“Pardon me, young master, but I am about two years younger than the baronet.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me…”
It was understandable Alexander had been so surprised he forgot his manners. Some age disparity was unavoidable in political marriages between aristocrats, but it was very rare for a young lady who hadn’t even come of age yet.
“Really?” asked Rosalind. “I thought it was common.”
“Not unless you’re a member of the Royal Family in times of war. How can you be okay with this?”
“Even if I’m not royal…my little brother is the successor of Knowles. He’s still young, but these marriages shouldn’t cause him any problems when he does inherit the title. Plus, they would really only be beneficial to the Knowles territory.”
In the future, her little brother would inherit her father’s title. As the eldest daughter, Rosalind wanted to avoid any situation where her future husband and his family would try to impede that process. A partner that coveted a title or land would only cause problems, so she figured an old, retired man would be less trouble.
And if all Rosalind’s paths led to marriage, she’d prefer if her union benefited the family territory in some way.
Rosalind was proud of the fact that Knowles beef and dairy products were high quality, and she hoped to introduce them to as many people as she could. She figured it’d probably be best to marry someone who could help with things like transportation or selling the products at markets.
She thoroughly spelled out all these reasons to Alexander.
“Plus,” she continued, “when I told my parents I wanted someone who would hold me back as little as possible, they gave me these options.”
“What do you mean, ‘hold you back’?”
“I really didn’t want to marry—I wanted to become a librarian. But having a spinster older sister would also negatively affect the marriage prospects of my younger siblings.”
“I see… So you never had any hopes or dreams of marriage?”
“That’s right. Many husbands place restrictions on the reading material available to their household because of their own politics and personal beliefs, don’t they? And I want to be able to see my friends, too.”
Rosalind had a cousin that was even forbidden from writing letters to her long-time friends, simply because their husbands belonged to different political factions.
Rosalind wanted to be able to read the likes of newspapers and foreign novels as much as she pleased. She even found magazines that ran articles challenging her opinions interesting.
If I can’t be a librarian… If I have to marry someone anyway…
Rosalind prioritized her own freedom in a marriage over age, looks, wealth, or even the love that might blossom in the union.
“I’m not really loveable and charming, anyway. My only redeeming features are my youth and health. You should probably pity the man that ends up accepting me.”
“That’s not… Well, it’s quite a unique perspective on marriage. Might be best not to tell too many people about it, though.”
“I won’t. The only other person I’ve told is Amy.”
Securing a marriage that benefited their family was the ultimate goal of every noblewoman. Rosalind’s utilitarian cut-and-dry thinking, however, was not so common, so naturally she didn’t think ladies her age would be able to stomach her views.
She hadn’t spoken of it to anyone other than her own family, but for some reason, she felt like Amy would understand.
Amy had been worried over Rosalind’s potential suitors, of course, but instead of lecturing her, she simply gave her a concerned look. Amy didn’t try to dissuade her and simply ended the conversation by hoping that a good guy would turn up for her. A huge weight was lifted off Rosalind’s shoulders after their conversation.
Rosalind continued petting the cat sitting on her lap, but Alexander looked shocked.
“You haven’t told anyone other than Amy? Are you sure you wanted to tell me?”
“Yes,” Rosalind said. “It doesn’t matter much if we don’t end up getting along, so I don’t have to pretend or make myself look good in front of you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well…we’re fond of the same person, right?” Rosalind lifted the cat in her lap until it was eye level. “What do you think, hm?” she asked it.
Alexander’s eyes widened, and she hoisted the cat into his lap.
Rosalind knew that the reason Alexander was so friendly to her was because she was Amy and Letizia’s friend.
“There’s no way I’m giving up my spot as Amy’s number one friend to you, Alec!” Rosalind announced, placing her now-empty hands on her hips.
Even though they were schoolmates, Rosalind knew that, as the daughter of an earl, she was in no way behaving or speaking as she ought toward the son of a duke.
But she just had to get this off her chest.
“I know I’m weird, and that’s all well and good, but Amy says she loves me just as I am. So consider you and I rivals, Alec.”
Alec was silent. In lieu of a response, the cat in his arms meowed and started climbing up his neck.
With a blank look of surprise, Alexander buried his face against the cat’s fur.
In the curious silence that followed, Rosalind, satisfied with having said her peace, pretended not to notice the awkwardness and brought her teacup to her mouth.
“You…you are very interesting, Lady Rosalind,” said Alexander, shoulders shaking with sudden laughter. With a look that seemed to suggest he had come to terms with something, he gently put the cat down and stood up.
“Well, let’s get back to practice.”
Alexander walked right up to Rosalind and took her hand, helping her up. Taking advantage of the proximity, he retrieved the crumpled letter from out of her bag and casually passed it over to the butler.
“Throw that out for me, Gramps.”
“As you wish, young master.”
“What?” asked Rosalind. “You can’t!”
“What? You want to marry an old man?”
“I don’t, but—!” Rosalind reached in vain for the letter.
“Then there shouldn’t be a problem.”
Grinning, Alexander laced his fingers through her outstretched hand and pulled her closer.
He flashed her a smile at point-blank range, and Rosalind’s narrow eyes widened as far as they could go. She blinked repeatedly and then—belatedly—turned bright red.
Even if she didn’t view him in a romantic light, Alexander’s unbelievable good looks were enough to make anyone’s heart stutter. The fact that he knew exactly what he was doing just made her annoyed.
“C’mon…” he said, “let’s get back to practice.”
“Y-Yeah, I heard you the first time!” she snapped.
They noisily returned to the music room, followed by the smiling elderly butler and—unbeknownst to them—several of the cats.