“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?”
“That’s it, I’m afraid. Aside from acting dull and academic, I wanted to wear spectacles and a very unflattering gown this evening, but then my grandmother would have surely seen through my plan.” It made no sense, but she could not seem to stop herself from telling him any of this.
“Yes, I can see where that would make her suspicious. Still, I think it would be very difficult for you to conceal your beauty, Miss Armstrong. Even with spectacles.” His appreciative gaze caused her skin to tingle.
Caroline gently shook her head and protested, “Besides, I’m too old to interest anyone. I’m twenty-two already!” Why was she confiding in him? How did he make her feel so at ease? Yet it was good to share her feelings openly with someone. She had held the burden of too many secrets for far too long. What did it matter if she told a stranger anyway?
He grinned at her, feigning shock. “As old as twenty-two, are you?”
“Yes…I’m almost a spinster for certain. No one could possibly be interested in me.”
“I think you would interest many young men in that ballroom, Miss Armstrong.”
Although the look he gave her caused her stomach to flutter, Caroline stated emphatically, “Well, Mr. Woodward, I can assure you that I have no interest in marrying anyone in that ballroom.”
“Aha!” he declared in triumph, eyeing her keenly, challenging her. “Then it’s just this particular ballroom that holds no interest for you.”
She scoffed at him, “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Now wait a minute, Little Miss I-Don’t-Want-a-Husband. I think we have just come to the real reason that you say you don’t want to have a Season. It’s not that you don’t wish to marry. It’s that you don’t wish to marry anyone here.” Alex grinned knowingly, like the cat that ate the canary. When she made no response to the contrary, he continued with his theory. “I believe that there is a someone. Someone who is not here, whom you are very interested in marrying. This would also explain your sadness this evening. Am I correct, Miss Armstrong?”
“No, Mr. Woodward, you are not correct. In fact, far from it.” She uttered the words coolly, belying the fact that she was a little unnerved that he had so nearly guessed her secret. He knew way too much about her already, and she couldn’t afford to divulge any more information. Instead she turned the tables on him. “Why are you here tonight, Mr. Woodward? Are you looking