Page 54 of Sinful Persuasion of a Lady in the Making
Chapter Twenty
“Are you all right, Miss?” Fanny asked as she brushed Jenny’s hair. “You seem all aflutter.”
“Yes,” Jenny replied, smiling at the maid in the looking glass. “Nervous, that’s all. Lord Hartwood is calling on me today.”
“No need to be nervous, Miss,” Fanny replied, the brush sliding smoothly through Jenny’s raven-black locks. “Any fool could see how smitten he is with you. Wish I could find myself a man who looks at me the way Lord Hartwood looks at you.”
“I do believe you’re right,” Jenny said, letting out a little chuckle. “Gives me gooseflesh every time I catch him looking.”
Slowly but surely, Jenny’s relationship to Fanny had improved. She had begun to accept that Fanny wanted to help and that there was, in fact, nothing wrong with that. They had come from the same world, after all. And the two chattered often, like old friends who still had a lifetime of things to say to one another.
“Hair loosely pinned today?” Fanny asked the looking glass as she returned the brush to the table and picked up a hairpin. “You look so pretty when tendrils of your hair are tumbling around your face.”
“In that case, yes,” Jenny said. “I want to look my best. I really appreciate your help, you know. With everything—including your sound advice.”
“I know you do,” Fanny said. “It’s one of the reasons I like working with you so much. And Lady Alison, of course.”
“Mrs. Jones,” Jenny corrected, but Fanny shrugged at her reflection.
“She’ll always be Lady Alison to me.”
Jenny laughed, but then she said, “I can understand that well enough. I find myself almost slipping up, on occasion.”
“You’re right, Miss,” Fanny said. “There, all done,” she said, sliding the last pin in place.
“Perfect. Thank you, Fanny.”
As Jenny went down the stairs, she let her fingertips run across the wooden bannister, the mahogany cool to the touch and slick with varnish. She was lost in her own world, in thoughts of Sebastian and all he had promised.
Marriage, family, companionship. The seaside!
In fact, she was so lost in thought that when Alison wished her good morning, Jenny jumped and nearly screamed.
“I’m sorry,” Alison said, unable to contain her laugh. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
She stood at the bottom of the stairs, looking up at Jenny as she came down.
“I was not present,” Jenny admitted, her eyes closed in embarrassment.
“That much was clear. Are you all right?”
“Perfectly,” Jenny replied. “More than perfectly,” she laughed.
“Your happiness shows,” Alison said. “You look absolutely beautiful today. I take it Lord Hartwood is calling?”
Jenny blushed, feeling the warmth rise in her cheeks.
“Is it that obvious?”
“I’m afraid so,” Alison said.
“Is Luke back from his business trip yet?” Jenny asked.
She felt shaky at even the thought. Luke had already made it clear that he did not agree with their spending time together. To make it worse, when he returned, Sebastian intended to ask him for Jenny’s hand. Jenny wasn’t ready to face his reaction, wanting a few more days to enjoy her time with Sebastian before that happened.
“No,” Alison said, “you’re safe.”
“Tha—”
