The same wife who was slowly crossing the room toward him, her gaze locked on his and a slow smile on her face, which almost made his knees buckle. Damn her for being so irresistible.
“Gentlemen,” she said as she stepped up beside him and slipped a hand into the crook of his arm. Her touch set him on fire and it took everything in him not to spin her into his arms for a wildly inappropriate kiss.
“Lady Wharton,” Cornfellow said, smiling broadly for her. “You must have known your name was on the wind.”
She arched a brow. “Talking about me, were you? Oh dear, for you all had such serious expressions.”
Arthur made a noise in the back of his throat and Colin glared at him. His cousin was too protective—he hoped Arthur wouldn’t do or say something foolish in front of Cornfellow. He didn’t need any increased scandal during this delicate negotiation period.
“I’m afraid our serious expressions were bornafterthe gentlemen were complimenting you, my dear,” Colin said.
“Ah, so you were discussing business,” she said with a light laugh. “Wharton’s bill, I assume.”
Cornfellow drew back in obvious surprise that she was aware of the topic. “Indeed. And what doyouthink of the measure, my lady?” He smirked, as if her answer would surely be a laugh for him.
Although Jane didn’t know the specifics, Colin was surprised when she didn’t even miss a beat. She leaned forward. “I admit I am not privy to all the nuances, but I do think that a man of position best shows himself by how he treats those below him, don’t you, my lord?”
Cornfellow seemed to consider that. “I suppose I had not considered it that way. But do you think that by providing something more for those in the lower classes, we are encouraging rebellion? For those in lower position to grasp even higher?”
Jane’s cheek twitched ever so slightly, the only betrayal that she found the question distasteful. “Think of the uprisings we’ve seen in recent years. Were they born of men who had been given too much, or too little? In my mind, you are preventing rebellion by supporting those without a voice, not courting it.”
Cornwall drew in a long breath. “That is something to think about.” He turned to Colin and looked him up and down with an appraising glance. “This is as shocking to me as it is to you, sir, but you may take my answer as atentativeyes, Wharton.”
“Truly?” Colin gasped.
Cornwall nodded once. “Yes, your wife is very persuasive. Now if you will excuse me, I must attend to other guests. Let’s meet at the club soon, shall we?”
“Certainly—good evening,” Colin said, somewhat in shock by what had just happened. Here he had been working and massaging Cornfellow for days, weeks even, and a few words from Jane’s lips and the man was convinced.
He let his gaze slide to her. She was smiling broadly, and for a moment he couldn’t breathe, she was so beautiful.
Arthur seemed less enthralled. He looked her up and down with a sniff. “Don’tyouhave the ability to wrap men around your finger.”
Colin jerked his face toward Arthur, and Jane also looked at him. For a moment her expression held hurt and confusion at the barely veiled accusation. Despite the fact that he knew it was a ploy, he felt a defensiveness of her.
“I don’t know about that,” Jane said slowly. Carefully. “Sometimes a person needs to hear the same words in a different voice for them to sink in, that is all. I’m sure Cornfellow was already nearly convinced by Colin’s arguments.”
Arthur shook his head. “I’m sure it hadnothingto do with your smiles.”
“Arthur,” Colin snapped, his tone sharp. “Why don’t you go find someone to talk to? I’m going to dance with my wife.”
Arthur stared at him, almost in disbelief, before he executed a stiff bow. “Of course, cousin. Excuse me.” He gave the barest of nods to Jane and then turned on his heel and marched away, his shoulders rigid and his whole demeanor frustrated.
Colin guided Jane to the floor and the orchestra began a waltz. As he pulled her in close and launched them into the steps, Jane let out a low sigh. “Your cousin seems to despise me,” she said softly.
Colin frowned. “He just doesn’t…knowyou,” he said.
She stared up into his face. Her expression was calm even though there was a deep sadness in her blue eyes. “Like you? Do you know me, Colin?”
He flinched at the quiet question. In truth, he reallydidn’tknow her. She’d been an arrangement and then an attraction and then a betrayal and now she was…well, he didn’t know what she was now.
But she’d never just been Jane. And he’d never just been Colin. And in that moment he realized just how much he wanted that. Because in this moment he felt connected to her. Almost as if he was whole when he hadn’t even known he was missing something.
“I want to go home with you,” he whispered.
Her eyes went wide and she stumbled slightly in the steps of the dance. “But we only just got here, Colin, and we—”
He nodded. “I realize all that. And I don’t care. I want to go home with you Jane. Now. Please.”
