A Slight Miscalculation Read Online Free

brought Liberty, a young American new
to London, to keep her company. Their mothers were becoming fast
acquaintances, but Liberty had not had the chance to meet many
people as yet. Jane had hopes of recruiting her help for Hestia—and
of using her to prevent being too much alone with Lord Worthe.
    Not that it mattered, it turned out.
    “She’d have done better with an owl.” The
soft comment came from behind, not beside her, making her jump.
    “Lord Worthe! You frightened me.” It was a
fine excuse for her suddenly racing heart.
    “My apologies.”
    When the rest of the group had pronounced
themselves and shown off their attire, after Middleton had bent to
take notes, the viscount came around into their row and made his
bow.
    “My lord, may I present Miss Liberty Baylis?
Lord Worthe,” she indicated.
    He took her extended hand. “Liberty? How
unusual—”
    “Yes, yes!” Liberty cut him off. “A most
unusual name.” She rolled her eyes. “My parents are slightly
daft.”
    “Liberty!” Jane laughed, scandalized.
    “It’s the only explanation. And they are
lovely, even if they are a bit touched. Whoops!” She turned back to
the stage. “Here’s the next set.”
    They were nearly identical to the first,
save that Athena had been replaced with a cleverly constructed
Medusa.
    “Jane tells me that you are an astronomer,
my lord,” Liberty said once the new group had finished too. “How
exciting.”
    “I’m afraid it’s rather the opposite.” He
looked at Jane as he replied.
    “She says you’ve already discovered an
asteroid and are on your way to bigger things. Surely all that will
lead to respect and notoriety.” Liberty sparkled up at him and Jane
suddenly began to regret bringing her along. “And that will
certainly be exciting.”
    Jane wrinkled her nose. “And yet not a
substitute for human interaction.”
    Her stomach flopped at the viscount’s
suddenly dark expression. Plain speaking was fine, but she feared
she’d just gone too far.
    “Perhaps we should talk in the back of the
theater, so as not to interfere with the proceedings.”
    He held out a hand but
Jane ignored it, popping out of her seat unaided, suddenly intent
on having her say. All of her say. “We’ll just be in that back corner, at the start
of the boxes,” she told Liberty.
    Her heart raced as she stalked up the aisle.
Every nerve tingled in anticipation.
    “Perhaps I spoke out of turn yesterday,” he
began.
    “No, I’m afraid I did—and
I don’t plan to stop there,” She knew she was being belligerent,
but couldn’t stop herself. “The stars account for a fascinating
area of study, but they cannot negate the basic need to care and be
cared for.” She folded her arms. “And they are not constant.”
    “No,” he agreed. “But they move in
established and predictable patterns. It’s reassuring.”
    “Let’s see the last group,” Middleton
called.
    “Wait!” Jane clutched at the viscount’s
strong arm. “Here they are!”
    The lights dimmed. After a silent moment,
the girls moved slowly from the wings. The few high lights left
picked out the shining silver in their cloaks. The effect was
magical.
    They formed a straight line, diagonal and to
the left of center stage. They all peered down at the floor.
    “What folly is this?” Molly asked
mournfully.
    “The folly of youth,” Peggy answered.
    “The folly of man ,” the Swan
announced.
    The viscount touched her hand, where she
still held on to him, and sent her a questioning look.
    “They convinced Middleton to give them the
lines ahead of time. Oh, surely they will win the day!”
    “Without doubt.”
    “Thanks to you,” she said softly. She
turned, but refused to relinquish her grip on him. “You talk about
change as if it is a bad thing. You want to study these orbital
variations so you can define and explain them.” She waved a hand
toward the stage. “Those stars are bright, but in the sky they are
incredibly far apart. Alone.”
    He