Clearly, he had some competition for her affections. But now that he realized how deep his feelings for Vivian went, he’d be damned if he’d lose her to some nob. His years at sea had taught him that to gain something you want, sometimes you have to fight dirty. What he needed was a plan, a plan for seduction. Turning from the window, Jack crossed the room. Forget this nonsense about acting gentlemanly. If he needed to seduce Vivian into his bed, and keep her satisfied there until she agreed to marry him…well, then that’s just what had to be done. It would be no hardship at all.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Vivian walked along the garden path next to Lord Davenport. He told her a story about his travels in Italy, but she only half-listened. Where had Jack snuck off to during luncheon? Her instincts told her something must be going on. But what? Lord Davenport took her hand in his and kissed the back, his lips grazing her glove. She looked up at him, startled.
“You’re not paying attention to my story at all, Miss Jamieson,” he reprimanded gently. “What are you thinking about?”
“Oh, I am sorry. Nothing at all.” She forced a smile. “I apologize for my wandering thoughts.” He tucked her hand under his arm. They turned around the bend, finding a charming gazebo right in front of them. He led her to a shaded bench inside.
“There, that’s better. You’ve forgotten your bonnet again, Miss Jamieson.” He reached out to tuck a stray hair behind her ear. The next thing she knew, he kissed her. It was a nice kiss, and she let his mouth gently explore her lips for a moment. His hands rested lightly on her shoulders. Sadly, it lacked any fire, no wild butterflies danced in her belly. She couldn’t help but compare his soft kiss against Jack’s passionate onslaught.
Pulling back, she looked directly into his eyes. “Lord Davenport, please stop.”
“Please, excuse me, Miss Jamieson. I got carried away. I meant to ask you my question first.”
Oh dear. Warning bells rang in her head, he wasn’t going to…he couldn’t be…
“I think you know I am in search of a wife now that I have inherited the earldom. I am quite enamored of you. I wondered if you would do me the honor—”
“Wait.” Vivian held a hand up to stop him from continuing. “Lord Davenport, I think very highly of you. But I must stop you there and tell you honestly—” She looked down and clasped her hands in her lap “Well…my affections are engaged elsewhere.” She raised her eyes, hoping honesty proved to be the right decision. He seemed to let her words sink in for a moment and then he gave her a tight smile.
“Thank you for being so forthright, Miss Jamieson. Even though it was not the answer I was hoping for, I appreciate your candor.” He stood and gave her a stiff bow before striding off down the path.
Vivian leaned back and sighed. She hoped she’d done the right thing.
****
That evening, Vivian sat next to Jack and across the table from Lord Davenport and Caroline at dinner. The conversation should have been entertaining, but tonight’s mood was subdued. Lord Davenport was unusually quiet, no doubt due to what had transpired between them that afternoon. Despite the tension, she tried to smile and be as congenial as possible.
Next to her, Jack appeared distracted. His responses were stiff, polite, and did nothing at all to help further the conversation. He watched someone down the table, but she could not pinpoint whom.
Caroline, sensing the tension in the air, filled the silences with tidbits of gossip about people in the surrounding area. “There is a local fair going on this week in the nearby town of Stonebridge. I thought it might be fun to get a group together and have an excursion to the festivities,” she said.
“Oh, that does sound like fun.” Vivian replied. She looked expectantly at Jack, but he didn’t seem to be following the thread of their conversation. She pinched him hard on the leg to gain his attention.
His head snapped toward her. “A capital idea. Maybe we could bring the boys along?” He gave her a smirk that said “See, I am paying attention.”
“Yes, they would love it.” Caroline replied. Again, the conversation lagged. Tired of making small talk, Vivian returned to eating. Luckily, dinner soon ended. The ladies all retired to the drawing room while the men had their port. Caroline linked their arms as they walked down the hall. “Well, that was the most work I have ever had to do to keep a conversation going at dinner. Jack is not usually so distracted, and Lord Davenport was quiet tonight.”
“It may have been my fault. In fact, I am sure of it.” She pulled Caroline over to the fireplace at the end of the drawing room. “Today, when Lord Davenport and I were walking in the garden, he asked me to marry him.”
“What?” Caroline exclaimed. Several people turned to look over at them. She lowered her voice. “I can’t believe you waited until now to tell me this. What did you say?”
“I told him I could not. That my affections were otherwise engaged. I did not want to lead him on unfairly.” Vivian bit her lower lip.
“Oh, darling.” Caroline gave her a swift hug. “You did the right thing. If you have feelings for Jack, then you can’t marry someone else.”
“Please, don’t tell anyone. I don’t know what is going on between Jack and me, but I want to see where our feelings might lead.”
Caroline threaded her arm through Vivian’s again. “I won’t say a word. Come on. The men will be joining us shortly. Help me to set up for the game. Tonight, we play charades.”
When the men returned to the drawing room, neither Jack nor Lord Gilchrest bothered to come in and join the evening’s entertainment. Neither brother seemed to have a penchant for frivolity. Well, she would track those two down—they were the hosts, after all.
She slipped out the French doors into the night air. The stars were like bright diamonds across the sky. At the end of its cycle, the moon shone just a pale sliver amongst the shining stars. She paused and let her eyes adjust to the darkness before she spotted the glow of a cheroot out in the garden. Jack.
Coming from behind where he sat on a bench, she said, “You should be ashamed of yourself, hiding out here while your mother and sister entertain all those guests.”
He blew out a stream of smoke. “I am doing my best, but I can only take so much small talk and ridiculous games. I am not cut out to be a society gentleman.” He shrugged his shoulders.
