Her Sudden Groom (4 page)

Alex didn’t know what that really meant. His younger sister had attended the best girls’ school in London and knew not a hint about science. “All right.” He nodded in contemplation. He walked across the library to where the science texts were kept and plucked down a few, then strode back over to her. “Here, study these and you’ll be allowed full membership.”

“
Excuse me?” she repeated, her voice a bit firmer this time.

Alex put the stack of heavy books down on the edge of the secretary. “All the gentlemen there like to discuss relevant topics in biology, specifically those which appear in a circular titled
Prominent and Avant-Garde Horticulture,
which long ago was informally nicknamed, by my own father, no less,
Popular Plants.
The most notable articles from that circular we discuss are written by a fellow named E. S. Wilson. Also, the other gentlemen all have had some sort of study in biology before. It would be best if you knew the basics. Then you can understand the articles we read and contribute to the discussions.”

She pushed the stack of books off the edge of the secretary, missing his toes by mere inches. “I don’t think so.”

“
I’m sorry, but that’s the way it is,” he said softly. “Everyone must have some basic knowledge of the subject.” As her eyes continued to spear him, he smiled. “Don’t worry, your examination won’t be too hard.”

“
You’re insufferable,” she muttered. “This is the reason your membership is down. You’re so selective about who you allow to join.” She shook her head. “If it’s not because they’re a lady, then it’s because they’ve not had proper schooling. Heaven forbid if they’re a lady who’s not had proper schooling. Then, Mr. Alex Banks, president-extraordinaire, gives them a giant stack of books to read, followed by an examination before they’re allowed to join. Good gracious.”

Put that way, he’d never been made to feel so ungentlemanly. “Forgive me. I didn’t mean to offend you. I was just trying to make sure you’d be able to contribute without embarrassing yourself by asking elementary questions.”

“
No need to worry,” she said, waving a hand. “I know as much about biology as any of the gentlemen there.”

“
All right,” he said hoarsely. “You may join.”

“
Free of a contingency?”

“
Of course. Although, I’d strongly suggest—Stop rolling your eyes, this is serious. You should probably start reading up on E. S. Wilson and his past articles. They’re all the rage in the world of biology just now.”

“
All right, I’ll read them,” she agreed. “Now let’s start thinking of how we’re going to increase the membership. One new member is not enough.”

Suppressing a groan, Alex plopped down in a nearby chair. Caroline might enjoy coming up with ways to gain new members into the
Society
, but he didn’t have time to worry about that. He needed to worry about finding a suitable bride, and soon.

Alex leaned his head back and closed his eyes, hoping it would help him think better to block out the lovely sight of Caroline.

After twenty minutes, he opened his eyes and glanced at her. She’d been writing nonstop since he’d sat down. “What are you writing?” he asked, resisting the urge to tease her about how the three sheets she’d scribbled across looked like the beginnings of a novel.

Her eyes looked up and held his gaze while the fingers of her left hand rubbed her right wrist. “Lists,” she said as if it explained everything.

“
Lists?”

“
Yes.” She picked up her papers and fanned them in front of him. “See, on this page I wrote our goal: increase membership of the
Society of Biological Matters
. But then on these, I’ve been coming up with ways to do that. Research, if you will.”

He blinked. She was taking this far too seriously. “Very well,” he croaked, ducking his head so she couldn’t see him smile at the absurdity of it all. Here he was trying to plan how to get a wife in the next few weeks, and she was dutifully jotting down all sorts of nonsense ways to increase membership into a society that didn’t lack members. Oh, the irony.

“
Are you going to help me?” she prodded.

“
How?” They were at cross purposes, and he’d rather brood about how to charm a young lady to be his wife rather than how to charm members.

She stared at him and twisted her lips in a way that shot straight to his groin, making him need to look away from her yet again. “I’m not going to do all of this for you,” she said, bringing his attention back to her.

“
Right-o.” An idea came to him. “May I have a quill and paper, too?”

A smile that could light up the room took her lips. “Of course.” She reached over and grabbed a few sheets of parchment and a quill, then set them down and moved her chair to the left. “Actually, why don’t you sit by me? We’ve only one pot of ink.”

He strolled over to where she was sitting and sat in a chair positioned so close to her that every time she moved, her arm brushed his. Though the gesture wasn’t overly erotic, it certainly caught his attention and made his skin prickle with awareness.

Dipping his quill in the ink, he positioned it over his paper and froze. His plan was to write down a list of possible brides. He couldn’t do that sitting so close to her. If she looked over and saw his list, she’d ask why he was writing down only female members of the
ton
. Well, that was one reason he couldn’t make his list, and the other—probably the bigger problem—was he hadn’t a clue who to write down.

“
Awfully busy over there, Alex,” she said after a few minutes. Her tone was light and he thought he glimpsed a little smile curving her lips.

“
Sorry,” he muttered, frowning down at his paper. It was still blank except for an ink spot the size of a half-penny that had formed where his quill had been posed to write for the past ten minutes. “I can’t think of what to write.”

“
You’re the one who asked for the paper. What had you thought to write?” She put her quill down and turned to look at him.

“
Names,” he said evasively.

“
Excellent idea! I’ve been thinking of
ways
to get members. I completely forgot
who,
specifically, we should be pursuing.”

“
I don’t know, either,” he admitted.

“
Clearly.” She tapped her finger on her lower lip in the most seductive way. “What about your friend, the Earl of Townson.”

Alex snorted. “I assure you, he’s not interested.”

“
You never know until you ask.” She picked up her quill again and continued writing.

He shook his head. He didn’t have to ask—he already knew. Andrew, Lord Townson had as much interest in biology as Alex did in knitting, none. Actually, that wasn’t true. Andrew had an interest in biology. The procreation sort, that is. Andrew married Brooke, Alex’s cousin, only two years ago and they were already nearing the arrival of their second child. Hell’s afire, at the rate those two were going, they would fill up Rockhurst in no time. Perhaps he did need to speak to Andrew. His friend might benefit from a candid discussion about how to control breeding.

Alex dashed Andrew’s name on the paper. Not only would seeing his name on the parchment remind him to speak to his friend, it would also appease Caroline to see at least one name on the list.

“
Thank goodness,” she mumbled. “You finally put a name down. Who is it?”

“
Andrew.” He rested the quill on the edge of the ink pot.

“
Who?”

“
Andrew Black, Lord Townson.” He tipped one shoulder up in a lopsided shrug. “I took your suggestion. You never know what results you’ll get until you speak to someone.”

“
Good. Now, come up with some other names.”

He leaned back in his chair. “I can’t.”

“
And why not?”

“
Everyone I know who is interested has already joined,” he said simply.

“
Not everyone,” she muttered.

He sighed. “I said I was sorry about that.”

“
It’s fine.” She flashed him a queer look. “Let’s speak of it no more.”

“
Agreed.”

He took a deep breath and nearly snapped his quill in half. Her hair smelled of lavender. He’d always claimed that scent could be a man’s undoing. And on her, he had no doubt it was truly possible. He inhaled again, letting the sweet aroma fill his nose. Perhaps his wife would smell good... He nearly snorted. He had only a month to find a wife. He didn’t have time to be too particular about what she smelled like. As long as she didn’t stink, she’d smell good enough for his purpose. Right now he just needed to think of one to pursue.

“
Which ladies are you thinking of?” Caroline asked a few minutes later.

He froze. Did she know he was thinking of suitable brides? “Pardon?”

“
Females who would like to join,” she explained. “Like me, surely there are others of the fairer sex who have been denied entry and would be delighted to join.”

She was onto something. “Good point. Do you know any ladies interested in science?”

“
How should I know? You’re the one who denied them membership,” she said with a shrug. “Who are they?”

Tightening his hands into fists so tightly his knuckles turned white, he said, “It was only you and your cousin I denied membership. No one else. Ever.”

“
I see,” she said slowly. “I suppose I would have been allowed to join had Olivia not wanted to as well?”

“
Probably.” He shot a rueful grin in her direction. “Guilty by association, I’m afraid.”

She rolled her eyes and muttered something under her breath he couldn’t make out. “All right. Enough said. What about Lady Almay and her daughter, Lady Lucinda? I’ve read they both enjoy visiting people’s gardens at parties and balls and such.”

“
Yes, yes.” He grabbed his quill and jotted down their names. Lady Almay and Lady Lucinda did both enjoy exploring everyone’s gardens. For different reasons of course. Lady Almay enjoyed the greenery and Lady Lucinda enjoyed the gentlemen in the gardens.

He tapped his quill on the paper again, letting his thoughts wander. If Lady Almay did have a true biological and scientific interest like he believed, and Lady Lucinda a minor one, then wouldn’t that also mean the younger sister might as well? Not that it really mattered at this point. He had to find someone—anyone—to marry, and if she liked science, it was only a boon. But it would help tremendously if she either liked science or had grown up hearing people talk of it. At least that way she’d know what to expect in a marriage with him. That’s what made Lady Lucinda and her sister so perfect—they’d both probably grown up hearing their mother discuss science.

He frowned down at the pen as he went to write Lady Lucinda’s sister’s name. What was her name? He was fairly certain it started with a C. But that was all he could remember. Was it Catherine? Caitlin? Christine? No, none of those seemed right. He looked at Caroline and shook his head. No, Lady Almay’s daughter wasn’t named Caroline, but she—the Caroline sitting next to him—would probably know. Dare he ask? No, better not. He wasn’t entirely certain of the age of Catherine, or Caitlin, or Christine, or whatever her name was, anyway. He suspected she’d be coming out this year, but he wasn’t positive and didn’t want to field questions from a curious Caroline.

Instead, he grabbed the quill and wrote a giant C then a few scribbles, followed by a T and a few more scribbles. That was close enough. He’d know who he was talking about.

He closed his eyes and listened to the clock on the wall ticking off the seconds mixed with the rhythmic scratches of Caroline’s quill. It was enough to put someone to sleep. So tranquil and quiet, with only a hint of soft noise. He rubbed his eyes. He needed to be thinking of possible brides, not the relaxing sounds of the room.