Free The Baron and the Bluestocking by G. G. Vandagriff Page B

my acquaintance. And I believe Miss Woolstonecraft to have been right about a women’s sensibility. That is the very quality which makes the duchess’s novels so brilliant.”
    “Lord Shrewsbury is a very great fan of your wife’s, I believe.”
    “Is he? I did not know that.”
    “He also reads Miss Austen.”
    “Ah, the brilliant Miss Austen! My wife longs to meet her, but alas, the woman lives very retired.” The duke finished his soup. “Do you know, I think a very interesting discussion could be had this evening about the education of women and why it may be the saving grace of our society.”
    “Your grace! You astonish me!”
    “My wife saved me from profound melancholy following the war. I am afraid I was a sad case. But her sensitivity and, indeed, her good sense, gave me an outlet for my grief. She founded a soup kitchen for wounded soldiers in the East End. It was just the thing to give purpose to my life. Other good things arose out of that service.”
    A footman served their turbot. “She is quite a woman, my Elise. She thinks very highly of you, incidentally.”
    “I am flattered.” She contemplated the salt dish, thinking of her speech. “And you should really like me to discuss the civilizing effects that the education of women can provide for men? This evening? Are you certain you are not setting me up for ridicule? Will it not put people off? Particularly the men?”
    “That will be half the fun!” the duke said with a wide grin. “Come! Show us the courage of your convictions. I am convinced you are always ready to enlighten others.”
    “Lord Shrewsbury says dogmatism is not an endearing quality.”
    “Ho! I’ll wager that was because you gave him a set down. Very sensitive he is, beneath his noble exterior.” He leaned closer and said in a soft voice, “Would you believe he has been pining for months over an unrequited love? Quite miserable, is our Christian.”
    Hélène felt dizzy for a moment as her impression of Lord Shrewsbury stood on its head. Sensitive? Unrequited love? “Not Lady Virginia?”
    “No. She is someone he is trying to fall in love with. I am afraid it does not look promising. But he is at the point where he thinks no female but his Sophie will do. Fortunately, she is, at this moment, in Venice with her beloved husband, Shrewsbury’s best friend. If she stays away long enough, perhaps Lady Virginia will stand a chance. I am looking forward to making her acquaintance.”
    This knowledge sat ill with Hélène’s fish. Raising her chin, she changed her mind about her speech. She had planned to placate her listeners by downplaying her radical ideas. But perhaps she would please the duke and discomfit Shrewsbury by putting the cat among the pigeons. It sounded very much as though the duchess might back her up.
    *~*~*
    The party moved to the music room with its raised dais as soon as the gentlemen had finished their port. Hélène mounted the platform and sat in a winged chair, trying to radiate the impression that speaking before groups of ton luminaries was something to which she was accustomed. She wore her school uniform of long-sleeved black serge with a starched white cotton collar.
    First Hélène gave a succinct account of the goals of the school. Then she talked about the progress they had made in a few short weeks. “We are training the girls to cleanliness, which was harder than we had imagined. After several weeks of nutritious food, their bodies are filling out and we are even able to see some pink cheeks bloom. They are making progress on their alphabet, which is the first step in their literacy training.”
    “What is the purpose of teaching them to read if they are only to become workers in the woolen trade?” a gentleman asked.
    “These are young women. In my view, women have a special place in society. Being literate will make their lives fuller and richer. They will be an asset in the community. And if, by chance, they should marry, they will