“Idiots, the lot of them,” Uncle Edward muttered.
“I beg your pardon?”
“I am so sorry, my dear. I had the highest hopes that you would find a match. Someone who would recognize your stellar qualities, who would hold you in esteem and affection. I am sorely disappointed in the gentlemen of theton.”
Ashley felt her throat constrict. He wasn’t the only one disappointed.
Uncle Edward interlaced his fingers on the ink blotter. “What third option have you devised?”
Ashley took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I wish to open my own school.”
* * *
She waited for his gasp of shock, for him to tell her what a crazy idea it was.
He leaned toward her. “Tell me more.”
Lovely, dear, open-minded Uncle Edward. “Let me invest the money set aside for my dowry to instead set up the school. Procure a location, furnish the facility, advertise to attract students, and hire staff. Mrs. Rafferty and some of the other staff from Madame Zavrina’s academy are not happy where they ended up or have not yet managed to secure a new position.” Ashley patted her stack of journals. “I spent most of my time at the school helping to run it. I took extensive notes. And Madame Zavrina was younger than I am now when she first opened the academy.” She folded her hands in her lap. “I was able to save much of my wages and have that money to invest.”
Uncle Edward listened without interrupting. What she proposed might seem unorthodox, but she was pitching her business idea to the man who had freed the slaves on his newly-inherited sugar plantation and then offered them paid employment. ‘Unconventional’ seemed to run in the family. Even if Edward wasn’t actually a blood relative.
“These are your plans?” He pointed at the loose papers on top of her journal.
She nodded and slid them across to him. He rang the bell, requested tea and biscuits, and they spent the afternoon discussing the school.
“Eunice will not be happy about your decision, at least not at first. However, I think we can bring her round to our way of thinking.” Uncle Edward refilled his teacup. “I’ll have my solicitor meet with us tomorrow. If you haven’t changed your mind—”
“I won’t.”
“—we’ll get him to draw up documents that will protect you, and me, and keep your cousin Niles or any other man from interfering in your business venture.”
Excitement bubbling up within her, they clinked teacups in a toast.
* * *
That night’s entertainment was a soirée at the home of Lord and Lady Oswego. As excited as Ashley was about her school and plans for it, she decided not to share the news just yet with Georgia or anyone else. Aunt Eunice had seemed near tears when she found out, though she admitted to the logic of the plan. She had also cast an aspersion or two upon the bachelors of theton.
At least two hundred people filled the ballroom. The floor was alternating black and white marble tiles, in squares large enough Lord Oswego was known to have his servants stand in costume so he could play life-size chess matches. Lady Oswego had hired musicians to play in the background as everyone circulated, chatting and drinking, while a group near the terrace doors indulged in country dances led by Lord and Lady Oswego themselves. Here and there around the perimeter, couches and chairs had been arranged in cozy conversational nooks.
“Let me know if you would like any introductions, my dear,” Uncle Edward said as they entered the ballroom. For the past six weeks this phrase had been his way to help her find a match. Tonight they were also looking for anyone who could help with making her school a reality. Especially those with daughters or nieces who would be of an age to benefit from a ladies’ academy.
Aunt Eunice’s gasp caught them both by surprise. “What is it, my dear?” Uncle Edward said.
Aunt Eunice snapped open her fan to cover the bottom half of her face as she turned her head and lowered her voice. “Don’t look now, but over by the pianoforte, isn’t that Alvanley and Pierrepoint?”
“How do you expect me to tell if you don’t want me to look?” Uncle Edward groused good-naturedly. He leaned to the right to see around some people, and quickly straightened. “By Jove, I think you’re right!”
Ashley popped up on her tiptoes to see over shoulders, hoping for a glimpse of Prinny’s famous friends.
“Do you think Alvanley’s fat friend is in attendance tonight?” Uncle Edward whispered with a broad grin.
Aunt Eunice smacked him with her fan. “Lady Oswego would be over the moon at such an exalted guest.”
“As crowded as it is, it would be easy for him to sneak in. But he doesn’t seem the type to ‘sneak’ anywhere. I think we would all be well aware if he were here.”
Giving up on trying to see the prince’s friends—or the prince himself—Ashley kissed Uncle Edward on the cheek and tilted her head in the direction of Georgia, who she saw was chatting with Mr. Westbrook. “I’m just going to visit with my friend,” she said.
“Have fun, dear,” Aunt Eunice said.
