Jackie’s eyes sparkled.
“I would so love to attend one with you! I do not wish to push you, however. We can do things as and when you are ready for them.”
Philip could not help but smile; if Lucien was trying to test Jackie’s affections, it certainly was not going to work. She was talking as though she saw a future with him, and he could not believe his luck.
“Oh! I must go,” she said suddenly. “I have left Elizabeth in the parlor, and I promised her that I would return immediately.”
“Give her my regards,” Philip smiled, and she nodded politely before rushing away once more.
“Truly, she is a gift,” Lucien commented after she left.
“Why did you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Talk to her so much. I barely got a word in.”
“We were having a conversation, Philip. You were more than welcome to participate.”
“Except that when I did, you made cutting comments. What was that all about?”
“It was in jest. Besides, the young lady clearly saw no harm in it. She said she wishes to attend a ball with you, for a start. You need not be so sensitive at all times. It would be far better for your health.”
“Lucien, if there is something I need to know, you must tell me.”
“There is nothing at all that I must tell you. You have found yourself a good lady, and you should feel as lucky as you are. There is nothing more to it. She is a friendly young lady, and I enjoy making conversation with her, and there should be no reason for you to feel threatened by that.”
“I do not feel threatened,” he lied. “But after what happened with Lady Ophelia, I have to admit that I am rather on edge about falling in love again.”
“Then perhaps it is not the right time for you to do so.”
“No, it most certainly is. In case you are yet to notice, I truly do like Lady Jacqueline, and I am inclined to believe that she feels the same way for me.”
“Then there is no need for you to act like this,” Lucien pointed out. “You have every reason to be completely content with what you have, and if you mean what you say and you truly wish to leave Lady Ophelia in the past, then you must do so.”
Philip knew that his friend was right. He was being possessive, and he had no reason to be; Jackie was nothing like Lady Ophelia, and he had to trust that, if they were ever going to have something between them.
Not only that, but Lucien was his friend, his only friend for some time. He had been nothing but a good and loyal person to him since they had met, and had stood by him through everything that had happened. He had no right, nor any reason, to accuse him of anything.
Besides, Lucien was an intelligent man of decent rank, and he was objectively very handsome. He could have his pick of any lady, and the only reason that he had not already chosen one was because he had been waiting for the perfect one to come along. He had his choice, so why would he choose to pursue someone that Philip was already courting? It simply did not make any sense to do so, and he had Lucien’s word, and so he would have to believe it.
He would also have to find a way to ask Jackie to accompany him on a walk without making it seem as though Lucien had been a factor in it.
Chapter 18
Jackie thought that Philip’s friend was a nice man, but she did not take much notice of him.
In truth, she was nice to him because she hoped to make a good showing of herself around people the duke respected, but outside of that she could not say that she was all too fond of him. He was far more direct than she was used to, as if he were a gentleman interrogating her at a ball, and she did not enjoy it too much, but she knew there was no harm in him and so she chose to ignore it.
After all, he certainly seemed to care about her thoughts a good deal, as any good friend would, and if she were to marry the duke then it was only right that she acquaint herself with his inner circle, even if that inner circle consisted of one friend and his mother.
“I enjoy the changing of the leaves,” the duke noted as they walked the grounds.
“As do I,” she replied. “Elizabeth has always hated it. She says it is as though we are watching the death of summer, but I do not see it that way. Perhaps it is because I enjoy the harvest in autumn too much.”
“The harvest?”
“Yes, I have been running a small farm on our grounds for a few years, to help with saving some money here and there, and the autumnal produce has always been my favorite.”
