“Oh, Penelope, I am so happy! I woke up to three invitations,” Joanna said. “Mother was thrilled as well! It looks like I will be quite busy for the remainder of the Season. And here I was, thinking the adventure would be over when I told the truth to His Grace.”
Penelope smiled. “I am so glad you are finally getting the Season you deserve. And you looked absolutely marvelous in that dress last night. It’s just a pity it has to be on the Duke of Blackwell’s arm.”
Joanna frowned. “What do you mean? I thought you liked him.” Penelope seemed to get along well with him the night before. Joanna had even seen them dancing for a moment or two.
“I did at first,” Penelope said as she took a sip of her tea. “Truly. I was just happy that the two of you got along so well together, and that you were finally able to join the rest of society thanks to association with him. But I have to be honest. After watching the two of you throughout the night, my opinion changed.”
Joanna looked down at her tea, surprised at the turn of conversation. She thought Penelope was happy for her, but she did not realize her friend had misgivings about the duke. “You must not have been watching very closely. How could you be that observant when you were dancing with every available manpresent? You scarcely got away from the dance floor for more than one or two dances.”
“Believe me, it was quite easy for me to watch you and the Duke of Blackwell when both of you were far more interesting than the boors that asked me to dance.” She shuddered. “Especially that Baron of Suffridge. Did you know that he had the audacity to say that Mary Shelley is a better writer than Susan Ferrier? The nerve of the man! But at least my mother disapproves of him. I think she would faint dead away if I became a baroness. So naturally, I will happily dance with him again at the next possible opportunity.”
Joanna smiled as she pictured the handsome young baron, who was apparently well-versed in female authors. She had a feeling the young man would win her friend over by the end of the Season. But right now, she had more pressing matters to think of. “Do not get sidetracked, Penelope. Why on earth don’t you like the Duke of Blackwell?”
“Because I saw how he looked at you when you danced with other men. There is nothing wrong with a man’s jealousy, to be sure, but he looked downright monstrous. I also know that both of you left the party to be alone somewhere, and when you came back, you looked absolutely miserable. And he looked like a brute. Did he do anything untoward to you?”
A thrill of fear went down Joanna’s spine. “You saw us leave? Did anyone else?”
Penelope waved her hand dismissively. “Do not worry. Everyone was too intoxicated to be observant. The only reason why I saw you was because I was stuck in a horrid conversation about hunting, of all things.” She shuddered. “But you were despondent for the rest of the night, and I can guess about what he did to you. Do not worry, I will not tell a soul, because I have no wish to hurt you. But I will never forgive him.”
Joanna smiled wanly at her friend. She appreciated Penelope’s loyalty, but she could not help but rise to Evan’s defense. “He did nothing untoward to me, I assure you,” she said. “You are right. We met each other in the sunroom, but it was only for a private conversation. Nothing more.”
Penelope arched an eyebrow at her friend. “That is a lot of risk for merely a conversation.”
“It was reckless, I know. But His Grace was a perfect gentleman all night. I was just tired because I am not used to staying out so late anymore.”
“Joanna, I love you dearly, but if you are going to mingle with ladies of theton, then you must learn to be a better liar. Or they will destroy you.”
Irritation bristled through her. “Perhaps you should think better of people,” she said sharply. “The duke didn’t hurt me. He’s not a brute in the least. He’s actually very kind. So what if he doesn’t hide behind fake smiles and simpering pleasantries? It just means he is honest, and that is an admirable quality in anyone.”
“All right, I am sorry. Perhaps I was too hasty in judging him,” Penelope said quickly. “I just don’t like that he put you at risk like that. You could have been ruined if anyone caught you there. His reputation would have survived, but yours would never. Can you blame me for being cautious about him? Besides, how can you be sure of his real intentions? I am pleased that he’s courting you publicly, of course, but will he go through with marriage? What will happen if he decides to abandon you for someone else?”
“I appreciate your concern, and I value your opinion, Penelope. Truly. But I am made of sterner stuff than that. I will not fall apart just because I lose a suitor, even if he is a duke and myonlysuitor. I admit I was careless about going into the sunroom with him, and it will not happen again. I certainly don’t want a scandal. But I implore you to keep an open mind about him. He is truly not the man the scandal sheets make him out to be.”
Penelope’s expression softened. “Oh dear. You are developing feelings for him, aren’t you?”
Joanna shrugged and turned her attention to her tea. “I am merely saying that he is kind. Besides, I know better than to pay the scandal sheets much mind.”
She was disturbed by the thought that she might be growing feelings for the duke. Did she have feelings for him? Of course, she enjoyed his company. He had been kind and incredibly generous to her. But the Season would end eventually, and so would their courtship. She had to remember that this was abusiness deal, to secure a better future for herself and her sister, and nothing more.
Still, Joanna remembered all too vividly the look of regret Evan wore after the kiss. A mistake, he had called it. A lapse in judgement. Despite all rationality, that stung.
CHAPTER 23
Evan stayed locked in his study for the next two days, attending to matters of Parliament. At least, that’s what he told his family. In truth, he could not stop thinking about Joanna.
The kiss played over and over in his mind, like a scene from a theater play from hell. To top it off was the wounded expression on her face as she admitted that she thought he was the monster that everyone else saw.
“That’s not what she said,” he muttered to himself as he tapped his fingers against his desk. He had been reading the same piece of paper for over an hour, and he was no closer to understanding its contents now than he was that morning when he sat down to work. “All she said was she had been expecting you to end the agreement. That’s only reasonable after you asked to meet with her privately to discuss it.”
Feeling agitated, he stood up to pace. Perhaps he was just as monstrous as everyone else seemed to think he was. He certainlydidn’t care about possibly ruining her when he asked her to meet him alone in the sunroom. He had simply wanted to get her away from the other gentlemen. As if he had a right to?—
The door opened, interrupting his spiraling thoughts. His grandmother walked in. “Good. You are taking a break from work. Join me for tea in the library.”
“Why? Is it going to rain?” He looked out the window to see a few clouds, but no sign of danger. He couldn’t think of another reason why she would want him to join her in the library instead of saying whatever she needed to say in his study, unless they were going to get interrupted by the sound of rain banging on his window.
“No, but I enjoy the library, and I miss spending time with my grandson. I see Peter plenty, but I barely see you.”
“I am busy, Grandmother.”
