“And just what are you going to do about it?” asked Madeline. “I’m engaged to Lord Edward. I daresay the Duke of Lynwood will put an end to your pathetic association with his brother once he learns of today’s events.”
“You’re engaged to my brother?” said Lizzie as she looked Madeline up and down. “I think not.”
“Your brother?” asked a suddenly quiet Madeline.
Without a further glance at the women, Lizzie nodded to their footman, then stood up from the table to leave. “Dear Jane, I quite lost track of time. If Vi has finished her ice, I propose we go back to Lynwood House where I can regale his grace and my other brothers with the tale of the Bedlamites who invaded Gunter’s.”
With that, Lady Elizabeth, every inch a duke’s daughter, swept past the Merriman ladies, with Jane and Vi in tow.
* * *
“Ned,” bellowed Lizzie as soon as they arrived back at Lynwood House. “Ned!”
Lynwood appeared at the top of the stairs.
“Elizabeth,” said Lynwood. “Might I remind you that yelling is not to be tolerated unless the house is afire. And only then if there seems little chance of putting out the flames.”
“Some cow at Gunter’s said Ned’s engaged to her sapskull of a daughter.”
“Perhaps I should take Vi to her room,” said Jane.
“If you don’t mind, Miss Wetherby, might we have Heskiss escort Miss Violet, instead?” said Lynwood. “There is a conversation we all need to have in the drawing room.”
“May I, Miss Wetherby?” At Jane’s nod, the ever efficient Heskiss took Vi, who was only too happy to fill him in on her exciting day.
When Jane and Lizzie arrived in the drawing room, they were met by all four brothers, each with a generous snifter of brandy.
“So, Ned, you nodcock,” said Lizzie as she poured herself and Jane a brandy, “what’s this about you getting engaged to a termagant with the fashion sense of a nearsighted opera dancer?”
“Lizzie!” said all four of her brothers at once.
“Oh, please,” said their sister. “I’m not a child. And I wouldn’t have minded the gown in that dreadful shade of pink if the chit hadn’t insulted Jane and Vi for everyone to hear.”
“What did she say?” asked Ned, instantly protective.
“It’s not something I’d care to repeat. The point is she just announced to all of Gunter’s that you’re engaged, which means half the ton knows by now that one of the best catches of any season is off the market. Handkerchiefs will be soaked with tears, hartshorn will be called for. But, even more importantly, there’s no way for a gentleman to break an engagement, so you’ve really gone and done it now. Lynwood, what are you going to do with the imbecile?”
“Apparently there’s no end to his problems,” said the duke. “Edward has just come from Huntington’s home.”
“You went to my grandfather’s?” asked Jane, as she stepped further into the room.
“I told him to call off the attacks on Vi.”
“What did he say?”
“He denied any involvement,” said Ned with disgust. “He said he was trying to marry you off and even had a candidate in mind.”
Jane’s morning was clearly going from bad to worse. She sank into a chair. “That’s ridiculous. He can’t force me to marry.”
“What if he cuts off your funds?”
“He…he can’t do that.”
“I told our solicitor to look into it,” said Ned. “But whether he can or can’t, he’s already reduced them to a great extent. You can’t survive on what little he’s giving you.”
Jane felt a surge of panic. Ned was right. Her finances were already precarious Her grandfather had actually picked someone to marry her, which meant he wasn’t going to stop until he got his way.
“I realize no one has asked my opinion,” said Elizabeth, “but why can’t Ned marry Jane? I mean, Vi is his daughter, isn’t she?” Then she took another big swig of brandy. All eyes were on Lizzie, since no one wanted to look at Ned or Jane. Lizzie swallowed her drink. “What?”
“It seems our idiot brother is already engaged,” said Arthur.
“As much as I appreciate your looking out for me,” said Jane, blushing furiously yet again, which seemed to be her constant state in Lynwood House. “That solution simply won’t work. For many reasons. If you’ll excuse me, I should see to Vi.”
Jane left the room and everyone continued to stare at Lizzie.
“You should have to submit all your thoughts in writing, before being allowed to say any of them aloud,” said Arthur.
“I simply said what everyone was thinking.”
“But there’s a reason we weren’t saying it,” said Hal.
“As informative as this impromptu family meeting has been, I should like to mull over a few points on my own. I shall see you all at supper,” said Lynwood as a dismissal.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Jane dressed for bed shortly after putting Vi in her nightgown. When Vi asked for a glass of warm milk, Jane made her way down to the kitchen. She wasn’t used to having servants attend to her every need and didn’t want to become too accustomed to it. She might be living with the Kellington family, but she wasn’t one of them. Nor would she ever be. She needed to keep that firmly in mind.
When she reached the kitchen, she heard voices in the servants’ quarters, which led her to discover that a footman by the name of Clayton had a cough he’d been unable to get rid of. Under the wide-eyed gaze of the other servants, Jane had listened to the man’s chest, then announced her plan to whip up a poultice, turning away all offers to have it done for her. One visit to the stillroom later, Jane was applying the poultice to a very grateful Clayton, who kept interfering with Jane’s best efforts to keep him lying down by trying to rise each time she spoke to him.
“I would like you to lie in bed for the next two days, getting plenty of rest,” Jane told the man.
He looked like he’d never heard a more unusual suggestion. “Thank you, Miss, but I have work to do.”
“Is there any way to be excused for a short time?
Clayton looked at her as if she were barmy.
“That can be arranged, Miss.”
Jane turned to see that Heskiss had entered the room, which seemed to alarm the other servants as much as her presence had rattled them.
“Thank you, Heskiss.”
“Thank you for tending to our staff, Miss Wetherby. It is most appreciated. His grace has standing orders that a surgeon be summoned any time someone is ill, but there’s a general predisposition against such a measure among the servants.”
“It’s true, Miss” said Clayton. “None of us trusts a sawbones. But since ye was the one who sewed up Lord Edward in Belgium and saved his life and all, we figure ye must be a good one, Miss.”
Jane smiled at him. “This poultice has been used to great success on others. I hope it helps you heal quickly.”
“I’m sure it will, Miss,” said the man, already half in love with her.
The ever-observant Heskiss simply rolled his eyes. “Miss Wetherby, Cook said she has warmed the milk to just the temperature she believes Miss Violet would like.”
“That was very kind of her,” said Jane as she walked back to the kitchen, accompanied by the butler.
“We’re here to serve. In the future, if you ever need anything you can simply ring for us. I’ll have someone take the milk upstairs for you.”
“Thank you, but I’m on my way back so it’ll be no trouble to take it myself.”
Cook handed her the glass. “This is just the way Master Edward liked his milk, so I hope Miss Vi likes it, too.” Cooked immediately blushed at having voiced the connection aloud.
“Thank you both for your assistance. You’ve been most kind.” Jane paused before continuing, as she looked at the two long-time Kellington family servants. “My daughter doesn’t yet know her connection to Lord Edward. We’re still trying to figure out how best to proceed. I know ou
r presence here is quite irregular and I appreciate the reception we’ve received from those on your staff who cannot possibly be in ignorance of what has transpired. I know it is due to your leadership and I thank you.”
“Miss Violet has already become a staff favorite,” said Heskiss.
“It’s about time Lynwood House had a little one running about,” said Cook. “And I’m sure everything will get sorted out, don’t ye worry, Miss.”
Jane thanked them again, then went to rejoin her daughter.
As she approached the room, she heard Ned and Vi talking. Jane remained in the hall, peeking through the slightly opened door.
Vi was tucked into bed. Ned was sitting beside her with a book in his lap.
“I assure you this is the story as written, mostly,” he said.
“Mostly,” said Vi with a giggle. “When Mama reads me a story she only reads the story. She doesn’t make things up.”
“Well, as grand of a lady as your Mama is, she is sadly lacking in imagination because there are few stories that cannot be aided by the addition of a few details by the reader.”
“I must protest, sir,” said Jane as she entered the room, “this unprovoked slander of my imagination.”
Ned rose as she entered and his eyes slid over every inch of her. Jane knew she was well covered in her night rail and wrapper, but the man’s eyes seemed to bore beneath her clothes to find the skin underneath. It was a most unsettling and not altogether unpleasant sensation.
“I brought your milk, sweeting.”
“Thank you, Mama. Ned was reading me a story, but I think he made up as many parts as he read.”
Jane gave the milk to Vi. The girl patted the bed on the other side of her. “I think he’s being most silly.”
As Jane lay beside her daughter, Ned resumed his seat and the story, which did indeed seem to be mostly made up.
Before long the combined effects of the milk and the story had set in. Vi was asleep. Jane and Ned watched her for several moments. Then they looked at each other.
Ned put the book on the bedside table, then held out his hand to help Jane off the bed without waking their daughter. As Jane put her distinctly feminine hand in his, Ned was struck by just how right it felt.
Hand-in-hand they walked down the hall to Jane’s bedchamber. They stood outside the door for a moment, looking at each other.
“Thank you for spending so much time with her, although I do fear what will happen in the future if you marry Miss Merriman.”
“I’m not going to marry her.”
“Shh.” Without thinking, Jane placed her fingers on his mouth to quiet him. Instantly, she knew she’d made a mistake. She was entranced by the feel of his firm, soft lips. “You don’t know what will happen with Madeleine Merriman. You aren’t in a position to make promises.”
Ned slowly pulled her hand away from his mouth. “I can promise that no matter whom I marry, I will always provide for Vi and you. Now that I’d found my family, I won’t ever let go.”
Jane swallowed as she tried to find her voice. “Good night Ned.”
“Good night.” And with that, he placed one gentle kiss on her lips, then somehow found the strength to walk away.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The next morning, after a frustratingly long and sleepless night, Jane was surprised to find she had a caller, then even more puzzled to learn it was Wills Overton.
Jane, Wills and Madeleine had grown up together, although Wills had been at Eton for much of the time. His trips to Marston Vale were infrequent and it was rumored that he and his father were estranged, though no one knew why. In London, if the gossip pages were to be believed, Wills lived a bachelor’s life, much more likely to be mentioned in the company of a few of his schoolmates than with any debutante.
“Wills, I’m rather surprised to see you,” she said after Heskiss had served them tea.
“I hope it’s a pleasant surprise.”
Jane took a noncommittal sip of her tea.
He smiled. “How do you find London after so many years away?”
“Unchanged for the most part. The same haze of coal in the air, the noise, the crowded streets. It’s a wonder people can hear themselves think.”
“You’re assuming they do. Think, that is. It’s been my experience that most members of the ton think of little other than themselves.”
Jane smiled behind her teacup.
“Do I amuse you, Jane?”
“If you’ll excuse my saying so, Wills, some might say the same of you. During our long ago acquaintance, I cannot remember too much time spent in contemplation of the weightier issues of the day.”
He smiled as he theatrically smote a fist to his breast. “You wound me, Jane, but only because you’ve spoken a world of truth with an admirable economy of words. Your previous impression of me – and I do hope it will soon be a previous and not a current impression – is one of the reasons I’m here today. We’ve not been on the best of terms, and I’d like to correct that. I’m here to ask for a new beginning.”
“May I ask why now?”
“We are none of us growing any younger. And as I begin to take tiny steps into my future responsibilities, I find it helps to make amends for the mistakes of the past. I haven’t been as good of a friend to you over the years as I should’ve been, especially when you needed one most. There’s no excuse for my behavior. But I do ask that you not take it personally. When the rift between my father and me developed, I’m afraid I was a beast to all the world.”
Jane wasn’t sure what to think. The timing seemed odd that he’d make this overture now – in London and at Kellington House – after so many years. But she couldn’t deny it would be nice to have a friend, especially when her situation was so tenuous.
“I believe everyone can use a new beginning from time to time,” she said carefully. She just wouldn’t trust him until he proved himself worthy.
“Excellent! Now, by any chance do you have a free hour? I’d like to take you and Violet driving so I can show you the sights.”
“That is most kind of you. I’m sure Vi would like nothing better, but she’s currently on an excursion with Lady Elizabeth and I’d planned to stay in today.”
Wills moved slightly closer to her. “Is it a plan that can be changed? Is something or, shall I say, someone keeping you close to hearth and home?”
Jane knew the answer was yes. Ned had been out when she’d come down for breakfast and had yet to return. She knew she shouldn’t be looking forward to seeing him quite so much because nothing good could come of it. Perhaps she should get out of the house.
“I would like very much to go for a short drive. Let me fetch my bonnet.”
So it was only a short time later that Wills Overton was helping Jane Wetherby into his phaeton. As they rounded the corner on their way to the park, Jane didn’t notice Ned approach Lynwood House on Knightley, alongside Hal.
“Wasn’t that your Miss Wetherby? And who could she be driving with?” asked Hal, knowing exactly which of his brother’s buttons to push.
“She’s not my Miss Wetherby.”
“I’d have to agree with you there,” said Hal, suppressing a smile.
“And if she chooses to go driving with a friend from home that is entirely her business.” Except why was she going for a drive with that dandy Wills Overton and what the devil was he doing in town?
“I’m sure you’re right. I just thought she didn’t know anyone in town besides the wicked grandfather. And he didn’t look like the grandfatherly type, did he?”
“Hal, how would you like to see fighting techniques I learned in the army, demonstrated on you?”
“I think I’d like that about as much as you liked seeing your Miss Wetherby drive off with that chap in the expensive green waistcoat.”
Hal gently kicked his horse, getting out of Ned’s reach.
“As much as I’d love to talk some more since you’re in such a marvelous mood, I’m meeting Arthur in the pa
rk. At least I shall enjoy my day,” said Hal as he rode away.
* * *
“Lady Crenshaw, it is such an honor to see you again,” trilled Lady Barrington after she’d presented Madeleine for her curtsy at Lady Crenshaw’s at-home, before sending the girl off to sit prettily in the corner.
Agatha Darlington, Lady Crenshaw, took pride in the fact that her at-homes were always well attended, a testament to her position as one of the grand dames of the ton. Her husband the Earl of Crenshaw was a well-respected member of Lords, who looked out for his peers and resisted the current unpleasant trend in Parliament that smelled distressingly like democracy. She was also the Duke of Lynwood’s paternal aunt, which may have had something to do with the positive crush of marriage-minded mamas and their daughters who beat a path to her door every chance they got.
Lady Crenshaw, never one to suffer fools when there wasn’t anything in it for her, was about to dismiss Lady Barrington, until she heard the words “engaged to your nephew.” That most certainly got her attention.
“Are you telling me Lord Edward finally proposed to that daughter of yours?” asked Lady Crenshaw.
“As you know, there has been an understanding between the two since the cradle. And while he was visiting us in the country, he showed every indication of proposing. Circumstances arose that would lead one to presume…”
“Did the boy propose or didn’t he?” Lady Crenshaw didn’t have time to waste listening to the silly woman.
“Not in so many words, no.” Lady Barrington was quite put out that she was constantly butting up against dead ends in her efforts to get her eldest daughter married off once and for all. “But he compromised my sweet girl. Then some sort of emergency arose in town…”
“What emergency? I haven’t heard one thing about an emergency and I am his aunt, you know.”
“Just as I suspected,” said Lady Barrington, finally vindicated in something at least. “Far be it from me to doubt your nephew’s word…”
“I should say not! He’s a Kellington, after all.”
“But we came to town so that their engagement could be formalized and announced. We sent around a card to let Lord Edward know of our arrival, expecting him to come to us at his earliest convenience, but he has not yet arrived.”
Never a Mistress, No Longer a Maid (Kellington Book One) Page 17
