Page 18 of A Hint of Scandal

He smiled, deciding to ignore her disclaimer of not wishing to garner romantic interest. “Is Miss Letitia likely to make a mistake, in your opinion?”

She pursed her lips. Was she hiding something? “Letty is very young and inexperienced, and a little willful and unwise.” She certainly sounded as though she were choosing her words with care. “She sometimes has been known to make the wrong decision. I don’t intend to allow her to choose a potential husband who will not suit her.”

The urge to cover her hand with his useless right one swept over him, an urge he’d never experienced before. Impossible, despite the longing. Instead, he squeezed her hand with his elbow. “And you consider yourself equipped to guide her?”

She peeped up at him, her gray eyes sharp. “I am no fool, Captain Aubrey, despite my lack of experience. But I am a full five years older than Letty, and I like to think with more calm commonsense than she will ever have. Fortunately, she has always looked to me for guidance, and I trust she will continue to do so in this matter. Her mother is keen for Letty to secure a husband with a title and money, whereas Letty and I have agreed that he must above all be kind—and also have at least some money. A title is immaterial to us. We have made a pact.”

He smiled, not at all sure this was going to be the success she anticipated. “A good idea. If it works. You seem so sensible, that I myself would value your assistance with Arabella. Her mother, whom I love dearly as a sister, has far less commonsense than you appear to possess. Although the fact that my own mother, the redoubtable dowager, has taken it upon herself to join us in Town is a comfort to me.”

They’d nearly reached the gates into the museum, and her footsteps slowed. Max looked down at her, a little puzzled. “Is there something amiss?”

She shook her head, letting her breath out on a sudden huff, as though she’d been holding it in. “Nothing at all. I’m just so excited that I’m about to enter a place I’ve longed to see. At last. I can’t tell you enough how much this pleases me.”

Nothing can rival causing someone else pure pleasure, and Max was not immune to the sense of satisfaction that crept over him at the sight of her face, shining with anticipation in the pale morning sun. As before, he was struck by how beautiful her happiness had rendered her. His heart, so long unused, had occasion to soar. He swallowed. Better not let her see the effect she was having on him, although, as he had to marry someone, why not a girl like this one? He shook himself. He mustn’t confuse the pity he was feeling for her circumstances with anything else. And besides, surely a young woman as sensible as she so obviously was would not want to ally herself with a man such as he was. Disabled by having only one arm of any use. He cleared his throat. “Is there anything in particular you would like to see first?”

She nodded with determination. “I should very much like to see the famous Rosetta Stone—from that same city in Egypt you told me you besieged. I believe it’s on display in the Townley Gallery amongst the other Egyptian antiquities the museum now possesses. That would be my dream come true. I’ve read everything I could find about it.”

He nodded, amused by her description of seeing an old, inscribed stone as being her dream come true. “I believe you’re correct in your assumption. But first we should look at the main part of the museum. The Townley Gallery is in a new wing to the rear.”

With her hand holding firmly to his arm, he led her through the gates into the museum’s spacious courtyard. At the far side, a wide flight of stone steps rose to the enormous front doors of the main building.

Serafina caught her breath as they stepped out of the shelter of the splendid gatehouse. Before her lay what remained of the original Montagu House, a vast brick and stone building stretching all the way across the far side of the courtyard. Down either side, lesser buildings ran that perhaps might be accommodation. The house itself, however, rose to four lofty stories, and was something in the way of French in architectural style. She’d never seen anything so big before. It made Milford House, that had belonged to her father and was now her brother’s seat, seem tiny.

Beside her, Captain Aubrey paused, an almost proprietorial smile on his handsome face. “I’m pleased to see it lives up to your expectations.” She couldn’t be certain, but he sounded as though, perhaps, he was enjoying this outing. That anyone, any man, that was, might do so while in her company astounded her. And that the man doing so was the most handsome man she’d ever set eyes on astounded her even further. She still couldn’t quite believe she was there with him. A warm sensation that had kindled in her very core tingled out to the extremities of her body. She resisted the impulse to jump for joy. He might have been startled.

Instead, she kept her reply businesslike. “It surpasses them. But what will really impress me will be the contents.” In truth, what was really impressing her was coming here with him, with her hand on his arm, feeling the muscles beneath his coat, and with his tall, masculine presence so close. But she wasn’t about to tell him that. How embarrassing it would be were he to divine the real reason for her delight. A man such as he could never be interested in such a plain little nonentity as she was.

She let him escort her across the large, square courtyard, where other people were already heading in the same direction as they were. Mostly men, in ones and twos, with very few ladies present. Of course, the British Museum had been founded fifty years ago to enhance learning and was intended for the perusal of scholars. Not many of those to be found amongst the fairer sex. Feeling a little like a pioneer, Serafina matched Max’s confident stride, her heart making leaps and bounds within the confines of her stays, and not just at the thought of seeing the Rosetta Stone.

Up the wide stone steps and through the front doors of the main building, and the captain steered her to the right, through an archway. Before her lay the most impressive staircase she’d ever seen, climbing with grace towards the first floor. But it was not the staircase that held her breathless. It was the sight of what stood at the top of the stairs.

Not one, not two, but three giraffes. A family group, perhaps. She recognized the exotic creatures from a book she’d found in Ogden’s library, a book that had once belonged to her father. One of eight books in a series, in fact—George Shaw’s General Zoology or Systematic Natural History. Books she’d devoured with fervor since her childhood, poring over the beautifully executed copper engravings of animals she’d never hoped to see.

She sighed. “I never thought to see a real giraffe in all my life.”

Captain Aubrey looked down at her with a far too attractive twinkle in his eye, and for a moment Serafina had a brief insight into why women were wont to swoon when faced with such masculine perfection. “I see your interests extend to the world of nature, and with that I can help you as well. Do you know of the Exeter Change at all?”

She shook her head, a little apologetic and humbled by her own lack of town polish. “I’m afraid I know nothing about London apart from a few details about this museum.”

“Then if Lady Gilbert will allow it, I’ll take you to see it one day. To see live animals, not stuffed ones. I think you might find it diverting. I haven’t been myself since I was a boy, and I’ve a hankering to see it again.”

If Araminta would allow it. That was the question. But wasn’t she a woman grown who’d passed her majority? Did Araminta have any right to stop her? Guilt that she was even considering this small rebellion washed over her. They’d not needed to take her in after her father died, but they had. She must be eternally grateful to them for that. And now they’d brought her to London, and she’d met Captain Aubrey. That in itself was something she should appreciate them for, rather than considering how to disobey them.

They were now continuing up the stairs, approaching the little family group of giraffes, that someone, somewhere, had lovingly stuffed. She couldn’t help but be impressed by their industry. They were huge. How did anyone go about stuffing something as big as that?

She came to a halt again, staring up at them. “Do they have giraffes at the Exeter Change?”

He smiled, and her heart did another painful leap. “Not as far as I know, as they are so tall and might not fit, but they do have an elephant, I hear. And a zebra and some big cats—at least one lion and a tiger.”

Good heavens. Was there no end to the wonders of London? “Then I should very much like to go. If, of course, my sister-in-law can spare me.”

That oh so charming smile again, that melted her heart to sticky goo. “Then we shall just have to make sure she does, won’t we? Come. Let’s go inside the first gallery and see what they have on show.”

Feeling like a princess, she let him lead her past the giraffes and through the large doorway into the body of the museum, Roberts still trailing behind them. This was going to be the best day of her life so far.