“I should bethankingyou, should I? When I near blew my own brains out in despair?”
“Don’t be dramatic, Jack. I mean thatIshould be thankingyou. Life has been exceedingly flat recently, but I’ve enjoyed every minute of it since you brought Miss Fanshaw to town. I’ve made a new friend.” She grew as serious as she ever was, a true warmth in her eyes. “And I’ve made another dear friend happy.”
He shook his head, studying her for a moment. “I did think I loved you, you know.”
“And yet in two years of knowing me, you never once came close to offering.”
“Caroline—”
“Jack,” she said, half laughing. “Do you worry I’m broken-hearted?”
“No, but—”
“You only ever believed you wished to marry me because in your heart of hearts, you knew I’d never accept you. You knew I was safe, and you were safe.”
“That might be so,” he said, already sure that, as always, she understood the situation better than he did. “But what I mean is…it seems strange…Someoneshould love you, Caroline. You deserve it, impossible as you are.”
A fleeting sorrow crossed her face, gone in an instant. She gave him a twinkling smile. “I’d much rather be free.”
He opened his mouth, but she raised a hand. “No romantic effusions, please. Save it all for Miss Fanshaw. Let us turn ourselves to far baser subjects: not love, but money. Is the rumour I heard right? Are you…embarrassed?”
Jack let out a breath, scratching his jaw. “Temporarily. Nothing fatal. And already on the way to recovery. That’s where I go now, to my agent, to get an up-to-date reckoning.” He smiled crookedly. “I have a wedding to plan, you know. A wife to provide for.”
“Well, it’s good timing. News of your engagement will keep any creditors at bay. The whole town knows of Miss Fanshaw’s inheritance.”
Jack chuckled. “And the notice will be in the papers tomorrow. How fortunate,” he said wryly, then shook an admonishing finger at the grinning Caroline. “But don’t, for the love of God, go telling Lucy I only married her for her money. The last thing I need isanotherdisaster to get in our way. Your pranking days are over, my girl.”
Thirty-One
Lucy dressed hastily without the aid of her maid. It was early enough that the woman wasn’t expected at her room for at least another half hour, and Lucy was too excited, too elated, too alive, to sit still and wait.
Hearing Jack’s voice downstairs in conversation with Caroline, Lucy stole down the stairs. She might surprise him when he left the parlour, steal one last kiss before he left. She didn’t even know when she would see him again. His hasty exit from her room had left no time to discuss plans.
Perhaps he would come again tonight.
“It’s good timing,” she heard Caroline say. “News of your engagement will keep any creditors at bay.”
What creditors? The stair creaked under her, and she backed up to the one above.
“How fortunate,” came Jack’s voice. “But don’t, for the love of God, go telling Lucy I only married her for her money.”
Lucy froze then shook her head, an odd shiver running through her. What nonsense. It was a joke. Caroline waslaughing. But nevertheless, she stole silently back up the stairs, jumping as she heard the front door close behind Jack, and went into her room, closing the door slowly behind her.
How fortunate, how fortunate…
Caroline hadn’t been joking when she talked about creditors. Her voice had been serious, and surely even she wouldn’t joke about such a serious matter.
Jack was…in debt? Seriously so? And he hadn’t told her?
Lucy was still motionless at her dressing table, staring at the rumpled bed, when her maid came into the room. “Oh! You’re dressed already, my lady! But what is this creased, old dress? And your hair! This will never do for a day like today, not when every eye will be on you.” She smiled as she came to stand behind Lucy at the dressing table, meeting her eyes in the reflection. “I’ve heard your news, my lady. You don’t mind me mentioning it? Everyone can talk of little else. You, a viscountess! I’m so happy I could sing. But I’ll spare youthat.”
Lucy forced a smile and let the lady chatter away as she stripped Lucy of her dress and helped her into a new one before re-styling her hair.
“Much better!” She beamed at Lucy in the mirror, but a frown crept into her delight. “You’re pale, though, my lady. Are you well this morning?”
“Only tired, Sarah. Thank you.”
“Oh! Of course, and here’s me forgetting what it was Miss Sedgewick said to me just as I was starting up the stairs for your room, too excited to recall it! She gave me a message for you: she has gone out, only to visit some shops, but she said she didn’t like to disturb you to come with her as you were probably so tired after all the excitement of last night. Yes, that was it, and I dare say she’s right, looking at you now.”
