Free Heir to Greyladies by Anna Jacobs

young woman,’ his mother said when they were alone.
    ‘Thank goodness. Nor do I. Look, Mama … I don’t want to be paraded for inspection like this.’
    ‘No young man does, but it’s how our society works, matching young people into pairs, so that they can create new homes and families.’ She laid one hand over his. ‘There’s no reason you can’t marry too, Joseph, now that you’re so much better.’
    ‘Isn’t there? Did you see the revulsion on her face?’
    The silence told him his mother couldn’t find the words to deny that. In the end, she just repeated, ‘Well, I don’t like her, so she won’t do. But keep an open mind about others, hmm?’
    He had a sick certainty that she wasn’t going to stop till she found him a wife, and he was equally certain that only the most unappealing young women would even consider him.
    He did what he always did when upset, sought refuge in the library, which no one but him used.
    But he couldn’t settle to reading, or sketching, or doing anything, so he decided to have a chat with the young maid about her reading. Helping someone was a more positive way to spend time than moping about.
    He got up and pulled the bell, waiting by the fireplace for someone to answer. It was Mabel, who never allowed herself to get into conversation with him or any member of the family, so he merely said, ‘Would Mrs Stuart be free to speak to me for a few moments, do you think?’
    ‘I’ll go and see, sir.’
    The housekeeper was there within two minutes.
    ‘I hope I haven’t taken you away from something important, Mrs Stuart.’
    ‘Not at all.’
    ‘It’s about the maid who needs something to read. Would it be convenient to see her this afternoon?’
    ‘If you’re sure you have time, Mr Joseph.’
    ‘I can always make time to help a fellow reader.’ He moved too quickly and had to grab the bookshelf to steady himself.
    ‘Should you be standing up for so long, sir?’
    ‘Yes, I should. I need to move about in order to strengthen my muscles.’ He smiled at her and said coaxingly, ‘But we don’t need to tell my mother about me nearly falling just now, do we? She does worry so.’
    Mrs Stuart smiled back at him. ‘As you wish, sir. I’ll send Harriet down in a few minutes. How long do you need her for?’
    ‘An hour, maybe? I want to do this properly.’
    ‘Very well.’
    While he waited, he limped across to the shelves which contained his own additions to the family library and ran his fingers along them, pulling out books he thought might suit and clearing a shelf for them.
    Books. Was that all he would have to fill his life? His parents were very generous about buying him any book he fancied and two booksellers in London sent him lists every month. But collections of paper couldn’t replace real life and he was itching to do something more than sit and read.
    He’d tried writing a novel, but it was far harder than he’d expected and the result was dull and flat. He simply didn’t have a gift for storytelling. He’d tried doing research about the family history, thinking to compile a book about the Daltons, to be published privately, but that soon palled.They weren’t a very interesting family on either side. Minor gentry, some connections to commerce and the professions, no scandals that he could unearth. No achievements, either.
    He realised someone was tapping on the door, so called, ‘Come in.’
    Harriet stepped into the room, but stayed near the door, looking extremely nervous.
    ‘Please close the door and come over here.’ He wouldn’t put it past his mother to eavesdrop, just to make sure he wasn’t being treated disrespectfully. Harriet came closer and stood waiting.
    ‘Do sit down.’ When she hesitated, he said, ‘If you don’t sit, I have to look up at you and that makes my neck ache.’
    ‘Oh. Sorry, Mr Joseph.’ She pulled up a chair and sat down on the edge of it, looking ready to flee if he so much as twitched.
    ‘Tell me about the