The year of her sixteenth birthday had been an eventful year in her life, perhaps the most eventful by far. First, for her birthday, the viscountess had gifted her with a lovely locket and been most insistent that she never be without it. Then when she met with an untimely death just a few weeks later, Stuart had suddenly adopted a completely new attitude.
She hadn’t seen him in several years so she couldn’t be sure just when the change had occurred, but she knew how close he was to his mother. He couldn’t have been unaffected by her death.
A month after the viscountess’s death, her father called her into his study and informed her that she was to marry Stuart and that the marriage had long been arranged between himself and the viscount.
Stunned, she’d demanded to know why she’d never been told before, but her father didn’t have an answer for her. He told her in a quiet voice that she would make a lovely viscountess and not to let him and her mother down.
She’d stiffened her spine and resolved to be dutiful though on the inside she was dying. In the years since, she’d spent far too much time dreaming of things she’d never have. Or thought she wouldn’t. The only favor her father had done her was prolonging the engagement until she turned one and twenty.
“Jenna, are you well?” Sebastian’s voice filtered through her thoughts and brought her crashing back to the present.
“Yes, yes of course.”
“Lord Dudley was speaking to you,” he said reproachfully.
“My apologies, my lord,” she murmured.
“Stuart desired to escort you to the opera tonight if that is agreeable,” Lord Dudley said, his eyes narrowing.
“That would be lovely,” she said faintly. “I shall look forward to his escort.”
The viscount nodded. “I shall take my leave. I merely wanted to pay my respects now that your family is in London, though I was a bit surprised at your arrival. Surely there isn’t a need for a season what with the wedding to be held in a few months.”
Jenna gritted her teeth, but before she could respond, Quinn spoke up. “I believe our father and mother wanted Jenna to gain some experience with London society before she marries. It wouldn’t do for the future Viscountess Dudley not to have all the necessary social graces.”
His answer seemed to appease the viscount, and he turned to take his leave. As Stuart got up to follow, he turned back to Jenna. “I shall be around to collect you at seven if that is acceptable.”
“Of course,” she said, not at all able to show her irritation at Stuart.
As Sebastian showed the gentlemen out, Quinn dropped onto the couch beside her. “What the deuce was that all about?”
“I have no idea,” she admitted. “The viscount seemed awfully interested in whether or not I wore the viscountess’s locket.”
“Perhaps you should make the effort to wear it from now on,” Quinn suggested.
Jenna nodded still puzzled by the visit. The viscount seemed to be making a point though she wasn’t sure what it was. Perhaps he was concerned about her being in London without her parents. Her cheeks warmed as she realized he had every right to be concerned.
“Well so much for not having Stuart dog my every step.”
“It won’t be so bad,” Quinn said in an effort to comfort her. “You don’t have to attend every engagement with him. Just agree to one or two a week and everyone will be happy.”
She sighed, knowing he was right, but not happy about it nonetheless. “I’m going up to my room. Are you going to the opera tonight?”
“I hadn’t planned on it.”
She looked pleadingly at him. “I don’t suppose you’d go with us? We could sit in Father’s box.”
He smiled indulgently at her. “I suppose I can sacrifice an evening of debauchery for you just this once.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Debauchery, eh? It sounds a lot more interesting than an evening at the opera. Perhaps I should accompany you and not the other way around.”
He burst into laughter. “Not only would Sebastian string me up by my heels, but Viscount Dudley would likely suffer apoplexy.”
She winked at him and headed for her bedroom. As soon as she closed the door behind her, she sat down at her dressing table and began rifling through her jewelry chest. To her relief the locket was tucked away in the corner. She picked it up, viewing it in the light.
Itwaslovely. She frowned as she remembered the viscountess’s words to her as she opened the gift. “Always keep it safe with you, for locked within are things more important than you will ever dream.”
Jenna shrugged and clasped the necklace around her neck. She fingered the oval shaped locket and slipped a fingernail under the clasp to open it. But just as it had been when she’d first received it, the inside was bare. Perhaps the viscountess’s advice was more figurative.
