“Church?” Lady Willa said, giggling with an air of dismissal.
“Ah, yes. The donations I had promised. Escort her into my study, Grimes. I’ll be along shortly.” He lingered a moment or two, hoping to appear indifferent to Ailis’s supposed arrival. “If you will excuse me,” he said as all four young ladies gathered around him again. “Duty calls.”
He walked out of the drawing room and strode into his study, eager to see Ailis once again, even though it had only been minutes since he had last set eyes upon her.
“Gad, where did they ever find that hat?” he said with a chuckle.
She was supposed to look hideous. But as she turned to him and looked up at him with her big eyes, he thought she was the prettiest thing he’d seen in an age.
Big things looked very good on her. His robe. Those red stockings that would have looked hideous on anyone else but made her look adorably elfin. Now this big hat that enhanced the sparkling beauty of her eyes.
“Hush,” she warned as he leaned against his desk to stare down at her so primly ensconced in her seat. “Just give me the donations and let me be on my way.”
“All right.” But he made no move to withdraw the drafts from his jacket pocket.
She studied his expression and frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“They are all hideous, Ailis. Truly, altogether hopeless. Spoiled, scheming. How could my mother do this to me? And they’ll be here through Christmas. What are these exclusive girls’ schools teaching them?”
“Why, back in my day,” Ailis teased, putting on the voice of a grumpy old man, “young ladies knew how to behave.”
Jonas laughed. “I forbid you to mock me, Miss Temple.”
She smiled back at him.
Sighing, he withdrew the bank drafts. “Ah, Lord Tenney is watching us. He’s strolled by the doorway twice now.”
“But that is good. Now is the perfect time to see me out the door.”
His heart thudded as he handed her the bank drafts and watched her struggle to tuck them in her reticule. “Don’t help me,” she whispered when he reached out to do just that. Shemanaged to stuff them in, and then rose. “Do forgive me for interrupting you when you have guests, Your Grace. I shall not delay your return to your party. It is getting late, and I ought to be walking back before nightfall.”
“You walked here, Miss Temple?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Lord Tenney listened attentively while strolling by a third time.
But Jonas knew he and Ailis had their scene well scripted.
“I must insist on your using my carriage to get you home. I’ll have Grimes order it readied. Do you mind waiting here while it is brought around? Grimes will fetch you when it is brought to the front. I do not wish to be rude, but I cannot ignore my guests.”
“Not at all, Your Grace. I am so sorry for taking up your time.” But her eyes implored him to wait another moment.
“What is it, Ailis?” he asked in a whisper.
“My mare is still in your stable.”
He nodded. “Ah, and as for that other matter,” he said, louder, “I shall send one of my staff around tomorrow with the other donation I promised you. Will that do?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Then I bid you good day.” He almost made the mistake of kissing her, for the gesture felt so right and natural. And did he not owe her kiss number five still?
She shot him a warning glance. “Get out of here…please, please, Your Grace.”
He laughed and strode out without another word.
God, but his heart ached.
