Note: For this chapter to make sense, one has to suspend reality for a moment. In reality, while To Marry a Marquis, by Julia Quinn (the author of the Bridgerton series) is set in 1803, it was not published until 1999. In The Most Honourable Nincompoop, this novel was published around 1870. As anyone who has read a Julia Quinn book would know, a book like that would surely be banned or at least hidden in the comparatively prudish Victorian era.
Enola POV, Summer 1889
The inside of Mrs Delafield-Thompson's vast library was decorated in reds and browns, with her marriage portrait drawing attention to the far wall. A seating area had been set up in the centre, and there was a ladder on each wall for reaching the highest shelves. If Enola had thought Ferndell House's library was brilliant, this had to be considered wondrous.
Surely in one corner, hidden from easy viewing, there had to be a book that would give her the answers she craved. Maybe a textbook, or a banned novel, but it was surely there. The only issue was finding it.
"Tuppy?" she asked Mrs Delafield-Thompson's companion, "Would you fetch me a glass of water, the dust is tickling my throat."
Sure, it was probably a maid's job to fetch refreshments, and Genie would never allow her house to get dusty, but the lie worked. The small girl only looked dubiously at Enola for a moment before running out the door. Enola made a mental note to somehow thank her later.
But for now, she was left alone to conduct her search. She suspected that any book on the subject of marriage and the creation of children would have to be inconspicuous, otherwise, it would have never been produced or sold. Besides that, and that it would be in the non-fiction section, Enola had no idea where to look. So, she started with the corner to her right and worked her way counterclockwise.
"History, geography, more history," Enola mumbled to herself, as she scanned the spines, "Classics, French, literature, music, art, needlework, mothercraft…"
She stopped at the small section at the bottom of the bookcase and pulled out a leatherbound book and flipped through its pages. Given it was directed towards a nanny, she decided that it might not be all that helpful and placed it back in its slot.
As she was climbing up to the top of the next bookcase, a spine decorated with tiny flowers caught her eye. Enola pulled it out too.
"Illustrations of the British Flora." She thought aloud to the empty room. "Tewkesbury might like this."
Enola was scanning the section for anything else her fiancé might think worthwhile when she saw a small book bound in light blue canvas sitting atop the botany books. As the library was in impeccable order and no other books were stored horizontally, she assumed someone had left it there by accident and picked it up.
The book's faded gold lettering read How to Marry a Marquis, the French spelling of Marquess. Enola almost fell off the ladder in surprise. Surely someone was playing a joke on her, or why else would she find a book on such a topic in the botany section of all places? But Genie had only found out she was engaged today and had no idea of Tewkesbury's penchant for flowers.
"Your water Miss." Tuppy called up to her, startling her in the process.
She grabbed the two books, thinking that maybe the little blue volume could have important information, and slid gracefully down the ladder.
"Thank you Tuppy." She smiled, attempting to hide the books under her arm as she reached for the water.
"Is the anything else you need?" The small girl asked, "I could explain how Mrs Delafield sorts the books."
"No, I better leave now before it gets too dark," Enola answered politely, "Will you tell Genie that I've gone home and thank her for the books?"
With that Tuppy nodded and ran off toward the nursery, leaving Enola to find her own way back to the front door. At least being alone gave her plenty of space to think about the possible contents of the book before pouring over it that evening.