Page 28 of The Botanist’s Improper Bride

Bessie made a thoughtful sound as she unlaced Seraphina’s dress and helped her out of it. “There was something about the way he looked at you.”

Why did that send a delicious little thrill down her spine?

She slipped her arms through the sleeves of the new dress, and Bessie cinched it at the back. “Whatever he intended by his visit, I’ll find out soon enough.”

When she was properly attired, she went to her father’s office. The door was shut, so she knocked and waited for him to call for her to enter.

“Good day, Father,” she greeted.

He closed the ledger book in front of him and set it aside. “Hello, Seraphina. I understand from Smithers that you had a successful morning.”

“I did.” It was nice to know that at least someone was paying attention, even if it was the butler rather than her father. “Actually, that’s what I wanted to discuss with you. Lord Fitzgerald invited me to attend one of the presentations at the Royal Institution with him. May I accept the invitation?”

“Lord Fitzgerald?” His eyebrows shot up. “The Earl of Wembley’s son?”

“And heir.” Best to remind him of that.

His expression flickered as if several emotions were fighting for dominance. No doubt he was recalling the other times she’d asked if she might attend one of the demonstrations and how he’d never granted permission, considering it an unacceptable diversion for a young lady.

But Trevor had asked her to accompany him, and Trevor was a baron, someday to be an earl, which meant he couldn’t dismiss her request out of hand.

She held her breath, hoping he’d decide that pleasing a future earl would matter more to him than his preconceived notions about what women should and shouldn’t do.

“He called on you this morning?”

She nodded.

An uncharacteristically wide grin split his face. “He must intend to court you.”

Her breath caught. “Oh no, I—” She cut herself off. Arguing that she suspected he hadn’t realized how his actions might come across wouldn’t help her cause. “Perhaps you’re right. Lady Wembley certainly hasn’t been subtle with her hints that she’d like to see him settled.”

“You’d be the perfect choice. Yes,” he went on, clearly warming to the subject, “you’d be exactly the right wife to smooth over Lord Fitzgerald’s eccentricities.”

A muscle in her jaw ticked, and she wanted to protest that there was nothing wrong with Trevor’s “eccentricities,” as he called them, but he seemed more inclined to agree than she’d expected, and she didn’t want to ruin that. “So, I may go with him?”

“Indeed. I’ve heard the demonstrations attract the more sensible and serious members of the upper class. Provided you have a chaperone, you’re welcome to accept his invitation.”

She bobbed her head respectfully—mostly to hide her smile. “Thank you, Father. I’ll send a note to let him know.”

“Excellent.”

She started toward the door, but he called her name, and she turned back to him.

He gazed back intently, his features impossible to read once more. “This is a rare instance in which your bluestocking tendencies aren’t necessarily a hindrance. Lord Fitzgerald would make you a good match despite his oddness, but don’t forget that you have only a little over a week left to secure a betrothal, or I’ll accept Mr. Emerson’s offer. If Lord Fitzgerald is courting you in earnest, I suggest you encourage him to move swiftly.”

Her stomach lurched at the reminder of the ticking clock, and she swallowed, blinking rapidly to dispel the sudden prickle of tears in the backs of her eyes. “I understand.”

And that made her upcoming conversation with Letitia even more important. If Trevor truly didn’t mean to make it seem as if he might be courting her, then she’d have to choose one of her other would-be suitors and urge them to approach her father. There wasn’t a single one of them she wanted to marry, but surely one of them—if not all—would be better than Mr. Emerson.

Feeling a little unsteady, she stepped out of the office to find Mark lingering outside.

“Miss Carruthers is here to see you.”

“Thank you.”

Seraphina joined Letitia, and they headed immediately to her carriage, which was waiting outside. Seraphina’s emotions were in a riot, but she couldn’t afford to dawdle, so as soon as they were alone, she got to the point.

“I’m confused,” she said as soon as she sat beside Letitia, who wore a faded purple dress and had her hair pinned in a simple chignon.