfaction at the memory of the repellant man scurrying away from her after their brief dance. “In fact, I’m positive he did.”
“Arthur Kingston?” Alex muttered in disgust, his dark brows creasing into a frown. “I should say you would want to stay away from that lame excuse of a man. Though I cannot imagine he let you go so easily. How did you manage to escape?”
She gave him a superior glance. “Listen.” He watched with interest as she screwed up her face in a surprisingly sour expression, affected a high-pitched nasal voice, and said with great condescension, “I couldn’t possibly marry anyone who isn’t able to quote Plato’s Republic or Sophocles’s Antigone.” She topped that off with a sentence in Greek.
“Quite an unattractive little voice you have there,” he quipped.
She laughed and resumed speaking in her natural voice. “That’s what I was hoping for. Anytime Lord Kingston asked me a question, I answered him in Greek. I’m not sure if he even understood what I was saying, but he looked utterly horrified. He couldn’t leave me fast enough when the music stopped. Coughing in his face probably scared him off as well.”
“You coughed in his face?” he asked in astonishment, pushing himself from his casual position at the railing to stare at her.
Caroline nodded with an exhilarated grin. “It would be rather frowned upon by the etiquette books.”
“I should say so.”
“I thought it quite inspired.”
“If anyone deserves that kind of treatment, it’s definitely Arthur Kingston. That’s the best bit of news I’ve heard all day. I admire your spirit.”
An unexpected thrill coursed through her at his compliment. “Thank you.” She went on to explain with an air of satisfaction, “I am sure by now the word is out that I am an original bluestocking and terribly ill-mannered and no one will want me.”
“That point is still debatable,” he said, eyeing her carefully.
Once again her cheeks grew warm, and she glanced away, suddenly shy. There was a brief moment of silence between them.
“You actually told him that he disgusts you?” Alex asked with quiet deliberation.
“You understand Greek?” The surprise registered on her face. She had not expected this from him.
“Yes, I happen to know some Greek, among other languages. And it is obvious that you are very well educated.” Alex paused deliberately and gave her a teasing look. “For a female.”
She rose to the bait and frowned at him. “Yes, I am very well educated, as a female should be.”
“And how did you come upon this vast education, Miss Armstrong?”
“Unlike most people”—she tossed him a disdainful glance—“my father was an enlightened and unprejudiced man who believed in educating women. He taught me everything he knew. History, literature, art, botany, astronomy, and philosophy. As well as Latin, French, Spanish, Italian, and of course Greek.” She couldn’t resist smiling proudly.
He gazed at her. “Appallingly few women are as well educated as you are, Miss Armstrong. I am very impressed. With you and your father.”
Rather taken aback by his reaction, she had the wind taken out of her sails for she had been prepared to spar with him over that point. To her immense surprise, she was again thrilled by his unexpected praise. Most men did not care for intelligent women. That fact was now her secret weapon against unwanted suitors. Arthur Kingston and two other gentlemen practically ran from her when she demonstrated her academic knowledge. It was oddly gratifying to learn that this man, this very handsome man, approved of her unusual education. Caroline murmured a simple, “Thank you.”
“Your father sounds like a man I would enjoy meeting.”
“Oh.” She hesitated. “My father…he passed away last fall. And my mother died when I was twelve.”
“I’m terribly sorry.” His voice was filled with genuine concern, and the teasing look that had been on his face earlier disappeared. For some reason, that touched her. “You have my deepest sympathies, Miss Armstrong. My own father passed away last summer.”
She sensed his emotion and looked up into his dark eyes, and her heart thudded in her chest. “I am sorry for your loss as well.”
“Thank you.”
Tearing her gaze from those dangerous eyes, she clarified, “I live with my grandmother now.”
“Ah yes.” He nodded his head in acknowledgment. “The grandmother who insists upon you having a Season.” His eyebrows arched with interest, and the tender, sad moment between them passed. “Why put yourself through all this nonsense? Why not simply tell your grandmother that you do not wish to marry?”
Caroline shook her head. “You don’t know my grandmother. She would never understand the fact that I don’t want to marry anyone. She means well, but she doesn’t quite approve of my ‘vast’ education. In her eyes, a young lady’s only goal in life is to secure a successful marriage to a suitable man. That is all she can envision for my future.”
“I see.” Alex folded his arms comfortably across his broad chest and leaned back against the railing in a relaxed pose. “I am very intrigued. Please tell me, Miss Armstrong, what other strategies do you have planned for ridding yourself of unwanted admirers?”
