I think I don’t love him. Those words could not pass her lips. Nor wouldI believe I love someone else. Sarah would ask who... and not be pleased.
Only good would come from a marriage to the duke. As for Jack Whitridge, the man might not even return her feelings. His emotions might still be tied to the wife he’d lost. Shared confidences given in trust were not love, were they?
“I feel as if I am using the duke’s affections for my own purposes.”
Sarah considered her words a moment and then said, “We all use each other. He gains something from a marriage to you—a kind and intelligent woman for his wife.”
“But I don’t believe marriage is that simple,” Char insisted. “If it was, then Father would have been happy.”
“Your father had a character defect. He was unable to appreciate Julie. Does Baynton drink?”
“Not to excess that I know.”
“There, see? There is no comparison.”
“Did you marry Roland Pettijohn because of what he could do for you?”
Sarah leaned away from Char, her gaze going out to the street outside the window. She sat still, a line of concern between her eyes, and then faced Char.
“Love. I married him for love. But I want something more for you.” She rested her arm on her desk. “You don’t belong on Mulberry Street or doing your own marketing, or threading needles. You are finer than that. You were born for better things.”
Sarah drew breath, released it, and then added, “And in case you are wondering, Julie married Dearne for love. She told me the family was dead set against him but she would accept no other. Char, I’ve loved a man and learned I could not live with him. The duke is a man you can live with and you will learn to love him.”
“How do you know?”
“Because he is kind and you already, I believe, respect him.”
That was true.
“But will he slay dragons for me?” Char whispered.
“Slay dragons?” Sarah shook her head. “No one slays dragons anymore, my love. We just learn to live with them.”
Char rose from the chair.
“Are you all right?” Sarah asked.
“I will be,” Char answered, but when she went to her room, she lost herself in tears... tears that could never solve anything.
Jack did not understand why Gavin hadn’t made an offer for Lady Charlene yet. He was obviously besotted with her. He expected her to be at whatever social events he attended or family dinners. All of London was waiting for an announcement and the odds in the betting books on who Baynton would marry were firmly in Lady Charlene Blanchard’s favor.
Nor had he needed any advice from Jack. He appeared to be doing well enough in wooing his ladylove. He rarely asked Jack to be his placeholder and protect her from the interest of other gentlemen. She was obviously his.
Gavin did keep his part of their bargain. He finally confirmed a meeting for the coming Monday. All players, including the possibility of the Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, Lord Liverpool himself, would be in attendance.
The United States chargé d’affaires Russell was impressed. Lawrence, not so much. He had done his best to sabotage everything Jack was attempting to do. When Jack talked to someone of importance about the true issues, Lawrence would follow behind, often with his lapdog Rice, and raise questions on matters that were bound to inflame British opinions.
His favorite was to question whether any true Englishman should listen to someone like Jack who had apparently renounced his citizenship. That did not make Jack friends.
However, the Duke of Baynton was a powerful ally. Gavin had his lawyers research the question and in short order, a caveat was added to Gavin’s ownletter patentthat stated any heir to his title must reside in Great Britain. It was unusual but resolved an issue, and generated a great deal of interest in Jack.
Of course, his mother was not happy. She wanted all her sons around her. “I know you will go. I understand you must,” she told Jack in a private moment. “However, never forget you have a mother here who loves you. Write her.”
“I’m the worst of sons,” Jack admitted. “Once I’d left and time had passed, I did not know what impact my turning up would have. Then I heard Father had died and it seemed wrong for me to bother you.”
She placed her hand over his. “Then I am thankful for the possibility of war if that is what it took to bring you back to your family. Never again doubt my love for you.”
He wouldn’t. She was all that was gracious.
