Page 55 of Sinful Persuasion of a Lady in the Making
Before Jenny could finish her sentence, there came a knock at the door, and they both swiveled around to face it. It was an easy, confident rap, one that Jenny recognized instantly.
Sebastian!
“Would you like to answer it, or shall I?” Alison asked, unable to contain her smile.
“You,” Jenny said quickly, but as Alison took her first step toward the door, Jenny rushed past her. “No, me.”
She paused for breath and to brush the loose strands of hair back from her face, when he knocked again. She turned the handle and opened the door quickly and with a flourish.
“Good morning, Lord Hartwood,” she said, using his title for Alison’s ears.
“Good morning, Miss Jones. Another day, and another beautiful gown, I see.”
Jenny blushed again, then kicked herself. She was not some lovesick girl, but a grown woman. Still, he did look remarkably handsome, and she had to do all she could to hold herself together and stop herself from swooning.
“Shall we take a walk in the garden?” she asked, ignoring his sweet words.
They made their way around the entire gravel path this time, not once but twice, so involved in their conversation that neither of them really noticed where they were walking or what was around them. Fanny walked slowly behind them, but neither of them paid her any heed, unable as they were to take their eyes from one another.
“All right,” he said after a time. “You’ve told me about your desire to visit the seaside. What other dreams do you have?”
“I…” she stuttered, her jaw working up and down as she tried to think. Her dreams were not something she normally discussed, instead dismissing them as a waste of time and energy. “I don’t know,” she said finally.
“You must know,” he said with a chuckle. “There must besomethingyou have always wanted that you couldn’t have.”
“Couldn’t I say I already have that? I went from wearing drab gray every day to have a gown for each color of the rainbow.”
“It is true enough that many maids would envy your current position,” he said. “But this wasn’tyourdream, this was your brother’s. You just happened to benefit from it.”
“And benefit I have,” she laughed, incredulous that he might be lessening its importance.
“Yes, but what is something else you’ve always wanted?” he urged, refusing to let the topic drop, and she looked at him with a flash of irritation. He laughed at her expression. “All right, let me give you an example. Ever since I was a small boy, I have dreamed of owning a white horse.”
“A white horse?” she asked. “Really?”
“Yes. We have plenty of black and gray horses at the estate, but the white ones just seem to elude me.”
“But why?” she asked. “Why do you particularly want a white one?”
“Promise you won’t laugh?” he asked. She nodded her promise and he continued. “When I was a child, my father told me that pure white stallions had magical powers.”
Jenny laughed, unable to stop herself.
“You promised you wouldn’t laugh!”
“You’re right,” she said. “I’m sorry. But magical powers?”
“I know,” he said, shaking his head. “It’s ridiculous. And of course, I know that should I ever be lucky enough to own a white stallion, it will not—could not—have magical powers.” He threw her a lopsided smile. “But it is something I want all the same.”
“Perhaps because it reminds you of your father,” she said, softening the tone.
“Maybe you’re right,” he said.
He paused for a moment, perhaps considering that idea. Jenny could see the sadness in his eyes, but mixed with it was the happiness of memory, of nostalgia, and she was glad that Sebastian had that, at least.
“Your turn,” he insisted.
“Oh dear,” she said, turning pink.
