“Taking advantage of the trust we placed in you.” He clasped his hands together as if in prayer. “But even so, I hope you are still a man of honor and will fulfill your duty.”
“This is absurd,” Jane insisted. “He kissed me last week at the Lindens’ house before an entire room, and you had no objection. Miss Linden as well. Perhaps he should marry her.”
“You know perfectly well it isn’t the same thing. We were playing forfeits, and that ‘entire room’ served as your chaperone. Here I find the lieutenant has contrived to get you alone, and only my arrival prevented further surrender to temptation. It will be impossible to find you another match if this should be known.”
“How could it be known?” Jane’s voice continued to rise, though whether in frustration or fear was hard to judge. “If you forget it ever happened, so shall we. Uncle, be reasonable.”
If Mr. Bishop’s shock had been tempered by other sentiments at the outset, it stood alone now. His eyes had formed enormous circles to match his open mouth. “Forget it ever happened? Jane, do youconsider stealing kisses with a gentleman to be something I could sweep under the rug for you? What were your intentions, if not to be married? I thought I raised you better than this.”
She was making things worse. They needed to change course.
“That’s enough,” Eli said. “Let me speak.”
The Bishops turned to him in unison. It would have been a more inspiring moment if he had any idea what to say. This still felt unreal, yet his next words would determine the rest of their lives.
He had to marry Jane.
There was no other course. If Mr. Bishop knew the half of what had passed between them, he would be making the same speech with the aid of a pistol. And then there was Hannah’s meddling, and Cecily hounding about for rumors. This had already gone past the point where it could be kept quiet. There were too many parties to their secrets, and Jane was the one who stood to lose everything if they were exposed.
He’d promised her on Ladies’ Day that he would protect her reputation, and he’d failed miserably. It was his duty to fix this. Eli squared his shoulders and met Mr. Bishop’s eyes.
“I’m sorry that I betrayed your trust, and Jane’s. I can’t imagine what you must think of me, but I want you to know that this wasn’t something I did for sport. I care deeply for your niece, and I intend to make her my wife.”
Bishop’s pique vanished like rain clouds parting to reveal the sun. “I knew you were a good man, Lieutenant.”
“Do I have any say in this?” Jane’s cheeks were dotted with red.
Is she angry with me, or only her uncle?He hadn’t expected her to weep tears of joy at such a rushed proposal, but surely Jane could see he was trying to set things right.
“Certainly not!” Bishop rounded on her. “Your say was in allowing the kiss.”
“If I may, Mr. Bishop?” Eli cut in. “I must inform you both of an important matter that may impact your decision. The navy has expressed some concerns about my absence that they wish to clear up before they can assign me a new post.”
“Concerns?” Bishop echoed. “What sort of concerns?”
“They wish to conduct an inquiry to confirm my whereabouts during that time. I’ll settle the whole thing presently, but you understand why it might not be in Jane’s best interest to announce a formal engagement to me until after I clear my name. I suggest we keep the offer a secret for now. You know my intentions, and you have my word as a gentleman. If the inquiry reaches a conclusion which tarnishes my reputation, I would expect Jane to release me with no one the wiser. It wouldn’t be fair to tie our futures together when mine is uncertain.”
There. It would buy Jane time to think, at least. And it was all quite true. Howcouldhe promise any life for her when he didn’t know if he would find himself branded a deserter?
Jane grew quiet, appeased by this strategy, perhaps. But he couldn’t entirely forget her initial reaction. She had protested a bittoostrenuously. Not the best beginning for a marriage.
“I see.” Mr. Bishop paused for a moment. “You’re quite right to think of it. Most considerate. But once youarefound innocent, you must be married before you return to sea. I don’t wish Jane to be waiting for years as Cecily did. Not that I expect you to be captured by any more pirates, of course, but one never knows. If we could obtain a special license directly after the inquiry, that would reassure us all.”
Married before he returned to sea. Even if he was cleared, it didn’t guarantee them an easy life. He would barely be able to enjoy the wedding night before it was time to leave Jane again. She’d made her objections plain, but what other choice did he have? He needed an income if he was to support a wife.
It was no worse than what all navy wives endured. The important thing now was to appease Mr. Bishop until they could talk further. Eli replied, “I’m sure we can make some arrangement.”
“Perhaps Sir Thomas could be of assistance. He is a knight, you know.”
“Oh, yes, I’d nearly forgotten,” Eli murmured with a faint smile toward Jane.
She didn’t quite smile back, but her eyes held a grudging resignation.
It was probably the best he could have hoped for, given the circumstances.
Engaged. Promised to Eli, whether either of them liked it or not.
“We must have you fitted for a new gown straightaway and start planning the celebrations. Would you prefer a brunch or a supper after the wedding? We should start our guest list now, even if we can’t send out invitations until this inquiry is done…” While Uncle Bertie laid out the Herculean series of tasks before her over breakfast the next morning, Jane pushed her sausage and eggs around her plate and wondered at the quirk of timing that had ensnared her. Every time she looked up, Bertie added a new detail to his plans. She hadn’t seen him this happy since Cecily secured her proposal from Sir Thomas.
