Chapter Eight #2
“I actually have met Miss Stanhope,” he said congenially. “In fact, we danced the supper dance together at Lord and Lady Purlington’s ball.”
The viscount nodded. “That is good to know.” Then he frowned.
“Miss Stanhope has a notion of never wedding. I cannot say that I agree with it, and that is why Lady Pebble and I are happy that she agreed to attend this house party. We are hoping she will meet someone here and change her mind regarding marriage.”
“I know Miss Stanhope’s interests can lean to the intellectual. But that does not frighten me off, my lord.”
Lord Pebble gave him a warm smile. “That is very good to hear, Lord Marley.” He rose. “If you will excuse me, I have a few things I must attend to before the rest of our guests arrive.”
The viscount quit the room, and Con had an idea that he headed straight for his wife, ready to share the news that their new, uninvited guest not only knew Miss Stanhope, but that he had danced with her.
He went to the bookshelves and perused them, pulling out a copy of Gulliver’s Travels.
It had been the novel Miss Stanhope had discussed so eagerly with Val.
Con had since read it again, finding a copy of it in the Marleyfield library, even writing to Val to ask him to explain some of the symbolism found within it.
He was glad now that he had read the book because it would give him something to discuss with Miss Stanhope.
Returning the book to the shelf, he took a seat in a chair which overlooked the front drive of the house.
The view would allow him to see who was arriving.
He now had time to consider why he had gone to such great lengths to convince Lord Clay to step aside in order to allow Con to take his place at this house party.
His preference in women usually tended to small, petite blondes, though he had coupled with women of varying sizes and shades of hair color.
Miss Stanhope was very different from the type of woman he usually was attracted to.
She was very tall for a woman, only three or four inches beneath his six feet.
He had no idea of her figure because of the ill-fitting gowns she wore, and he was eager to explore what was beneath them.
She had a beautiful smile and the most expressive eyes he had ever seen.
He wondered why she wore spectacles. Some people donned them because they could not see things at a distance, while others could not read up close without them.
Since she had worn them at the Purlington ball, the former must be true.
Con supposed that Miss Stanhope wore them so she might see where she was going as well as being able to identify others when they approached her.
The fact she was a bluestocking did not chase him off. In fact, he had been the rare boy who had actually enjoyed school, especially history. Con wondered if that might be a subject Miss Stanhope was drawn to and hoped to learn of her preferences soon.
Con smiled, remembering her confession of having a sweet tooth.
It was a small thing to recall about her, but it endeared her to him even more.
Oh, how he wished Val was here so he might talk to his cousin about Miss Stanhope.
His cousin had been his closest friend throughout his entire life, and he had never thought to see Val in love.
Val had done so, falling head over heels for Eden, as she had for him.
Con wished to ask how Val had known Eden was the one for him.
Had it been at first sight? Was it as they began to get to know one another? Or had it been once they kissed?
All he knew was that he would have the opportunity to be in close quarters with Miss Stanhope for the next seven days.
A house party was managed differently than social affairs of the Season.
Though Con had never attended one, he had heard other men talking about them.
The rules of Polite Society seem to be relaxed at these country parties, and so he hoped to be able to spend time alone with Miss Stanhope.
And kiss her again.
He could not forget what had passed between them.
Being absent from her had only magnified the intensity of the memories of their kisses.
He did recall he had felt comfortable in her company, and she had seemed the same with him.
They had both shared very personal things about themselves, things he would never have considered telling another woman.
Also, Miss Stanhope had easily fit in with his family when they had joined them for the supper buffet.
Con could see her becoming a part of his family—and his life.
Avoiding house parties had been his rigid rule, simply because so many engagements came out of them.
He had not wanted to find a wife before claiming his title, but now that he held the earldom—and saw how happy various members of his family were in their marriages—he wanted the same for himself.
Miss Stanhope was different from any other woman he had ever met, and that is why he felt the need to be in her presence and get to know more about her.
Con told himself not to think of looking to make Miss Stanhope his wife, especially since Lord Pebble had told him outright that she had no desire to wed.
But if his attraction to her continued, he could very much see himself offering for her by the end of his time at Pebblestone.
He had always been a man up for a challenge—and now he faced the challenge of his life—getting a bluestocking who wished to avoid marriage to consider taking the plunge.
With him.