She was already shaking her head. “You’re incorrigible.”
Sounds of feminine laughter had both of them turning toward the seats set up around the pianoforte. His sisters, two vaguely familiar ladies whose name he could not remember, Felicity, and, seated on one of the benches in the—Charley.
“I’m here.” He only thought the words but almost as though she heard them, she lifted her lashes, and her gaze caught his. Just as the corner of her lips tilted upward, however, she shuttered her expression and sent a sideways glance in the direction of the sour-looking woman seated beside her in the window.
Unnerved, Jules turned his attention back to his mother.
“Why is Mrs. Crabtree seated beside Miss Jackson?” His mother’s secretary, an old battle ax, exuded a stern, unyielding demeanor.
“I’ve assigned the poor girl a proper chaperone as the woman who came along with her is not at all appropriate for the task.”
“Is that really necessary?” He already knew the answer but just as quickly realized his mother’s decision would complicate his own personal objectives.
“She absented herself from everyone else early this afternoon and when I went to locate her myself, her maid didn’t know where she was. I cannot have an unmarried young woman under our protection wandering the manor alone. Why, she’s practically begging for trouble. I knew her mother, after all.” His mother glanced down when a popping sound drifted up from his right hand. “I do wish you wouldn’t do that.”
Jules hadn’t acted improperly with Charley.
But he’d wanted to.
“Lord Brightly is expecting you to make Felicity an offer this spring. It would be positively lovely if you did so before the party ended. We could celebrate your betrothal at the upcoming ball.”
As his mother’s words rolled through him, Jules wished he’d not taken that last swallow of the scotch—or perhaps the last twenty or so…
He ought to have come down with a clearer head. “Perhaps in due time.” He needed to have a serious discussion with his mother in the morning. Drawing this out wasn’t doing anyone any favors. Not him, and definitely not Felicity. With Jules out of the way, she would be free to entertain offers from other bachelors. And there would be several. She was a lovely and intelligent lady and would make some man very happy, he was certain.
But not him.
His mother frowned but then shifted her gaze back to where the bevy of ladies conversed at the opposite end of the room. She frowned at Bethany but then flicked her gaze to the window and frowned again. “Mr. Jackson should have sent his daughter back to her grandparents. My understanding is he’ll return to America without her. Lord and Lady Thornton certainly have their work cut out if they’re going to mold her into the sort of lady even the lowest of English gentlemen would be willing to settle for. Although,” She tightened her jaw. “I suppose she will come along with a hefty dowry.”
Even his scotch-addled brain couldn’t soften the blow of his mother’s words.Ah, but you’re wrong, Mother.Jules fixed his gaze across the room.I’ll settle for her…
Charley’s shoulders hunched and the smile she occasionally flashed was forced, and yet she looked utterly beautiful. Wearing a dusty rose gown, her hair had been swept onto the top of her head with a jeweled clasp that matched the pendant at her neck. Heat shot down his spine as his gaze followed the few rebellious curls trailing along her cheek, dangling into a swirl, and ending at her décolletage. “I don’t think she’ll have any troubles.”
“I beg to differ. Not when compared to the likes of Tabetha or Felicity. Or even Bethany, for that matter.”
“What’s wrong with Bethany?” He turned back to ask.
“All her fidgeting aside, she does nothing whatsoever to attract a husband. What man wants a lady who cannot sit still?” His mother shrugged. “Which, all in all, is fine. She can keep me company in my old age.”
“She’s not yet three and twenty. I’d hardly consider her on the shelf.”
“We’ll see.”
Jules glanced back across the room.
“If you’ll excuse me, Mother.” Moments such as this, Jules wished he could keep his mother in check half as well as his father had been able to. And yet on the occasions he was tempted to put his foot down, his guilty conscience always stopped him. If not for Jules, she would still have her husband. His sisters would still have their father.
Feeling far more sober than he had when he’d entered the room, he made a short bow with a frown.
She captured his arm as he went to step away. “Do consider making your offer to dear Felicity within the next few days, won’t you? The poor girl has waited long enough.”
Jules clenched his jaw and cracked knuckles on both of his hands. “You’ll be the first to know,” he finally answered.
Satisfied, his mother released him and, with a cheerful smile, moved away to join a few nearby elderly guests.
Everything she’d said about Charley set his teeth on edge… the chaperone, the criticism, even the consideration that her value lay only in the money that would come along with her. But now wasn’t the moment to challenge his mother on any of this. He’d have that conversation with her soon enough, and in private—when he informed her of his intentions to make Charley his wife.
Tomorrow, perhaps. Or the day after.
