Always Proper, Suddenly Scandalous (Scandalous Seasons #3)(31)

Lady Beatrice looked at Abigail and shook her head once; the meaning quite clear. Young ladies did not to discuss matters of business with gentleman.

Geoffrey wondered for a moment if Abigail intended to shift the conversation to more mundane matters such as the weather, and the latest soirees.

She tipped her chin up. “My father’s owns a line of clippers that run textiles down the Atlantic, to a chain of islands in the Caribbean waters.” She met his gaze squarely, as though she expected him to be scandalized by the mere mention of a gentleman dealing in trade.

“Ah, textiles have proven quite lucrative for me as well. Though a good deal of my business ventures are with India and in this part of the world.”

She stared at him, with wide, unblinking eyes. “You deal in trade?” she blurted.

He bit back a grin at having properly silenced the presumptuous, if endearing American miss.

“Abigail,” Beatrice said chidingly.

His lips twitched with mirth. It would appear Abigail neither knew, nor perhaps cared, about what constituted proper discourse among ladies and gentlemen.

Abigail ignored her cousin, and held Geoffrey’s gaze. “I shouldn’t expect that a proper English gentleman would deal in matters of business.”

“You would be wrong then, Miss Stone,” he murmured.

Polite Society did not approve of nobles who dabbled in trade.

What they did, approve of, however, were nobles in possession of outrageous amounts of wealth. And in spite, of Abigail’s rather low opinion and Society’s stringent expectations, Geoffrey had only expanded upon the mercantile empire built by his father.

Abigail opened her mouth to again speak, but Beatrice coughed discreetly into her hand, and those words went unspoken.

Geoffrey returned his attention to the lady he’d selected for his future viscountess, and he steered the discourse back to those topics she’d expressed an earlier interest in. “You care for matters of astronomy then, my lady. Is that something you’d like? To visit the Royal Astronomical Society?”

Lady Beatrice shook her head emphatically. “Oh, that wouldn’t be at all proper, my lord.”

Alas, Abigail would not allow him to remain focused upon Lady Beatrice.

“Whyever not?” Abigail interjected. “What harm is there in your visiting the Society?”

Lady Beatrice’s expression conveyed a blend of skepticism and horror.

Twin splotches of color filled Abigail’s cheeks, a deep red hue putting him mind of a succulent apple plucked from the tree. “Well, you can,” she said, a touch defensively, wholly unaware of Geoffrey’s desire for the summer fruit. She waved her hand. “Why, my father was born a servant. He worked in some fine lord’s household.”

“And then he fell in love with Aunt Margaret.” The whimsical quality to Lady Beatrice’s quiet utterance gave Geoffrey pause. With those few words, and wistful glimmer in her eyes, Geoffrey had his first indication that Lady Beatrice aspired for more than a cold, calculated wager between two suitable members of noble blood.

He shifted, uncomfortable by the sudden realization. He’d sought a match with Lady Beatrice who represented the practical choice. She possessed impeccable bloodlines and conducted herself with poise and grace amidst Society.

Now, she’d revealed herself given to more fancy than he’d ever considered.

Beatrice continued, seemingly unaware of Geoffrey’s turbulent thoughts. “Isn’t that true, Abigail? They have a great love, don’t they?”

“They do,” Abigail said softly.

Geoffrey’s jaw hardened. The love she spoke of had cost her mother the respectable place she’d held in Polite Society. She’d been forced to travel an ocean away to a foreign world and reestablish a life for herself…all because of love.

Lady Beatrice looked over at him and must have glimpsed something dark in his expression. “You disapprove of a marriage based on love, my lord?”

Again, Emma’s regal face flashed to mind. Since Abigail Stone had entered his life, all the old, ugly remembrances had resurfaced.

He detected the intent glimmer in the eyes of both ladies and Geoffrey knew whatever he next spoke would matter a great deal…it would seem, to both Abigail and Beatrice. “I believe there are great risks in making decisions based on emotion.”

Abigail’s body froze, like a deer caught in a snare, her eyes wide, unblinking.

Beatrice touched Abigail’s hand and the winsome American jumped. “Are you all right?”

“Fine,” Abigail said hurriedly, so that Geoffrey wondered as to her reaction.

Suddenly uncomfortable with the discussion on the sentiments of love, Geoffrey returned his attention to Beatrice. “What other lessons have you learned from Miss Stone?” From the corner of his eye he detected the slight tightening around the corners of Abigail’s lips.

Beatrice smiled. “Abigail has also begun teaching me about the stars.”

Geoffrey looped one ankle over the other, and looked to Abigail. “The stars?” he asked Beatrice, all the while directing his attention to Abigail Stone.

“She knows a good deal about Greek constellations.” Beatrice furrowed her brow. “Which did you say was your favorite myth, Abby?”

Abigail gave her head a slight shake.

Beatrice’s eyes lit, and she jabbed her finger in the air. “Ah, yes. The story of Dionysus.