He could not be further from such a stance.
"I am looking forward to the dance. It has been many years, not since before my coming out, that I have attended such an event." The duchess’s words were warm at the memory.
"I saw Miss Eberhardt, Mama. She lives close by and will be attending the dance and calling on us the day after tomorrow." Victoria considered Albert a moment, and he fought not to fidget under her gaze. "She's a lovely woman of means and will do well as a wife. Although, since her papa is a widower, I think she would be happily settled if she were close by to her home."
Albert inwardly groaned, already foreshadowing where Victoria's thoughts were taking her and who she thought quite perfect for his future bride.
He did not comment on her words, not wanting to be rude, but Miss Eberhardt, no matter how aggregable, was not for him.
"Do you not concur, Lord Melvin?" Victoria asked him, her innocent smile hiding a devious matchmaking mind he did not particularly like.
"Miss Eberhardt is a kind, considerate woman. I wish her well with whomever she marries. I'm sure she will make him very happy." But it would not be him.
Victoria's eyes narrowed, and he ignored her ire, deciding this conversation was over, and the view outside the carriage window was much more to his liking.
Chapter 21
"What is wrong with Nancy, Albert? She is quite perfect for you. She is from Hampshire, her father lives close by, and she's an heiress. If one dare says it, I would suggest she is the answer to your prayers. You ought to court her at the forthcoming country dance, see if you have anything in common other than your wealth and similar upbringing. You may be pleasantly surprised and find you like her very much."
After finding him ensconced here after they had returned from the village, Victoria slumped down on the settee in Albert's library. He had been oddly quiet on the way back to Rosedale in the carriage, and even though she and her mama had kept the conversation going, she could not help but wonder if he was put out with her in some way.
He did not look up from where he sat at the desk, looking over a pile of letters and estate account books. She may be interrupting him, but she could not leave him now. Not when they were so close to finding him the perfect woman to fill the position of a wife in this beautiful house. He would be a fool indeed to let such a wonderful opportunity such as Nancy slip through his fingers.
Victoria did not know a nicer or sweeter-natured woman in London. Other than her sisters, of course.
He sighed, throwing the quill onto the ledger open before him with more force than necessary, spilling a little of the ink. "I have already stated I am not interested in Miss Eberhardt in a romantic sense. Had I been, with us living in such close proximity, I would have already courted her to see if she returned my affections, Victoria. Please know that I shall not be pursuing her."
Victoria came over to the desk, leaning against it. She narrowed her eyes on him, not understanding why he was such a pain about it all. "You wanted my help in finding you a wife. Of teaching you how to go about courting a lady and being less awkward and shy around them. You did very well this morning with Miss Eberhardt. You are improving daily. I do not understand what we're doing if you're not going to take my advice when a suitable lady steps before you."
He leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. She ignored the flutter the action made in her stomach or how ruggedly, flusteredly handsome he looked right at this moment. How could anyone not want to marry him?
Albert was a hidden gem among all the rough stones in society for all his nervousness around women.
Then why do you not have him for yourself?
Victoria thrust the thought aside. Her future was secure, set, and she had already started planning her first trip abroad. That travel did not include a husband and a gaggle of babies holding her back. Marriage was a mistake she would never make again.
"I do need your help in helping me navigate courtship with a woman. I did well today because I have known Miss Eberhardt for many years, and while I do not like her romantically, she is a friend. That is the only reason why I did so well. Place me in London, and you will see how awkward I still am."
Victoria wiggled to sit up on his desk, scrunching up some of the papers beneath her skirts. "Is there no one that you already know who you think will suit? You must be open to meeting new people, making connections for this to work."
"I am open to the possibility, but Miss Eberhardt is not one of them. I'm sorry to disappoint her if she harbors feelings for me. Mine are what they are, Victoria. You would not like to be forced toward a gentleman you only saw as your friend, would you not?"
"Well, no," she admitted.
"If I," he said, standing and coming to stand before her, "followed you about at every ball, forced my affections on you when you did not return them, you would dislike it very much. It is no different."
She supposed he had a point, but still, a small niggling worry kept poking at her mind that Albert viewed her as his future wife, the woman he wanted and he should not. Her heart was no longer capable of such trust, not with Albert or anyone. She thought she had known her late husband. She hadn’t known him
