The Nature of a Lady by Roseanna M. White

Author:Roseanna M. White [White, Roseanna M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Fiction;Love Stories;FIC042110;FIC042030;FIC027200
ISBN: 9781493431472
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2021-03-23T00:00:00+00:00

14

Try as Libby might to focus on the new list of Latin names that needed to be applied to her catalogue of flora for St. Mary’s, her gaze kept wandering away from her notebook and to the two envelopes resting on the table.

The first had been delivered yesterday afternoon by another anonymous chap asking for Elizabeth. They hadn’t opened it, tempted as Mabena had clearly been. They would wait for Oliver to arrive, which he ought to be doing any moment. The second had come in the morning post, and Mama’s familiar script had lured Libby into tearing it open straightaway.

She rather wished now that she’d held it for later. She’d expected her mother’s usual cheer, perhaps even a note of thanks for doing as she instructed and attending the Wights’ dinner party. She hadn’t expected the rebuke that kept battering now at her mind.

Did you truly only stay forty minutes, Libby? Mrs. Wight’s note sounded most distraught—she was afraid they had offended you somehow. Is that not exactly what I have warned you countless times will happen if you do not make an effort to engage with your peers? I know it is difficult for you. But you must try, dearest. For your own good, you must.

And while I know you will not want to hear this, I find myself compelled to say it: Perhaps you should seriously consider your brother’s arrangement with Lord Sheridan. I know you wanted the summer away so that he might “come to his senses” and argue with Bram—but I do secretly hope that instead, you will give it some thought and come home in September ready to make the betrothal official. For all your clashes, Sheridan would not mind your eccentricities. He would indulge your preference for country life. He would respect you. I can think of no better match for you, dearest.

No better match? Libby gripped her pencil with far too much force. How could her own mother think that? Did she deserve—could she hope for—no better than a man who would simply tolerate her for his friend’s sake?

She squeezed her eyes shut. What would she do if Sheridan didn’t object? If she went home at the end of summer and the situation was exactly how she’d left it? No, if it was worse. By then, Bram and Sheridan could have spoken to far too many people about their ridiculous agreement. And how in the world would she muster the gumption to argue with everyone?

Darling leapt onto the table, batted at the envelope for Beth, and gave a loud meow when Libby picked him up and deposited him back on the floor. Even she had her limits, and kittens on the same surface where she ate pushed beyond them.

As did mothers suddenly taking the side of brothers. But how could she resolve that one?

The knock at the door interrupted those morose thoughts, and she jumped to her feet even as she called out, “Come in!”

Most of the gentlemen she knew would still

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