“And what might that be?”
“I do not want you to call me Lady Jacqueline anymore. I would prefer Jackie, just as my sister calls me. I have always preferred it.”
“I can do that,” he grinned. “So long as you call me Philip in return.”
“I most certainly can,” she breathed.
She never would have expected their courtship to go so far on its own, but she could not stop smiling, knowing that she would not have changed a thing about it.
Chapter 17
“You do not typically visit me this often,” Philip said, an eyebrow raised.
It was true; Lucien was his closest friend, but that did not mean that they saw each other more than once a week. It was especially difficult to see one another when taking into account that Philip refused to leave the house.
“I am aware that you have guests, and that this might be a more difficult time for you, and so I wanted to make sure you were coping with it all.”
“I suppose you are right, although I have to say this is all going far better than I had expected.”
“I told you there would be nothing to worry about, did I not?”
“Yes, as did my mother, and I owe you both an apology for not listening to you sooner.”
It was true; now that his moment of jealousy toward his friend had dissipated, he had been able to see things a little more clearly, and he realized that he truly was happy for the first time in years. His budding relationship with Lady Jacqueline—Jackie, as she had requested, was truly beginning to blossom and he could not believe his good fortunes.
“In other news,” Philip continued, “how is the town?”
“The usual scandals. Lady Fitzharding, for example, is rumored to be with child though she is not promised to any gentlemen. The Warburtons shall be hosting a ball next month, it appears, for they were seen in the florist requesting dozens of bouquets, and Lady Ophelia–”
Philip winced.
“I would rather you knew than did not,” Lucien explained. “She has been asking after you a lot. I saw her this morning, and she asked me how you are. She feels genuine remorse for what she did, I believe.”
“That is none of my concern. She can feel as much remorse as she pleases, but I feel no burning desire to accept any of it.”
“None at all?”
“Why should I? I would much sooner leave it all where it belongs, in the past and forgotten about. I have much greater things to look forward to.”
“My, it certainly is good to see you so optimistic about things.”
“What can I say? Jackie has changed me.”
“Jackie?”
“Lady Jacqueline,” he explained. “We have agreed to call each other by our first names now.”
“Ah, that is a large step to take. Are the two of you prepared for that?”
“It feels like the right time. She is already a good friend to me, and she feels the same way about me, and so why shouldn’t we do what we feel is good for us both?”
Lucien did not seem convinced, but when it came to Jackie, Philip did not care too much as to what high society deemed acceptable. After all, who was there to witness any improprieties?
“She is a very interesting lady, is she not?” Lucien continued. “She told me that she was burdened with the upbringing of her sister when their mother died, and my heart broke for her. It is such a shame that she was never able to fully debut for longerthan a year, because I am of the opinion that she could have had her pick of the gentlemen.”
“Certainly, though it seems to have worked in my favor that she did not. She also seems very content in her choice. She told me that she does not regret a thing.”
“She truly is selfless. That must be where her beauty comes from. I have always said that a lady’s beauty comes from the amount of kindness she shows to others.”
