Chapter Twenty-Two
After Nora’s presentation was finished and she collected her notes and stepped away from the podium, she felt shaky as her body adjusted to the rush of adrenaline.
Members of the small audience, other scientists that had attended, all wanted to meet her.
She thanked the Society members and made sure to seek out Mr Collins.
‘Your presentation was informative. You did not disappoint, Lady Ralston,’ Collins said.
‘It was,’ Ralston said, as he approached them.
After chatting with Collins a few moments longer, Ralston led her away and she was able to speak freely. ‘How did I do?’
His grin made her lightheaded. ‘Your voice didn’t waver, and you concisely answered every question asked. I say we should celebrate! You barely ate this morning. Are you hungry?’
‘I was so nervous, I couldn’t eat. Now I’m starved!’
His arm around her waist felt right and good. ‘We are not far from Threadneedle Street and the Cock Tavern is known for its famous turtle soup.’
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘I’d like that.’
Before they could depart the building, Miss Lyons came up to them. ‘Pardon the interruption, but may I have a word alone with Lady Ralston?’
Nora looked at Ralston, and he nodded in encouragement. ‘Go on. I’ll wait in the carriage.’
‘Of course.’ Nora followed Miss Lyons to a separate antechamber. Two tables crammed the room, and books were scattered across the surfaces. A globe rested on a cabinet by the window.
Miss Lyons’s eyes looked as big as an owl’s behind her thick lenses. ‘I have heard many presentations during my eight years on the Society board. Your study of seashells was different.’
The woman was difficult to read, and Nora could not tell if the statement was complimentary or not.
‘An opportunity has arisen and, as a woman, I thought to offer it to you. We received a royal grant and three of us will be travelling to the Continent to meet and live with scientists in Venice to share our studies for a year. We would like you to join our contingent.’
Nora blinked. The opportunity to travel to the Continent and meet and gather with other like-minded scientists had been a dream. First, the offer to present to the Society. And now this. The lightheadedness she’d felt earlier returned with a rush.
‘I—’
Mrs Lyons raised a hand. ‘No need to decide now, Lady Ralston, but we will need an answer by the end of the month.’
Nora nodded. ‘Yes, thank you. Thank you!’
She met Ralston on the street waiting by their crested carriage. He looked at her expectantly. ‘Well? What did she say?’
A moment of hesitation made her freeze. Looking into her husband’s expectant gaze, her voice was trapped in her throat.
She couldn’t speak. The opportunity had been her professional goal for as long as she could remember, but things had swiftly changed.
She would have to leave Ralston for an entire year, even longer if one considered the travel time.
What she’d desired, longed for, suddenly did not hold the same appeal if it meant leaving him.
Even more confusing, she knew he would not stand in her way, and the decision was her own.
She was aware of Ralston watching her, waiting for her response. She opened her mouth, then shut it. When she finally spoke, the lie easily slipped from her lips. ‘She said she was particularly interested in my notes and asked to visit our home to see more.’
His grin enhanced his attractiveness. ‘See? I knew it. She was impressed. We must welcome her.’
A stabbing guilt pierced her chest. She wasn’t ready to reveal the truth, not until she could organize her thoughts. Only then could she tell him everything.
Deciding one’s future took immense effort.
It also resulted in much anxiety. After a quick meal, Nora waited until Ralston left to meet Lord Adler before she took herself to her science room.
Surrounded by her books, shells and microscope, she lowered her head to her hands and rubbed her temples.
She should be jubilant, thrilled, at the very least, feel a sense of accomplishment.
Instead, she was torn. Her life had taken an unexpected turn. She’d never wanted to marry and now she found that she liked her husband.
No, like was too weak a term.
She’d fallen deeply in love with him.
She looked forward to their time together, whether it was during breakfast or an evening meal in the dining room. He was clever and their conversations were never boring.
And their nights…
Never had she imagined such passion. Her skin heated thinking of their bouts of lovemaking. Still, one thing was missing. He had never proclaimed his love. She shouldn’t expect it. Their arrangement was based on their mutual convenience.
Love had never been a part of the bargain, and she’d been afraid to confess her feelings.
She reached for her notebook and dipped a quill in an inkwell.
She was a scientist and scientists based decisions on facts first. She would make a pros and cons list. It would help to settle her rioting emotions.
She also understood that she must organize her thoughts before she mentioned the offer to Ralston.
He would help her make a decision. She would never accept any offer without telling him.
At one point she’d been hopeful she could be with child. She’d always been regular and could anticipate her menses. If she were, it would make her decision easier. She would not travel and risk her pregnancy. As if to crush her hopes, her menses had come that morning.
Her fingers tightened on the quill. She had to begin somewhere. She drew a line down the center of the page and labeled ‘pros’ on the left and ‘cons’ on the right. She began on the left. She was up to seven bullet points when a loud rapping on her door disturbed her.
‘What is it?’
Mrs Hanning entered holding a paper in her hands. ‘Pardon my intrusion, my lady. One of the maids reads the gossip rags. I tell the staff not to read such nonsense, but nonetheless, they—’
Nora was confused by the housekeeper’s ramblings. Mrs Hanning was always composed and proper. ‘It’s all right. What do you have there?’ Her gaze went to the paper in her hand. The woman was holding it so tightly Nora was surprised it didn’t tear.
‘It’s the Tatler, my lady.’
Something about the way the housekeeper’s voice wavered made the hair on Nora’s nape rise. ‘What does it say?’
‘Your ladyship and his lordship.’ The housekeeper thrust it at her. ‘Again, I never pay much attention to Society gossip, but this may have consequences.’
Nora took the sheet from her. ‘Thank you for coming to me straightway.’
The housekeeper bobbed a curtsy and left. As she read the item, Nora felt ill.
The love story of Lord and Lady Ralston is a farce.
Turns out, their engagement came about when the lady was caught in his bed at a duchess’s house party in Cornwall.
The scandal was as scorching as the country heat.
One wonders, was the Earl forced to propose to prevent an epic scandal from ruining his growing influence in the House of Lords?
The paper dropped from her limp hands to flutter upon her desk.
A terrifying realization washed over her.
Would her mistake hurt Ralston’s political endeavors?
Could it damage what he held dear, his political career?
He was close, so close, to having his bill pass.
The gossipmongers would feast on the story.
If he lost after all his work, he might never forgive her.
Nora’s thoughts spun. How could she douse the fire before it consumed them? Who could help? She needed her own ally, someone with significance and influence in Society who could quell gossip or turn it in another direction.
Lady Weber.
She had grown closer to the lady after their private tea, and she sensed she would understand her predicament.
She also knew she would have to be honest. Lady Weber was no fool and if Nora wanted her help, she must be truthful.
Lady Weber was the most influential member of the beau monde she knew.
She held social power and the other ladies listened to her.
If she was on Nora’s side, then it would help with the gossip, maybe even turn it in her favor.
It was a risk, but one Nora was willing to take.
She would explain to Lady Weber how she had been desperate to get out of an unwanted betrothal to another man and that she wanted to be sure Ralston was not harmed by unnecessary gossip.
She would even tell her about her offer to travel abroad.
If leaving would help quell damaging gossip, then she would do what was necessary.
Nora stood and snatched her reticule from the table.
Rushing down the stairs, she didn’t bother to have a carriage brought around.
She hurried down the street and hailed a hackney.
She needed help and she would do whatever it took to get it.
With a bounce in his step, Ralston climbed the front steps into the coffee house. Within a week’s time, his bill would be up for a final vote in the House. Without the fierce opposition from Lord Weber and his contingent of opponents, he expected it to pass.
Adler was waiting for him at a table, a coffee sitting by his right hand. His friend’s expression was not friendly. ‘Ralston, what took you so long?’
‘Am I late?’ He didn’t think so. He pulled out a chair across from Adler and sat. What was bothering his friend?
‘The gossip rag, the Tatler, is ablaze about you and your wife.’
Ralston’s brow furrowed. ‘What?’ He noticed the paper at the table.
Adler held up the infamous gossip sheet. ‘It says your love match was not as loving as you let on but rather a necessity because you two were caught in flagrante at the Duchess of Everly’s house party in Cornwall.’
Ralston frowned. He was annoyed by it. ‘Christ! No one reads that trash. And it’s now over two months ago.’