Page 103 of Enslaved to the Seduction of a Lady
“He needs to learn to become a gentleman, too. As a servant, he has excellent manners, but you know as well as I do that that will not do.”
“Absolutely, Your Grace,” Thomas said. “I will teach him all he needs to know.”
“Although,” Salsbury said, turning back to Luke, “your manner of speech has dramatically improved in recent months. I can only assume my daughter had a hand in that.”
“I…” Luke didn’t know what to say, but in the end decided honesty was best, “Yes, Your Grace. Lady Alison has been helping to improve my speech, and my reading, too.”
Salsbury chuckled and looked down at the bowl of brandy in his hand.
“She’s a good young lady, my Alison,” he said. “Always kind-hearted and looking out for ways to help.”
“She is all those things and more, Your Grace,” Luke said, but the Duke still did not look up.
“Being married to that brute of a man would have broken her spirit,” he said.
“Yes,” Luke replied softly, “I fear it would have.”
“And I was so close to doing that to her. Does that make me a bad father?”
“No,” Carrington said, his voice low and resonant. “It is natural to want her to be financially cared for.”
“Not at all,” Luke said, shaking his head slowly. “You were doing only what you thought was best. Lord Belmont made a wonderful offer, and it seemed at the time he would provide well for her.”
“And it was only later that it came to light what a rotter he is,” Thomas added.
“Alison knew it all along,” Salsbury chuckled, looking back up and smiling again. “Mr. Jones, I cannot accept your request of marriage.”
“Oh,” Luke said, unsure what this meant. Salsbury had seemed so friendly only moments ago.
Am I jumping to conclusions?
“At least, not yet,” he added. Luke’s head shot back up, hope firing through him. “I need to think it over, and of course talk to my wife about it.”
“I understand,” Luke said.
“That makes a lot of sense,” Carrington added.
“Please,” Salsbury said after a moment. “Why don’t you all come to dinner at Salsbury Manor tomorrow evening? We can make it something of a celebration that Belmont is now imprisoned.”
“I’d be delighted,” Thomas said, “and I have no doubt that Luke would be, too.”
“Absolutely,” Luke added. “But—”
“But what?” Salsbury asked, looking intently at him.
“Jenny. She is part of all this, too.”
“Well then of course,” Salsbury said. “She shall come, too.” He leaned forward to put his glass on the table, and then he stood with a weary groan. Just as he was about to leave, he turned back and looked at Luke. “And Mr. Jones? Perhaps you can ask your question again then.”
