A second passed.
Anna raised her own chin, and Jackson braced himself for another set-down to rival a queen’s.
“No. I don’t think I will,” Anna said, her haughty tone worthy of her forthcoming ducal title. “In fact, I believe I shall take a stroll through the woods. Where there is dirt and grass and all manner of wild animals and wriggling, slimy insects.” She shot a direct glare to the dowager, who sneered at the description. “What a pleasant change it will be from the wilting round-leaved sundew demanding all the light in this dreadfully decorated room.”
Anna swept out of the room, and the door clicked shut behind her, the slight sound more grating than if she’d slammed the oak six by six.
It was a test of Anna’s skill at injury that it took more than five seconds for Jackson’s mother to exclaim, “The impertinence!”
Impertinent, true. And Jackson had never crossed paths with one so giftedly afflicted.
“Vile, contemptible, ill-spoken—”
“Now, Mother, that last one is unfair,” Jackson said, having to bring his teacup to his lips to keep his smile from view.
The dowager duchess turned her gaze on Jackson. “She will be a dark stain on our noble name. You cannot possibly find her acceptable?” Before Jackson could agree—or not—his mother shot Figaro a glare where he sat. “Not one word out of you.”
Figaro held up his hands. “I would not dream of contradicting you, Mother. You are right in every regard.” He lowered his brow, disapproving, but Jackson smelled mockery. “Rude, outspoken, easily irate. A single woman of such improper countenance is unacceptable, indeed.” He gave Jackson a wink. “I demand we replicate the woman in triplicate.”
The dowager duchess made a disgusted sound in her throat. “There was never any hope for you. Born to vex me, you were.”
Figaro bowed his head. “A task I take to with the utmost vigilance, Your Grace.”
Her Grace turned back to Jackson, knowing there’d be no reinforcements from her youngest. “You cannot marry that—thathoyden!”
Jackson coughed into his hand, another ploy to hide his grin. If his mother hadn’t learned from their first encounter that such silly insults would do nothing but encourage Anna’s behavior, he would not be the one to ruin the amusement.
“We’d do better to see the woman damaged and wed to the local blacksmith,” the dowager duchess said.
Jackson’s humor vanished. “Mother—”
“I’m aware. We cannot break the agreement without considerable shame; therefore, we must endure this disgusting connection—yes,disgusting, no matter her relation to the previous Marchioness of Crews,” she went on, clearly oblivious to his fowling mood. “We shall have her committed before there is any chance she’s bred. No grandchildren of mine will have such diluted blood.”
“Mother!”
“Arrangements will be made, not to worry.” The dowager duchess waved a hand. “It is unseemly business, that of stationing a bastard as the heir, but I will be sure to find a true blueblood for you to bed. One too ruined to have any sway in society and one who will disappear with enough coin.”
Jackson stilled, disgust over such seedy plans a mix with mounting rage at how his mother so easily dismissed the woman who was so far above him in grit and determination, it was laughable to think he’d ever deserve her. “I will not betray my marriage bed.”
“Don’t be prudish,” the dowager duchess said. “Bed sporting is an unsavory pastime, but it is not new. A quick wedding, rendezvous with a mistress until she bears a child and this whole business with abaronet’s descendant becoming the next duke goes away. Of course no one in thetonwill know or appreciate my efforts to keep the title pure. But I will!”
Jackson slammed his cup and saucer on the table. “ENOUGH!” Seeing red, Jackson wrangled in his temper until his words were no louder than a rumbling growl. “Insult my intended one more time, and I will have you removed to the dowager house, where you will remain, and where you will not be welcome within a mile of my soon-to-be wife, let alone to cross the threshold back into Grandfellow Hall.”
His mother reeled back and accused, “She has bewitched you!”
From the very beginning. “Sheis an intelligent woman of fine moral character and whom you have insulted.”
Jackson threw his napkin on the table and stood—when he caught movement out of the corner of his eye.
He turned to see a flash of yellow vanish from view in the gardens directly outside.
She’d been listening at the window.
“Excuse me,” he said, not bothering to offer his mother the courtesy of a bow. “I find I have lost my appetite.”
Jackson made for the hall, his heart drumming in his chest.
He crossed to the terrace doors.
