A False Proposal by Pam Mingle Page A

trying to converse with those two? Not that she disliked Jenny’s parent, but he never had much to say to her. She had no notion if this was because she was a female, and therefore he thought her unable to speak intelligently, or if he was simply a reserved gentleman.
    At least Cass now comprehended her lack of consequence in Adam’s eyes. It couldn’t have been plainer if he’d had one of the footmen announce it as they entered the room: The insignificant Miss Linford will be seated between a debauched rakehell and an insipid elderly man, whilst Lady Leonora and Miss Morgan will enjoy the company of their attractive, and most eligible, host. A wrenching hurt settled somewhere in her chest, and she decided to make no effort at conversation. Let them try to engage her.
    She cast a surreptitious glance at Hugh, the brother Adam so despised. On the way downstairs he’d been whispering some nonsensical joke in her ear, which she could barely hear, let alone comprehend.
    Her contemplation of Hugh ended when Adam rose. “I have an announcement to make. A few of you already know what I’m about to say. I’ve decided to stand for Parliament, as one of the Members from Haslemere, down in Surrey. My good friend, Viscount Linford, has agreed to use his influence to help me achieve that goal. Jack, I’ll try my best never to cause you to regret your decision.” He paused until the laughter died down.
    Cass was taken aback. When had this all been agreed upon? Why hadn’t Jack told her? The hurt in her chest notched up a level.
    Frederick Cochran raised his glass. “To Viscount Linford.” Obligingly, they all drank. “And to Adam for having the gumption to join the fray!”
    Leonora said, “And which party do you ally yourself with, Mr. Grey?”
    Adam took his seat. “To answer your question, Lady Leonora, I’m more inclined to be Tory, but of the liberal sort. I am hoping, perhaps naively, to remain an independent man.”
    When had Jack and Adam formed their little men’s club? Cass wondered. Both of them knew she had a keen interest in politics, yet neither had bothered to tell her any of this, to seek her opinion or ideas. It proved what she’d feared. She was on the shelf in more ways than one. She’d become irrelevant. Of course, she hadn’t exactly been encouraging when Adam first mentioned his interest in standing for Commons. Jack controlled one of the seats, but Cass knew he was well satisfied with Richard Halliwell, the current member. Sir William Broxton, a baronet who resided in the district, owned the other seat. If her recollection was accurate, his man had been serving a long time.
    Cass was aware of her own voice, although she certainly hadn’t intended to speak. “Tell us, Mr. Grey, do you favor female education? Or do you believe women must tend to home and hearth…oh, and keep their tongues?”
    A few titters sprang up, and Jenny’s father harrumphed beside her. “No need to educate our girls. Reading and writing, that’s all they need to know.” Though his own daughters had been well educated, tutored right alongside their brothers.
    Adam looked nonplussed. “I have some thoughts on that, of course, but come, let’s enjoy our meal and save politics for later.” When his eyes remained fixed on her, Cass knew he could not have missed the obvious reference to the hurtful comments he’d made at Linford House. Although she tried to hold his gaze, she was first to drop her eyes.
    The meal, served a la russe , proceeded. Cass remained determined to eat in self-imposed silence. She sipped distractedly at her turtle soup, because her mind was anything but silent. Straining to hear the conversation between Adam and Leonora, she nearly missed Hugh’s question.
    “May I ask, Miss Linford, why a lady so lovely and charming as yourself is as yet unmarried?”
    You may ask, and I may choose not to answer. Was that forever to be the first question on the mind of any new acquaintance she formed?