A Study In Seduction

chapter Nineteen




The faint sound of hammers and saws echoed through St. Martin’s Hall and against the walls of the Society of Arts meeting room. Five men sat opposite Alexander at the council table, each reviewing papers and occasionally marking them with a pencil.

Alexander didn’t want to be here. Didn’t want to be back in London. A week after returning from Devon, he’d received notification about the Society of Arts’ urgent meeting. And he had a sinking feeling he already knew the reason for the council summons.

He fisted his hands on his knees as he waited for the Marquess of Hadley to speak.

“I’m afraid we’ve increasing cause for concern, Lord Northwood.” Hadley’s frown slashed across his face, wrinkled his forehead. He looked up from his notes. “You’ve two brothers still residing in St. Petersburg, do you not?”

“One.” I think. He didn’t know where Nicholas was, couldn’t remember the last time they’d received a letter from him. Alexander tried to keep his voice level. “I fail to see what this has to do with the exhibition.”

“Then you’d best look more closely, Lord Northwood.” Sir George Cooke thumped a fat finger on the table. “Your brother is considered an enemy of the state.”

“My brother is not a soldier, not in politics—”

“You think anyone cares what he does?” Lord Hadley asked. “We’ve already received numerous objections to the extent of the Russian display in the exhibition, and we’ve not even received most of the objects yet.”

Lord Wiltshire coughed. “And, forgive me, Lord Northwood, but no one has forgotten the unfortunate circumstances surrounding your mother and the divorce of your parents. Owing to your support and the strength of your work with the Society, we’ve been willing to overlook it up to this point, but I’m afraid the increasing hostilities with the Russian Empire force us to take it into account once again.”

Alexander’s back teeth snapped together. “What my mother has to do with—”

“Lord Northwood, please.” Sir George held up his hand. “You are not on trial. We are not asking you to defend yourself or your family. We are simply stating the facts, and I venture to suggest that even you yourself cannot disagree with them.”

Alexander sat back, detesting the helplessness that swamped his chest.

“There is a great deal of anti-Russian public sentiment in France,” Sir George continued, “and it is beginning to flourish here. We dare not risk causing tension with the French and other foreign commissioners to the exhibition by suggesting that we sympathize with the czar.”

“A despotic ruler, if ever there was one,” Lord Wiltshire added. “We must be united with our allies against him, Northwood, and in all areas of society. That’s really the crux of the matter.”

“And your own business of trading with Russia—fibers and such, isn’t it?—is also an issue, Northwood,” Sir George said. “It’s not been declared illegal, per se, but we can’t discount the possibility that it will be soon. Or at the very least that it will arouse public sentiment.”

“What would you have me do?” Alexander asked. “Remove the Russian display from the exhibit, limit trade with—”

“Lord Northwood, there’s not much you can do.” Faint sympathy glimmered in Hadley’s expression. He and Sir George exchanged glances. “We’ve got to… well, we’d need support of the union representatives and there are bylaws to consider, but I’d suggest you prepare yourself for the eventuality.”

Alexander’s fists tightened. “What eventuality?”

“I’m afraid we’ve little choice but to consider replacing you as director of the exhibition.”

Alexander stormed from the room. All the work he’d done for the Society, the exhibition, his family, his company… slipping like water from his fist. He let the door slam shut behind him as he strode into the exhibition space of St. Martin’s Hall.

Workers teemed through the great room like insects over a field. The hall itself, and the staircases, galleries, and passages, were crowded with tables, shelves, cases, and partitions to demarcate various displays. The air filled to the paneled ceiling with the sounds of shouting voices, hammers, the scrape and thump of crates.

His doing. None of this would have been possible if it weren’t for him, and now they could strip him of his duties as if—

Alexander stopped at the section devoted to the countries of Asia. Lydia stood near the China exhibit, her head bent as she examined a shelf of books. A surge of joy swelled beneath Alexander’s heart at the sight of her, diluting his anger.

Even with all the frustration she’d caused him, he could not deny the sheer pleasure he found in just looking at her. He had a constant longing to hear her voice, to feel her gaze on him, to bask in the warmth of her smile.

Christ in heaven.

He loved her. He wanted to marry Lydia because he loved her. He needed to marry her. He needed her.

He took a few breaths to calm his turmoil before approaching her. Talia and Castleford were also there, deep in conversation.

“Hullo, North.” Castleford lifted a hand in greeting. “We were just going over the final details here.”

Alexander kept his gaze on Lydia. An image of her flushed and naked beneath him flashed into his brain. He drew in another lungful of air and forced steadiness into his voice. “A pleasure to see you, Miss Kellaway.”

She smiled. His blood warmed.

“You as well, my lord,” she said. “I received word that several mathematical texts have arrived. You wanted my opinion on whether they should be included in the exhibition?”

Hell. Now Alexander didn’t even know how much longer the decisions would be his to make. He gave a short nod.

“If you would accompany me, please?” he asked.

Lydia stepped away from the exhibit, falling into pace with him as he walked toward the offices at the back of the hall.

“Er, is that Miss Kellaway?” A male voice interrupted them.

Alexander muttered an oath as Lydia turned to face the two men who were approaching. Alexander frowned, straightening his shoulders to convey an air of intimidation. It worked, as the two men stopped a distance away, their eyes going uncertainly from Lydia to Alexander.

She stepped forward with a delighted smile. “Lord Perry, Dr. Sigley, how wonderful and unexpected to see you here.”

Heartened by her enthusiasm, the men approached with their hands extended—the gesture being the only similarity in their respective appearances. One of the men was small and sprightly with inquisitive eyes that brought the image of Queen Victoria’s late pet spaniel, Dash, to mind. His shuffling, big-shouldered companion sported ears like Staffordshire oatcakes and a lackadaisical expression mitigated by keen dark eyes.

“And our utmost pleasure to see you, Miss Kellaway,” Dash the Spaniel said, grasping her hand in both of his and pumping it heartily.

“Yes, it’s been far too long since we’ve had the opportunity to match our wits with yours.” Oatcakes sidled between his companion and Lydia to take her hands.

Alexander cleared his throat. Lydia turned to him with a smile.

“Lord Northwood, these gentlemen are renowned mathematicians,” she said, gesturing to Dash. “This is Dr. Sigley, Fellow of the Royal Society of London and editor of the Cambridge and Dublin Mathematical Journal. And Lord Perry is a professor at King’s College whose election to the Society is expected this month. Isn’t that correct, my lord?”

“Indeed it is, Miss Kellaway. Thank you for remembering.”

“Of course. But what are you both doing here?”

“The committee in charge of collecting mathematical and scientific instruments asked us to be advisors,” Lord Perry said, scrutinizing her with the attentiveness of a jeweler examining a rare gem. “We’d hoped to call upon you for assistance, but knowing you prefer… er, that is, seeing as how you cherish your privacy… ah, in the sense that—”

“We know you prefer to avoid the recognition,” Dr. Sigley put in.

“Yes,” Perry agreed. “Much as recognition would like to cast its radiant light upon you, my dear Miss Kellaway.”

He and Sigley fell silent in a moment of reverent admiration. Alexander coughed.

“Forgive me, gentlemen.” Lydia turned to Alexander. “This is Alexander Hall, Viscount Northwood. He is the director of the exhibition.”

Alexander’s back teeth came together hard. He nodded. “Gentlemen.”

“My lord.” Perry shuffled his feet together, casting a glance at his companion. “Miss Kellaway, are you involved with the exhibition?”

“No, I’m just giving his lordship my opinion about several mathematical texts.”

“And will you attend the symposium week after next?” Sigley asked. “I received the paper you sent for review, the one about the rotation of a body around a fixed point. You claim it can be solved by six meromorphic functions of time?”

“Yes, provided all six have a positive radius of convergence and satisfy the Euler equations as well.”

“Genius,” Perry murmured. He grasped Lydia’s hand in both of his and spoke to Northwood while continuing to stare at her. “Lord Northwood, you’ve got a most extraordinary… Miss Kellaway is deeply admired. Very deeply admired.”

Sigley moved to ease Perry away from Lydia, who appeared amused rather than affronted by the man’s evident devotion.

“You’ve several fascinating ideas in your paper, Miss Kellaway,” Sigley agreed. “I’ve some questions about the integrals but need to study the equations a bit more. Perhaps we can discuss it further at the symposium?”

“Of course. I look forward to it.”

“As do I,” Sigley said. “Pleasure to see you again, and to meet you, my lord.”

“Yes, and… and we do hope that you will make yourself more… er, available to us in the future.” Perry gave an awkward little bow before he and Sigley moved off toward the display of mathematical instruments.

“What symposium?” Alexander asked.

“Oh.” Lydia waved a hand in dismissal as they left the great hall and went to an office at the back of the building. “One focusing on recent studies in mathematics. I received an invitation last month and accepted. I haven’t been to a symposium in an age, and I thought I might like to hear the latest theories.”

After picking up several books from the desk, she started to walk back to the corridor. He stepped in front of her and closed the door.

Lydia stopped. “Alexander?”

“Why haven’t you attended symposiums and such recently?” he asked.

“I don’t—”

“And why did both those men know you’d rather avoid recognition?”

“I just have something of a reputation for preferring to conduct my work in private. It doesn’t mean anything, Alexander. It’s just the way I am. How I’ve always been.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean, why?”

“Why is it that you, a woman with a mind even Euclid himself would admire, are so determined to be anonymous?” Frustration flashed through him at the notion that her talents had been muted… and he’d no idea why. “And don’t use Jane as an excuse. Why did you spend so many years pursuing mathematics if you intended to stop using your talents?”

Lydia pressed her lips together, a mixture of irritation and sadness flaring in her eyes. “I never intended to stop using my talents. Where mathematics is concerned, I’ve always wanted to contribute to its body of knowledge, to see my work published and debated, to write books, to study identities and equations. That’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”

“Prove it.”

“What?”

Alexander stepped closer, the urge inside him intensifying. He hated it, hated the idea that his brilliant, stunning Lydia had been locking herself away for years upon years, that she had been alone with her own thoughts, closed off from a community of academics who wanted her theories, her ideas, her intelligence.

“Deliver a talk for the educational exhibition lecture series,” Alexander said. “The topic will be your choice. Practical instruction in schools, use of the abacus, mathematics and science… I don’t care. Whatever you want. Whenever you want. But do it.”

She was so still that even the air around her seemed to stop moving. She clasped her hands in front of her, her blue eyes guarded.

“I—”

“Deliver a lecture,” Alexander interrupted, “and you will finally have the locket back.”

A smile ghosted her lips. “Another wager?”

“Not a wager. An agreement. The payment for your locket is one lecture. My final offer.”

“Alexander, I—”

“No.” He took two steps toward her and grasped her shoulders. “Do not tell me you can’t. That will be a lie. And we have no place for lies.”

To his shock, a flood of sudden tears swamped her eyes as her fingers curled around his arms. He loosened his grip on her, prepared to step back, but her hold on him tightened.

“Wait.” She swiped at her eyes with her sleeve. “Wait. Alexander, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“You needn’t be sorry, Lydia. You need only do what you were put on this earth to do.”

“You… you believe that?”

“Of course I believe it. You were meant to impart knowledge, Lydia. It’s why you were granted such intelligence.” His mouth twisted. “Though you might have suffered a lapse in said intelligence when you rejected my proposal.”

Lydia gave a watery laugh, but the sound was hollow. She moved closer to him, her grasp so tight that the warmth of her fingers, her palms, burned through his coat and shirt.

“I’m sorry, Alexander. Please believe it’s not… I didn’t decline because I don’t love you.”

Alexander’s breath stopped. He stared at Lydia, her blue eyes clear and direct, her cheeks flushed, the ends of her eyelashes still damp. His heart thumped, an odd, discordant beat that resonated with everything Lydia—her maddening, luscious presence in his life, her naked abandon, her crisp, fresh-pencil scent.

“Then why?” he asked, his voice tight.

She shook her head.

Frustration spiraled through him again, winding into his chest. “I will not tolerate this, Lydia. You have one more week.”

“This is not like solving a mathematical problem, Alexander.”

“Isn’t it? Aren’t you studying this sort of thing, figuring out equations to explain emotions? Love plus love equals marriage, doesn’t it?”

She drew in a sharp breath, a hard tremble racking her body. He tightened his grip on her, inhaled the perfume of her thick hair.

“Say yes,” he whispered, not knowing if he was referring to his marriage proposal or the lecture series, or both.

Lydia stiffened in his arms, her fingers clutching the lapels of his coat. “No.”

Something broke inside Alexander as that single word rose between them. His brother’s words from so many weeks ago echoed in his head.

Do whatever makes you happy. Oh, no, you’ll never do that, will you?

But Alexander had tried. God in heaven, he’d tried.

He let Lydia go as she pulled away from him. She went to collect the books, tucking them into the crook of her arm. He stared at her profile, the graceful curve of her cheek, and the way a loose tendril of hair spilled over her neck.

Determination swelled anew. He wasn’t finished yet. If Lydia still refused to recognize they were meant to be together, he would find another way to convince her. He needed an ally.