Rivals of Fortune / The Impetuous Heiress by Jane Ashford Page A

continued Joanna, thinking of Peter. “I have not traveled or done exciting things, as you have.”
    â€œTraveling is not everything. I believe I was told that your father had charge of your education. That must have been most interesting. What was your favorite study?”
    Joanna frowned. “None of them,” she almost snapped. “Why does everyone expect me to be a scholar, just because my father is? I am not.”
    He raised his eyebrows. “Does everyone? How clumsy of me. I apologize.”
    â€œOh, I didn’t mean, that is, you went to one of his meetings. You saw how it is.”
    Erland’s eyes danced. “How it is? I must have done, but I confess I’m not certain what you mean.”
    â€œDid you like the meeting?” said Joanna incredulously.
    â€œWell,” he replied wryly, “I fear I did. But they let me do a great deal of talking, you see, and that no doubt accounts for it.”
    The girl sighed and looked out over her horse’s head. “If that is the way of it, you will never understand. You will be just like Gerald.”
    Erland suppressed a smile. “How can you say so before you try me? I’m sure I am more understanding than, er, Gerald. That is your brother?”
    Joanna nodded. “Gerald thinks I am a simpleton.”
    â€œThen I protest absolutely your comparison. I think nothing of the kind.”
    Looking at him narrowly, Joanna saw no signs that he was mocking her. “It is hard to explain,” she said hesitantly.
    â€œPlease.”
    â€œWell, everyone admires my father so.”
    â€œCan you blame them? He strikes me as a brilliant man.”
    â€œOh, no,” answered Joanna quickly. “I admire him, too. I think he is wonderful. But I am not at all like him, you see, and when people expect me to be very learned and wise just because I am his daughter, well, it is vexatious, because I cannot. I never understand half of what Papa says, and no matter how hard I study, it is always so.” She looked dejected; she seemed to have almost forgotten her listener. “He is very disappointed in me.”
    â€œHe cannot have said so.”
    Joanna started. “Of course not,” she said hurriedly, shocked at her confidences.
    â€œAnd I am convinced he would never think so either. He seems singularly without prejudice in that regard. My mind is by no means as good as his, yet, he listened to my views with attention.”
    â€œOh, yes.” For some reason, Joanna felt impelled to add, “But you should hear him speak of Canon Weyland’s daughter. She is very learned; she reads Latin and Greek and probably lots of other languages as well.” Joanna sighed. “I hated Latin. Papa thinks she is a…a harbinger of the future.”
    â€œDoes he?” asked Erland. “How so?”
    Joanna wrinkled her nose. “Well, I do not understand it completely. But he believes that everyone should have all the education he wishes. I heard him tell Mr. Grant so. Georgiana wishes to go to school.”
    â€œAnd have you had all the education you wish?”
    â€œOh, yes,” said Joanna feelingly.
    â€œWell, then.” He smiled at her.
    The girl frowned, then nodded, but she looked unconvinced.
    Erland continued to smile as he watched her for a moment, then said, “You have brought me back past the Abbey. Remember, you promised to show me some pleasant rides.”
    Looking up, Joanna saw that they had indeed reached Erland Abbey. Its tumbledown stone wall ran along the right side of the road, and the great, rusted iron gates leaned just ahead. Joanna rode up to them and looked down the avenue to the house. The Abbey was built of brown stone and heavily overgrown with ivy. It was difficult to make out its outlines through the shrubbery and tall elms that lined the drive.
    â€œNot exactly a pretty sight, is it?” asked Jonathan Erland, who had stopped beside her. “My uncle