Page 50 of The Botanist’s Improper Bride

“Why would I want anyone else?” she demanded, keeping her voice low, praying that Trevor was too distracted to notice their conversation. “Trevor is just as good as—if not better—than any other man on the marriage mart. He’s clever, kind, thoughtful, and he sees me for who I really am. I couldn’t ask for a better husband.”

He flashed his perfectly white teeth. “There’s no need to take that tone. I love Trevor too. I just wanted to make sure that you feel the same because he needs people who understand and accept him for who he is.”

At that, she exhaled sharply and released the tension from her jaw. “I agree.”

They stood together for a few more minutes, but then Sylvestor checked the clock. “I’m afraid I must be off. I promised Marianne that I’d accompany her for a walk in the park at noon.”

For a moment, Seraphina thought Trevor might not look up from his flower, but after a moment, he did. “Thank you for calling and for your gift. As Seraphina said, it’s proven to be very timely.”

“You’re welcome.” The baron sent him a smile, then winked at Seraphina. “Enjoy your new subject.”

He left, and Letitia motioned Seraphina over. “Trev has just been explaining that he isn’t sure how to categorize the banksia plant under the Linnaean system because it’s so different from anything he’s seen before.”

Trevor flushed, glancing from Letitia to Seraphina and then ducking his head. “I can’t imagine either of you are actually interested in the classification of botanical species. Apologies for getting carried away.”

“No, we are!” Seraphina protested. “I would love to hear about it.”

He arched a dubious eyebrow.

“It truly is an interesting topic,” Letitia added.

His lips curved slightly, and then he delved back into his explanation. As she listened, Seraphina dwelled on just how perfectly his scientific interests aligned with hers. If only she could tell him her secret. She knew he would understand why he was the best possible husband for her.

But if she opened up and he didn’t react the way she anticipated, it could ruin her life. She’d spent so much time carefully guarding her secret while building a reputation as a frivolous featherbrain that she didn’t know how to admit everything to him.

As if she knew what Seraphina was thinking, Letitia nudged her with an elbow. Her friend had been trying to persuade her to be honest with Trevor, but the prospect made her want to flee to a dark corner and hide, much as Trevor had done at the ball last night.

“...come with me?”

Blinking rapidly, Seraphina tried to recall whatever it was Trevor had just said.

“May I come too?” Letitia asked, practically bouncing on the spot. “I’m fascinated with the concept of electromagnetic motion, and I’ve a question I’ve been saving. I’ve been breaking down compounds using the voltaic pile, and I’ve a quarrel with Berzelius’s numbers.”

Ah, another demonstration at the Royal Institution, perhaps?

“This Friday?” Seraphina asked, hoping to gather more information.

“That’s right,” Trevor agreed.

“I’d love it, and I’m more than happy for us all to go together.”

“Then let’s do so.”

Letitia beamed at each of them, then sauntered off to the far corner of the room, pretending to study a painting, leaving Seraphina and Trevor mostly alone.

“How are you faring?” Seraphina asked softly.

His freckled cheeks turned pink. “I’m embarrassed, but I’ll recover.” He looked down at his fingers, which were tapping away on the surface of the table. “Do you still want the wedding to go forward?”

Seraphina’s heart jolted. “Of course I do.” When he looked doubtful, she continued, “I think there’s very little you could do that would make me not want to marry you.”

He shook his head. “You’re a brilliant woman, but sometimes you make no sense to me.”

Her pulse beating rapidly at the base of her throat, Seraphina wandered closer, her insides twisting as she braced herself to be vulnerable with him. At least, as vulnerable as she could be without giving everything away.

“There are things you don’t know about me.” The words were a confession. A plea for patience. “I hope you won’t come to resent me once you find out what they are, but it’s because of those things that you are such a good match for me. Even besides that, I admire your work ethic, your scientific mind, and your openness to the idea of women contributing to science.”

“Anyone who tries to bar others from academia is a fool,” he muttered, as if it were an obvious fact.