“How was your evening?” Sebastian asked, as he and Quinn rose.
She arched an eyebrow and smirked. “How do you think it was?”
Quinn laughed. “I take it Lady Lucretia’s singing skills haven’t improved from the last year.”
She rolled her eyes. “You have such a knack for understatement.”
“Who brought you home? I didn’t recognize the carriage,” Sebastian asked.
She struggled to keep the rush of heat from flooding her cheeks. It wouldn’t do to become scarlet-faced in front of her keen-eyed brothers. “Oh that,” she said airily. “Stuart’s carriage suffered a broken wheel, and Mr. Douglas kindly offered us transport home.”
Sebastian frowned and Quinn looked puzzled as if trying to place the name. “Grayson Douglas?” Sebastian asked.
She nodded. “Are you acquainted with him?” She held her breath, praying that the answer would be no. This was not a complication she needed.
His frown didn’t subside. “No. That is we haven’t been formally introduced, but from what I’ve heard, he isn’t the sort of man you should be associating with.”
“Yes, quite right,” Quinn spoke up. “I couldn’t quite place the name at first, but now I remember. He is rumored to be quite the rake. I’ve seen him in Lady Lockhart’s company most recently.” He rubbed his chin absently. “I wouldn’t have thought the old girl still had it in her.”
“That is quite enough,” Sebastian said in a warning voice. “This is not an appropriate topic to be discussing in front of Jenna.”
Jenna rolled her eyes, but the words hit her like ice. It wasn’t her imagination. Obviously Gray and Lady Lockhart had an agreement. Anger and jealousy thrummed through her veins, hot and painful. Could he not have at least put off any otherobligationsuntil their affair was over?
“I don’t want you in his company again,” Sebastian said firmly.
“Don’t be absurd,” she said, narrowing her eyes. “He was a perfect gentleman, and if it weren’t for his kind offer, I would have had to hire a hack to get home. And frankly, after what happened last night at the opera I was very grateful for his offer.”
“And for that he has my thanks,” Sebastian said. “But in the future be careful to keep a respectable distance from him.”
“Really, Sebastian. I hadn’t figured you for such a snob.”
“Snobbery has nothing to do with it,” he growled. “Papa would never approve and you know it. It is my responsibility to make sure this family remains just as he left it.”
“Good heavens, he gave me a ride home! He didn’t pull off and ravish me, nor did he make untoward advances. I am quite aware of my responsibilities to this family.”
“There is no need to be vulgar.”
“And there isn’t a need for you to be so overbearing,” she returned. “I am quite capable of keeping myself out of harmful situations, and moreover, I am a sound judge of character. Now, if you two will excuse me, I am going up to bed.”
Without giving them a chance to respond, she swept out of the room and marched up the stairs. She fumed as she peeled the dress from her body. Margaret breezed in on Jenna’s heels, but Jenna waved her away. “I don’t have need of you, Margaret. You may go on to bed. Just awaken me for breakfast in the morning.”
The maid’s lips thinned in disapproval. “I’ve kept my tongue over this, m’lady, but I can’t keep my silence any longer.”
Jenna gaped as Margaret advanced, hands on her hips.
“I’ve worked for this family a lot of years, and I’ve been your lady’s maid since you were old enough to escape the school room. I don’t like what I see goin’ on, m’lady. Don’t like it one little bit. You’re in for trouble.”
“I don’t need a lecture from you,” Jenna began.
“Indeed not! What you need is a firm sitting down by her ladyship, but she isn’t here, and I’d be remiss in my duty if I didn’t do all I could to keep you on the straight and narrow.”
“Your duty is to attend my needs and stay out of my personal affairs,” Jenna said angrily. She wished she could take back the words back as soon as they left her mouth, but anger at her brothers had made her hasty. Pain flashed across Margaret’s face, and she clamped her mouth closed.
“Very well, m’lady,” she sniffed. “I’ll leave you now. If you have need of me, I’ll be in the servants’ quarters.” She turned and walked quietly from the room.
Jenna closed her eyes in regret. She shouldn’t have spoken so sharply to Margaret. It wasn’t like her to be short with the servants. And Margaret was more than that. She’d been a family friend for years now. She’d soothed Jenna’s scrapes as a child, and consoled her when Jenna had come to her after the news of her engagement had been announced. She would need to apologize to Margaret.
She turned and flopped down in a chair. So much for secretly sneaking out of the house. Thomas and Margaret both knew. She supposed any servant worth their salt would know the comings and goings of the household. Thomas, she felt certain, would be discreet, but could she count on Margaret to be the same?
