Read The Pursuit of Pleasure for Free Online Page A

seriously discommoded both Mama and Papa. And despite their philosophical differences, and despite the fact they often exasperated her, Lizzie was too fond of her parents to want that.
    She was especially fond of her mother, with all her charming, diverting eccentricities. Lizzie could not find it within her to see Mama made uncomfortable or unhappy by a ceremony that wasn’t all it ought to be. And if Jamie was in no great rush to be off to the other side of the world, then she could have no reasonable reason to press for expediency.
    Tomorrow would be soon enough. It would even give her an extra day with Jamie. The thought brought an agony of anticipation. Perhaps tomorrow there would be more kissing.
    Of course, Papa would insist on things being done properly, between gentlemen. He was particularly thunderous in his emphasis, as if he doubted Jamie’s right to the epithet. It was terribly, hopelessly old-fashioned, and nothing short of ridiculous. That Jamie was indisputably not only a gentleman, but also an officer of His Majesty’s Royal Navy, was obvious toanyone who had eyes and had read a Dartmouth newspaper within the past five years. But Papa chose to remain stubbornly oblivious.
    Papa also chose to insist upon speaking to each of them separately. He and Jamie were closeted up in his book room for the longest time, while she was sent away to the morning room with Mama, who went on happily about the necessity of lace and fresh bonnet ribbons for the wedding, glad to have both an occasion and an excuse to fuss.
    But Lizzie never could attend to matters of wardrobe with any real enthusiasm. She would much rather know what was being said in the book room. Her ears began to ring with the efforts of straining to hear any word from that direction.
    When she was finally called, she ran straight in to the mahogany-paneled room, looking for Jamie, who was nowhere to be seen.
    “What did he say? What did you say to him?”
    “Sit down, Elizabeth.” Her father sounded wearied, but still far from resigned to her marriage.
    But Lizzie had learned stubbornness at her father’s knee. “I’ll not be dissuaded, Papa.”
    “Now Elizabeth, I don’t like it.” He shook his head side to side like a stubborn bulldog, refusing to unlock his jaws.
    “Why? I thought you’d be pleased.” Indeed, this was not their first conversation on the worthiness of a proposed suitor, nor even their second. Papa had very easily entertained, and even promoted, previous offers from gentlemen of far lesser means than Jamie’s. She could not understand his objection to Jamie, nor the stubborn vehemence of his dislike, which bristled from him like the wayward strands of orange and white hair escaping in hostile abandon from his queue.
    “I don’t like it. I don’t like it at all,” he repeated.
    “Is it the money?” She had absolutely no reason to suspect Jamie’s fortune, nor his ownership of the house. Such facts were too easy for Squire Paxton to discover. Indeed, she had agreed to delay the wedding in part to allow her father to make his inquiries and put his misgivings to rest.
    Papa did not answer.
    “What specifically don’t you like?” she prompted.
    “We don’t know the man. We know nothing of his conduct.”
    “Papa, I’ve known him all my life.”
    “Not true a’tall, my girl,” he objected. “Haven’t heard a thing about him for—what is it? Eight years now?”
    “Ten, Papa. Obviously, he’s been in the navy. Fighting the wars. Advancing in his profession. He’s been promoted all the way to Post Captain at a young age. Surely that speaks for his conduct? Surely the confidence of the Admiralty is recommendation enough?”
    “But what of his means of achieving his ends? We know nothing of his conduct, his character.”
    “Papa.” Lizzie could hear exasperation creeping into her voice. “I know you read the newspapers. They were full of how he was cited by his commander for conspicuous bravery at Toulon, among