CHAPTER ONE
“And this, Lord Brunswick, is my daughter; Lady Jane Fenwell.”
Arthur Fenwell, Earl of Highclere gestured at his daughter who dropped into a curtsey before the marquess her father had introduced her to.
“Ah, you had not mentioned she was this lovely,” the marquess chuckled, eyeing the lady before him, like one would a delectable dessert.
Jane Fenwell stood straighter, fighting the urge to wince at the gleam in the man’s eyes. He was clearly much older than her, old enough to be her father even – an unsurprising fact, given Lord Brunswick was one of her father’s business partners.
“If only her looks were sufficient enough to make up for her many faults,” Arthur sighed with a disappointed shake of his head. “But then, if that were the case, we would not be here rightnow. It pains me, the embarrassment I must endure as I witness other promising young ladies secure their matches. But I have held onto hope that my own daughter has merely not been given the opportunity to find her own. I assure you; she will make a worthy bride.”
Jane flinched as the man took hold of her hand and lifted it to his lips, his lecherous gaze filling her stomach with unease. She shifted her gaze to where her mother stood behind her father, hoping that she would step in and put an end to the ridiculous ploy her father was putting on.
But her mother would not meet her gaze and Jane looked away in disappointment, just in time to catch her father staring at her.
“What are you doing, girl?”
Jane blinked, glancing between Arthur and the marquess.
“I-I beg your pardon –”
“I said Lord Brunswick is quite passionate about dancing, so you should join him on the dance floor.” Arthur stated briskly.
It was not a request or a suggestion, but rather an order to do what her father felt was necessary – not for her, but his own desires. And she had spent most of her life doing what she could to keep him satisfied, but recently, she had grown rather tired of his ploys.
Jane shook her head quickly. “Father, I don’t think –”
The words were barely out of her mouth before he lightly nudged her forward, into the path of the marquess.
“Do as I say now, you twat. Do not humiliate me even further.”
The man smiled down at her, likely intending to appear kind but seemed rather untrustworthy instead as he said,
“It is all right if you are shy or you are not confident in your dance skills. I am an excellent dance partner – according to my previous partners. You are in good hands.”
Jane could not think of a greater lie than that last sentence, and swiftly decided she did not have to allow herself to be a indulge in it.
“I am sure, my lord, but I do not feel well tonight and as such, I think it would be best if I did not try to move too much.”
The man frowned and his gaze slid from hers to Arthur’s in confusion.
“I thought you were of sound health and that was why your father suggested –”
“She is fine, Lord Brunswick. Perhaps a tad lazy, as per usual.” Arthur said through gritted teeth as he turned to Jane with a glare.
Jane returned her father’s gaze with an empty one of her own, refusing to back down on what she wanted.
The marquess could clearly sense that something was amiss, because he chuckled uncomfortably.
“I do not mind if the lady would rather rest than dance with me. After all, it would seem that she is more in need of the benefits of our interaction... than I am.” The man huffed with a grimace.
Jane knew what he meant, but she feigned ignorance because she was not the one desperate to enter a marriage.
“My apologies, my lord. Do enjoy the rest of your evening.” She said softly, curtseying slightly before she walked away.
“Do you not realize that I was doing you a favor, girl? How dare –”
Jane kept her eyes forward, moving through the crowd as quickly as she could, ignoring the marquess’ words.
