My Fair Bluestocking by Nina Jarrett

Author:Nina Jarrett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Nina Jarrett

Trafford wavered on his feet as he completed his recital, throwing his arm around for emphasis and raining drops of wine onto Perry’s head in drunken enthusiasm. A couple of the men surrounding the table gave a halfhearted clap, to which Trafford took a bow and then collapsed heavily into his chair, which creaked in protest.

Perry stared into his own burgundy beverage, feeling miserable. Again. He wondered what Emma was doing right now.

As his cronies broke into an amicable argument about whose poetry was the best, Perry groaned. This evening was getting worse with every passing minute. If he could trust himself near the young woman, he would be at home enjoying her company. But he could not infect her with his dark offenses. Everything—everyone—he had ever touched had withered and died. It was why he smothered himself in glib relations with people who were not important. The only constant left in his life was his brother, who had somehow survived his association despite the stain of Perry’s presence.

He could not be responsible for destroying the light he perceived in Emma’s determined spirit, which meant he must stay away lest he steer her down dark paths. To repeat the mistake he had made ten years earlier with the woman from the village near Saunton Park would condemn his soul to hellfire.

His breathing cut off for a second as guilt hit him. Blast, stop thinking about that!

Brendan Ridley leaned forward to whisper, “Is it just me, or are these evenings becoming asinine of late?”

Perry huffed. “Perhaps. Or is it our own state of mind that is shifting?”

“Hmmm … I do not know, but after our carousing a couple nights ago, I felt wretched. I do not even recollect why I drank that much.”

Perry twisted his lips in regret. “I am afraid that may have been my fault. I was in a foul mood, and I encouraged several drinking games in a bid to drown my thoughts.”

Ridley pulled a face, clearly attempting to recall the details of that night as the lamplight glinted in his brandy eyes. A close friend of Richard since their days at Eton, he and Perry had become friends by default. Now they were related because Ridley’s sister had married their cousin, the Duke of Halmesbury, two years earlier. He was a good chap, despite his pursuit of shallow pastimes. Not that Perry was in a position to criticize him for that.

Running a hand through his chestnut hair, Ridley drew a breath. “Did we go to Balfour Terrace that night?”

“We did.”

“Blazes! The entire evening is a blur. I cannot recollect what we did there!”

“Not much. We were only there for a few minutes before we left.”

Perry grimaced when he was jostled by one of their companions standing up in a clumsy fashion to recite another—terrible—poem. When he looked back, he found Ridley looking perplexed and about to speak. “Why are you so maudlin, friend?”

“I am thinking about a woman.”

“Oh, I can help you with that. I ran into Lady Slight, and she was talking about you.

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