Her hazel eyes met his in a flash, and Patrick’s cheeks felt warmer. He glanced at Sir William, expecting him to show his displeasure, perhaps scold Mariah for disrupting the lecture.
Sir William snorted. “How ridiculous it all was! Why could they not have just left you alone, Mariah? To think that they would do such a foolish thing, and in a place of learning.”
It was the second time that evening that Patrick’s mouth dropped, and this time Mariah really did laugh.
“I quite agree,” she said with a smile, removing her spectacles and placing them in her reticule. “But then, not everyone is as an enlightened thinker as you and I, Sir William.”
“And what a shame,” Miss Herschel interjected. “When you were just about to expound on the refractile changes that have added to your seminal tome, Catalogue of One Thousand New Nebulae and Clusters of Stars, the most interesting part! Why, I do think the calculations most elegant, and most importantly, accurate.”
A log cracked in the silence of the room.
This evening was starting to become a lesson in hiding his true astonishment. Patrick stared between the two women, barely able to bite his tongue.
How in God’s name was he meant to understand all this? He would have expected such nonsense from Mariah, but from Miss Herschel, this mature woman who looked more like a mother of six than a woman of science?
A noise ended the silence—Mariah’s hearty giggles. She had drawn up her legs underneath her in the chair and was laughing fit to burst.
“I do not know what is so amusing,” Patrick said, more sharply than intended.
Mariah continued to laugh, and even Miss Herschel smiled. “You are not the first gentleman to be surprised I understand what a telescope is, my lord, but if you go to the Royal Astronomical Society, I think you will find that I am credited with the discovery of more than a dozen comets and nebula. In fact, I am the first woman in England honored with an official government position, and the first woman to be paid for her work in astronomy.”
“And I pray not the last,” Mariah added.
An unpleasant feeling sank into Patrick’s stomach. So, that was the real reason for his presence here. Not because he was an entertaining conversation partner, nor because he was witty, nor even for his title, something he had bemoaned at previous engagements.
No, Mariah had just brought him here to tease him. She wanted to prove to him that a woman could be educated, be a scientist. To demonstrate, in short, that it was possible for a woman to have some sort of intelligence.
Did she have no shame? Did she not see that this exposed not only himself but Miss Herschel, too?
As he thought of Miss Herschel, his gaze turned to her. She was examining him, making him feel strangely uncomfortable.
Before he could attempt to frame his discomfort, the door opened, and another woman with silver hair and a wide smile rescued him.
“Lord Donal, what an absolute pleasure!”
He rose hastily, utterly lost, and bowed.
“Please, do sit down,” she said, still smiling. “Welcome to our home.”
Patrick glanced at Sir William, attempting to follow this new development in the evening. Another sister, perhaps?
“Lord Donal, may I introduce my wife, Mary?” Sir William smiled. “Mary likes to…to potter, I think is the English term? She struggles to sit still for more than five minutes, a problem I have never had to face.”
Patrick’s face broke into a smile, partly in relief that there was some normality returning to their conversation.
“Lady Herschel, ’tis an honor to make your acquaintance,” he said gratefully, bowing once more. “And…and are you a scientist, too?”
Lady Herschel laughed. “Goodness, no! Please do sit down, my lord, ’tis nothing more tiring than standing on one’s feet. No, I ignore all of their scientific nonsense and just busy myself with the day, but I expect our table will be covered with it. Please, come through, dinner is served.”
She had bustled off before Patrick could do the honorable thing and offer her his arm, and by the time he had turned around, Sir William was already leading his sister out. Mariah rose slowly.
“I tell you truly, Lord Donal, I did not intend to put you on the spot quite as you have been this evening,” she said hesitantly. “I-I thought you would like to meet Sir William, after missing so much of his lecture.”
Patrick looked into those hazel eyes and smiled. It was difficult to presume guilt in a woman like Mariah. She was so open, so definite in her thoughts and ideas. If she had considered her behavior reprehensible, he had a feeling she would admit it.
He could almost feel the warmth of her, relaxed and surrounded by people she evidently was intimate with. Like a flower, she blossomed in their company as she never had done before. They accepted her interest in the sciences, evidently—probably encouraged her in the pursuit of knowledge.
“Shall…shall we go through?”
Patrick was startled out of his reverie and found he was still standing with Mariah in the drawing room, alone. “Yes. Yes, we should….”
Neither moved. Patrick leaned forward.
“Come on, you two, or William will have eaten all the potatoes!”
Lady Herschel had not entered the room, but her booming voice was enough to prevent Patrick from leaning any closer. Cheeks pink, Mariah stepped around him and left the room.
“—which is why I believe there must be more to discover!”
The soup and meat courses had flown by, and Patrick was now picking at some sort of German pudding, by the look of it, as Mariah completed her impassioned speech.
Sir William was frowning. “You seem very sure, my dear.”
“But it makes sense,” said Mariah emphatically. “Look at the calculations made not just by myself but by the two of you! The orbit of Uranus simply does not calculate accurately unless one considers the outside influence of another planet. Perhaps more!”
“You are discounting the probability of further comets,” interjected Miss Herschel, her eyes narrowed. “There is more than one thing which could affect a planet’s orbit.”
“Not to this extent. I am sure of it, and I am not the only one,” Mariah said breathlessly.
Patrick poked at the pudding and placed his spoon down. He could not eat, not while being so wonderfully entertained by Mariah. Her belief in further planets was nothing to the interest it stirred in him. The way she argued, the evidence she had accumulated…it was impossible not to feel a little impressed.
She was, as Miss Herschel was, a scientist. Despite himself and all he had previously argued, he was not foolish enough to deny it. There were certainly other women out there who desired to learn and not just to entertain with a sonata on the pianoforte.
“Do not worry yourself,” came a whisper from his left. It was Lady Herschel seated beside him, who was smiling. “If you cannot follow their nonsense, I would not worry. I can barely understand what they are talking about half the time.”
He smiled at her efforts to put him at ease. “I can understand the science itself, but I admit, I do struggle to understand the women.”
She laughed under her breath as the debate about additional planets continued. “When I married into this family, I had much unlearning of what I thought I knew. Women were quiet and obedient when I was a child, and yet Caroline has changed the world’s knowledge of science forever. Who am I to say that is wrong?”
Patrick nodded as Mariah’s voice went up an octave.
“—at least two others, not just one!”
“Now there I must disagree with you,” said Miss Herschel, laying down her own spoon. “My latest findings have suggested…”
His gaze moved back to Mariah. She sat at the end of the table, eyes bright, leaning forward eagerly, listening attentively to Miss Herschel. He had never seen her so vibrantly present in a room before. It could not be more evident that she had completely forgotten he was there; her attention was for the academic deba
te.
Which was a shame, for he could think of nothing but her. If they had been alone, he would have risen and pulled her into his arms, kissing her passionately.
When Mariah spoke about the stars, her already pretty face became truly handsome, the passion pouring through every part of her.
Patrick swallowed. He had to be careful. He was here as Sir William’s guest and was still in polite company. It would not do to completely lose his head.
Before he had realized what was happening, the dinner was over, the ladies had withdrawn, and he was left with Sir William in an ever-growing uncomfortable silence.
“You ever married, Lord Donal?”
Patrick jumped. “No, Sir William. I have never been married.”
Sir William nodded. “I thought as much. Sometimes I wonder why I bothered, but then I have Mary here. Caroline couldn’t be my only companion, and the Herschel line had to continue somehow.”
“You have children then, sir?” Patrick replied, attempting not to think about Mariah in the next room.
“A boy. Johan—John. Well, not a boy anymore, I suppose. Graduated Senior Wrangler at Cambridge, fool that he was, and is an astronomer with me now. He is visiting some of his friends this evening, or I would have the pleasure of introducing you.”
Patrick nodded mechanically.
Sir William leaned forward. “I say this, Lord Donal, for I am about to be impertinent.”
“Impertinent, sir?” he leaned forward to take a draught of port.
“Yes.” Sir William looked at him in the only way an elderly man could to a younger gentleman. “Lord Donal, I would be greatly pleased if Miss Mariah Wynn was to marry my boy.”
Port was sprayed across Herschel’s white linen.
“Have a care, man,” Sir William said lazily. “The wife will not thank you for ruining all them whites.”
“I do apologize, Sir William, and will apologize to Lady Herschel, of course,” Patrick said hastily, mind spinning. “Did…did you say Miss Mariah Wynn was to marry your son?”
His companion glared. “I did not. I said it would please me. Lord knows they have been introduced, and I have attempted to push both into it. But Miss Mariah has far too much sense. She has invited but few people to our home, and you are the first gentleman amongst them. Her father dead, her brother…well. So I ask you, man to man. What are your intentions?”
Patrick swallowed. This was not how he had expected this sleepy dinner to end. The elderly astronomer was still glaring, and there was no way of escaping the conversation without giving an answer first.
But what to say? What were his intentions? Did he even know?
Patrick coughed before he spoke. “To tell you the truth, Sir William, I barely know myself. I only had the honor of meeting Miss Ma–Wynn, a week or so ago. She has shocked and irritated and confused me, and I…I stole a kiss two days ago. What I intend, I am not entirely sure. But I can tell you now, I have only warm and good intentions.”
Even he could hear the stupidity in his own words, but Sir William appeared to be satisfied.
“Now, there is an honest response,” he said gruffly, clearly as uncomfortable. “You know I only ask, Lord Donal, for the girl has no father, and her brother is elsewhere. She is alone, but not unprotected.”
“I know that,” Patrick said quickly, “and I would do nothing to hurt her. She is…she is unique.”
A smile crept across the old man’s face. “Yes, I do believe she is. Now, you will have to excuse me, your lordship. I am old, and that permits me to be a little cantankerous. I am tired and wish to go to bed. Can you see yourself out?”
A little surprised at the rapidity of the end of the evening, Patrick rose hastily and bowed. “Of course, and thank you once again for the invitation.”
“I told you before, that was Mariah’s doing,” Sir William said, waving his hand. “But I do hope we will see you again. Now be off with you.”
Patrick found himself being pulled into his greatcoat by the butler within moments, and just as the front door was opened for his exit, the drawing room door also opened.
“Lord Donal. You are leaving?”
Mariah’s bright eyes were wide in the darkness, and Patrick found himself—was this embarrassment?
“She has invited but few people to our home, and you are the first gentleman amongst them. So I ask you, man to man. What are your intentions?”
“Y-yes,” he managed. “Good evening, Miss Wynn.”
“Do not be ridiculous, I will leave with you,” she said smartly. “Good evening Lady Herschel, Miss Herschel,” she called behind her before saying, “Abrahms, my pelisse.”
The butler bowed and brought her pelisse around her shoulders.
Mariah smiled at Patrick. “Ready?”
The door was shut behind them before he had time to gather his thoughts. “You…you are leaving, too?”
“Of course, I cannot overstay my welcome,” she said as she stepped onto the pavement. “Was that not one of the best dinners you have ever had?”
There was a look of pure happiness on her face, and Patrick could not help but smile. “Yes, the beef was particularly good.”
Mariah smiled as they stepped along the street to his carriage. “You know what I meant. Ah, this is your carriage. Well, good evening, my lord.”
She started to walk away, and his heart started to sink.
“Do–do you not have a carriage?”
She stopped. “My lord, things cannot be so different in Ireland, surely? I am a woman, remember? I inherited nothing when my parents—my adopted parents—died. My brother covers my expenses, but that certainly does not stretch to a carriage. Good evening.”
Without waiting for a response, she turned and continued to walk down the street.
Patrick bit his lip. He was not ready for this night with Mariah to be over, and there seemed only two possibilities to prevent that. Offer her a ride home in his carriage, which would only extend their time together by about five minutes, or…
“Go home, Johnson,” he said to the carriage driver, who looked half-frozen.
“Very good, my lord,” said the grateful servant, touching his hat.
It took but a few moments to catch Mariah. “Adopted parents?”
There was that knowing smile again on her lips, but she hesitated before replying, “Yes, adopted. By the Wynns when I was six. I was a foundling and was being fostered by the vicar and his wife, but when they died of typhus, the Wynns decided to take me in.”
Patrick’s eyes widened. “There are not many who would have done such a thing. I am impressed by your parents.”
The smile on Mariah’s face turned bitter. “Yes, I am sure it was all very admirable. Except, when you are six years old, you are old enough to know you do not belong to anyone, and…some people…can choose to make that abundantly clear.”
Her voice had lost all the levity it had enjoyed with the Herschels, and instead, there was bitterness and pain.
Patrick swallowed. “Although you were adopted, that did not make you any less their daughter.”
Mariah’s bitter laugh echoed in the empty street. “That was true of my mother, who was a truly good woman, but I cannot in truth say the same about my father who was cruel, nor my brother who was at best dismissive.”
It was clear by the way she spoke that Mariah had not spoken of this with many people before—if anyone. Patrick kept quiet.
“Brothers and sisters do not always become the closest friends as adults, do they?” Mariah did not wait for a response. “I suppose I should consider myself fortunate we speak at all, and his marriage has certainly altered things. But still…to have no natural family, to have no confidantes, just friends who seem to flicker in and out of your life depending on where you are living at the time… ’tis a lonely existence.”
Patrick found he had been holding his breath, barely allowing himself to breathe. That a woman such as she could feel alone. Such wit, such a warm character. What h
ope did he have to break through her adverse expectations of humanity?
“But, since my father’s death and my brother’s marriage, I have made peace with both,” said Mariah heartily.
His hand was right beside hers; if he reached out, he could take it, close the space between them, as surely as they both wanted. Wasn’t this why she was sharing more of herself with him? Was this not why she had rejected the carriage?
She stopped. She wanted him, wanted his embraces, his kisses. He leaned in to catch her lips, but Mariah took a step back.
“These–these are my rooms,” she said a little breathlessly.
Patrick stopped himself just in time. She had not halted to tempt him into an embrace, then. She had merely arrived home.
“I will see you again. Soon.” Kissing him on the cheek so swiftly that he did not have the presence of mind to capture her in his arms, she was gone. The door closed behind her.
Patrick swallowed and looked up at the stars, twinkling in the hazy gloom of night. He did not think he would ever be able to look at them again in the same way. Not after tonight.
Chapter Seven
No matter what she did, Mariah could not remove a crease in her gown. There it was, stubborn against her fingertips, and she only desisted when a student in his flowing gown passed her with a grin.
A lady. A lady in Wessex College, standing here like a fool. She was foolish to attempt this, to think it would work.
Sunlight was falling through the quad, but she shivered. This was bold, even for her. But once the thought had occurred to her, there was no chance of leaving it alone.
She would never forgive herself if she did not try. It was not just for her, though she hoped beyond all hope, she would benefit from her boldness. There were countless women who would thank her for taking this mortifying step. She had to do it for them.
Mariah smiled at the memory of the dinner with the Herschels just a few days ago. Sir William, Lady Herschel, Miss Herschel; none of them had been particularly enamored with the idea of bringing another into their circle, but Patrick had changed their opinions.
Always the Bluestocking Page 7