Page 100 of Sinful Persuasion of a Lady in the Making
“He has always been a bad influence,” Luke sneered.
“No, I… it was not his fault. I insisted. I was so certain that Tina Reynolds would be the culprit.”
“But she’s not?” Alison asked.
“And you believe her?” Luke cried. “She is a fraud and a criminal!”
“Yes. Yes, she is, and yes, I believe her. I know she has done wrong, but I do not believe she has reason to lie in this instance, and I am certain beyond doubt that she is telling the truth.”
The veracity of this settled over the three of them, a blanket that silenced them yet sent bolts through the lot of them.
“If it’s not her,” Alison finally said, her voice a whisper and her eyes focused on the plate in front of her. “Then who is it?”
Another silence.
It was the question Jenny had been running through her mind all week, between thoughts of Sebastian and the turmoil that caused. After a long moment, Luke spoke again, and he spoke with a certainty and finality that made both women feel at ease, safer, at least.
“We are not to worry about this any longer. I shall talk to Thomas, and he’ll hire someone to find out where these letters are coming from.”
“Do you think that’s possible?” Alison asked.
“I am certain. We have both wealth and power at our disposal, and I am certain Thomas will help us in this endeavor. Now, I want you both to forget about it. It is simply too much to worry about. Let’s enjoy the meal we’ve been blessed with.”
Jenny nodded, both relieved and grateful that this matter had been taken out of her hands. Briefly, she wondered why she had not gone to her brother sooner, but seeing his pinched expression told her all she needed to know. He was worried, and that was what she wanted to avoid. Still, she felt lighter than she had in a long time, and she knew without a doubt that between Luke and Thomas, they would resolve this horrid situation.
“Now,” Luke said brightly, cutting into his meat and smiling at his dinner companions. “What other news do we have? Something happy, I hope.”
“Actually, I have more news,” Jenny said, her heart pounding. Her news was happy to her, but she wasn’t sure how Luke would react, especially given how reticent he was when she and Sebastian first declared their intentions.
“Good news?” Alison asked, again with a false brightness. She pulled the potato from her fork with her teeth, then smiled as she chewed.
“Ithink so, yes,” Jenny said.
“That sounds a little ominous,” Luke muttered. “What is it?”
“I went to visit Lord Hartwood this morning.”
“You did what?” Luke roared, clearly furious at Jenny’s words. “Why on earth would you do such a thing? And without permission, too?”
“Am I expected to ask permission for every move I make?” Jenny asked, incensed already at Luke’s reaction.
“Of course not,” Alison answered, her soft voice quite different from that of her husband’s.
“Then what?”
“We are concerned about you, that is all.”
“You don’t have to account for every step,” Luke said. “But I expect you to behave with some decorum when dealing with agentleman, if that is even what he can be called.”
“But—”
“But nothing,” Luke snapped.
“All right,” Alison said kindly. “Let Jenny say what it is she wishes to say.”
“I went to visit him today,” she said. Her food sat untouched in front of her. “Everything was a grave misunderstanding. We love one another. We wish to resume our betrothal.”
“Absolutely not,” Luke said.
