“Thank you.”
Mr. Barrington looked decidedly less amused. “This symposium is restricted to members of the Royal Geological Society and their guests. And as membership is restricted to gentlemen, so this door is barred to you.”
“Come now.” Colin intervened. She recognized him bringing forth his most commanding, lordly tone. “We can settle this some other way, surely. I happen to be rather fond of joining clubs. Now, what must a man do to become a member of your Society?”
“There’s a lengthy application process. A letter of inquiry must be made, including a personal statement of research interests and any relevant publications. References must be provided—three, at the minimum, and no more than—”
“Yes, yes. Here’s my application, if you’d be so good as to take dictation. I’m Colin Frederick Sandhurst, Viscount Payne. As for geological interests, I’m told my estate sits atop the largest vein of usable granite in all Northumberland. For references, I name my cousin, Lord General Victor Bramwell, the Earl of Rycliff. Second, my dear friend the Duke of Halford. And thirdly . . .”
Minerva cleared her throat. “Ahem.”
“Thirdly, M. R. Highwood,” Colin finished.
“Sir, I—”
“Ah.” Colin raised a finger. “I believe that’s ‘my lord’ to you.”
“My lord, I’m sure the Society is honored by your lordship’s interest. However . . .”
“Did I mention that in lieu of the regular dues and as a concession to my expedited application process, I’m willing to pledge an annual sustaining subscription of . . . say, a thousand pounds?”
Mr. Barrington seized.
“Oh, very well. You drive a hard bargain, Barrington. Make it three.” He smiled broadly in the face of silence. “Well. Now that that’s all settled, I’ll be entering the symposium. Miss Highwood will come as my guest.”
“But, my lord, unmarried women cannot attend as guests. It’s not proper.”
“For the love of ammonites, man! That’s just stupid. Why on earth would the Society need to protect unmarried women from bone-dry lectures regarding soil composition? Do your members find themselves whipped into some sort of dusty frenzy, from which no delicate lass would be safe?”
Mr. Barrington tugged on his coat. “Sometimes debate does get heated.”
Colin turned to her. “Min, can I just hit him?”
“I think that’s a bad idea.”
“Run him through with something sharp?”
“Probably a worse idea.”
“Then there’s no getting around it.” He sighed.
“I know. You’ll just have to go in and give the presentation for me.”
“What? No.” He shook his head. “No, I can’t do that.”
“Of course you can. You’ve heard me read it so many times. I know it contains a great many polysyllabic words, but you’ll rise to the challenge.”
“Minerva, these are your findings. These are your peers. This should be your moment.”
“Yes, but . . .” Tears prickled at the corners of her eyes, and she impatiently blinked them back. “They won’t let me in.”
“They won’t let unmarried ladies in. So marry me. Right here and now.”
She stared at him, shocked. His Bristol-diamond eyes shone, brilliant and sincere. “Marry? But we . . . we can’t possibly—”
He took her hands. “This is Scotland, Minerva. We don’t need a license or a church. We only need witnesses. Barrington here can serve as one, and—”
He turned, just as another man opened the door and joined them on the stoop.
“What’s going on here?” the newcomer asked in a deep, solemn voice.
Minerva’s eyes swept him from boots to crown. He was tall and handsome and . . . well, tall and handsome some more. He struck quite the fine figure, silhouetted in the door.
He asked, “Barrington, who are these people?”
“Oh, good,” Colin said. “This fine-looking fellow can serve as our second witness. We have Mr. Barrington, and we have”—he clapped the newcomer on the shoulder—“Mr. . . . ?”
The man blinked at Colin’s presumptuous gesture. “I’m Sir Alisdair Kent.”
Minerva clapped a hand over her shocked laughter.
“Right.” Colin’s hand made two slow, heavy pats on Sir Alisdair’s shoulder, as he sized the man up with a sweeping gaze. “Right. You would be.” He heaved a sigh and turned to Minerva. “This is probably where I should step aside and let you two get more acquainted—”
No!
“But I won’t,” he finished.
Her heart flipped. Thank heaven.
He wrapped her gloved hands in both of his and stared deeply into her eyes.
“Minerva, I love you. I’d been waiting to tell you so at a better moment. In some more romantic time and place.” He threw a glance at their surroundings. “But here and now will have to do.”