Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 76921 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76921 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
“He’s no friend of mine.” Now he could, at last, tell the truth about something. “When I heard what he’d done to your sister, after raising her expectations, he ceased to have my regard. Gentlemen should not behave so.”
“Yes, June was very hurt.”
“Lord Wescott has a habit of acting selfishly, even if it hurts others. You may be sure I’m not that type.”
Her eyes met his. Amber-gray. Brown. Copper. Whatever they were, they were full of sincere emotion.
“Do you want to hear something amusing?” she asked.
“Yes, of course.”
“When I heard you’d asked for my hand, I feared it was some kind of prank. I thought…” She shook her head. “When your heart is broken once, you fear it will be broken again. How relieved I am to know you’re not the heart-breaking sort.”
He said nothing, caught in a spell of guilt and longing. He wanted to be the fine man she thought he was, not the scheming, uncaring man who’d asked for her hand. Curse it all. He couldn’t go back and change how things had begun between them. He could only move forward.
“I did not propose to you as a prank, Jane,” he said, holding her gaze. “You needn’t worry about your heart being broken anymore.”
She smoothed his handkerchief across her gloved fingers. “Very well. I won’t.” Her smile was bright, sudden, almost tremulous. “Instead, I shall look forward to being your bride.”
“Just as I look forward to becoming your husband,” he replied politely.
She had a way of looking at him, a sort of adulation bordered by fear. It affected him more than he liked.
“Once we’re wed, I’ll believe I’ll take you to Somerton,” he said, leading her back along the path. “It’s my country retreat in Berkshire, very wild and wooded. Considering your devotion to nature, I’m sure you’ll like it there.”
“I can’t wait to see it. It must be a very fine place.”
It was a fine place to get away from town and throw wild parties. As for marriage, that remained to be seen.
“And I’ve a large town house here in London, a place we can call home during the Season. How does that sound?”
“It sounds wonderful, my lord.” She paused a moment. “I’ve been meaning to ask you… I have a few pets which are very special to me. If you don’t mind, I would like to keep them with me after we’re married.”
Of course this nature-loving woman-child would have pets to bring to their marriage. She probably had dogs, cats, rabbits, all the furry, smelly things. Well, he wasn’t a monster. He wouldn’t separate his naturalist from her beloved animals. The busier she kept with her pets, the less she’d bother him.
“Yes, you may bring all your belongings to your new home, Jane, and that includes your pets. If you’ll write out the necessary requirements and measurements for kennels, I’ll send them to my groundskeeper at Somerton so he can get to work.”
“How generous of you, Lord Townsend. I’m so pleased.” She said this with real joy, not the nervousness that had afflicted her up until now.
“Prepare the instructions as soon as you can, so he can have everything ready upon your arrival after our wedding.”
Her eyes shone with a new, fond regard. “Thank you so much, my lord. Truly, thank you. I desperately hoped you would allow me to bring my animals. They mean so much to me.”
“I wish you to be happy.” He held up a finger in warning. “However, I must set a rule. No pets in the house. I prefer a calm, orderly household, and pets can be a nuisance, always getting under your feet.”
“Of course, my lord. As long as they have a secure, warm place to stay, I’m content. Oh…” She placed a finger upon her pointed little chin, tapping it twice. “Have you some dependable mousers at your estate?”
“Mousers?” He modulated the amusement from his voice. “Yes, I believe we’ve three or four excellent mousers at Somerton.”
“Perfect. Then I can leave my cats at my family’s home, where they’re happiest. They’re older, you see, and set in their ways. They’ve always had the run of the estate.”
“That’s settled then. Anything else you require, just add it into the instructions. The Somerton staff is excellent, and I’m sure they’ll be anxious to help you feel at home.”
She turned shy again, just like that, giving him a crooked smile. “Do you want to know something else amusing?”
“Certainly.”
“I was so afraid to meet you today. I saw you only a few times last season, from afar, and you seemed…intimidating.”
Was this, now, an awkward attempt at flirting? “Intimidating?” he repeated.
“I feared you might be a cold-hearted type because you are so handsome. Oh, I don’t know why. I suppose sometimes I expect the worst for no reason at all, maybe so I won’t be disappointed if things go wrong. But you don’t seem cold-hearted. You seem very warm and kind.”