Read The Baron and the Bluestocking for Free Online Page B

rosebud mouth. Her hair was abundantly golden, and her hunter green and ivory striped gown revealed a pleasingly plump shape.
    “I am happy to make your acquaintance, my lord. Your mother has spoken much of you.”
    “How frightful for you,” Christian said.
    She laughed a laugh that was neither musical nor loud. Indeed, she seemed neither exceptional nor objectionable. A comfortable woman. Maybe that was what he needed.
    What a depressing thought. His mother had moved away, obviously leaving her seat on the sofa for him. Since it was expected of him, he sat next to the woman.
    “I understand you are opening a school for orphan girls,” she said. “Will you object if I say I find that quite noble?”
    “There are many patrons of the school. It is not my effort, alone. And I believe the teachers we have hired to be very fine.”
    They settled into a comfortable conversation about the objectives of the school. Christian found her to be intelligent but not a bluestocking by any means.
    She asked, “Are you musical, my lord?”
    “I do not play an instrument, but I enjoy music very much.” He wondered fleetingly whether his mother had mentioned Sophie to her.
    “I wonder if you would enjoy a musicale my mother is holding this evening? She has invited a soprano from the opera company visiting from Spain.”
    Soprano soloists were his least favorite musical performers. However, he said, “I would be delighted to come. Thank you for the invitation. Is my mother to attend?”
    He learned that she was and promised to accompany his parent. This having been settled, he rose and prepared to take his leave. “Until tonight, then, Lady Virginia.”
    She smiled. “Until tonight.”
    *~*~*
    The Mowbray Townhouse was tall and narrow, with a front garden showing off dozens of chrysanthemum plantings. His mother on his arm, Shrewsbury went through the open door and followed the other guests to a mirrored music room. Lady Virginia, in a gown of gold satin embroidered with multicolored wildflowers, floated forward to greet them. He realized that she was slightly taller than he had realized; her plumpness actually was quite pleasing.
    “Good evening, my lady, my lord.”
    “Thank you for inviting us, Ginny. I dearly love the opera,” his mother said.
    He nodded pleasantly and bowed over Lady Virginia’s hand.
    “I saved you some seats in the front row. I thought that the baron would appreciate the extra room.”
    “That was thoughtful. Thank you,” he said. Why did that gesture make him uncomfortable? It was thoughtful. He had uncommonly long legs.
    Their young hostess showed them their seats. She went off to greet others, but before the program began, Lady Virginia seated herself by his mother.
    The concert was more tedious than he had even imagined. The Spanish soprano was inclined to trills, which annoyed Christian. He could feel them running up and down his spine, and more than once, he shifted uncomfortably.
    When the interval arrived, he rose to his feet with alacrity. “Mother, Lady Virginia, I am going for refreshments. What shall I bring you?”
    “There is champagne,” their hostess said. “But I will get my own. I shall be mingling with the guests.”
    He gave her a smile and patted his mother’s shoulder. “Will you be all right for a moment, or would you rather accompany me?”
    “I think I shall wander about with Ginny. I will see you when the interval is over.”
    Christian watched them walk away. When they had disappeared in the crowd, he walked back the way he had entered and escaped through the front door. Standing on the front stoop, he took a deep lungful of air. That had been nearly intolerable. Why ever had he come this evening?
    Taking a cigar from his inner pocket, he lit it with a flint and stood smoking, trying to make his mind a blank. But Sophie entered there, as she often did. She was displeased by his behavior. Why was he so hard to impress where women were concerned? The woman his mother