Page 64 of Sinful Persuasion of a Lady in the Making
Jenny felt a surge of irritation that her brother had chosen to be late, although she recognized it as the power play that it was. Whether Sebastian held a superior title or not, Luke would want him to know thathewas in charge of this match.
She looked at Sebastian and all her concerns melted away, her from replaced by a grin of girlish delight.
“Lord Hartwood,” Jenny said, “how nice to see you.”
“And you too,” he said, his eyes boring into her, full of lust and love and all manner of sweet things. She shivered, bit into her bottom lip. Her knees weakened at his gaze and all that it could possibly mean, then she quietly reprimanded herself for being such a blushing maiden.
You are both older and better than such nonsense, Jenny Jones, she told herself, trying to stop herself from laughing.
“Would you like to join us for tea?” she asked, then closed her eyes against such a nonsense question.
“That is why I am here,” he said, winking at her. She felt her cheeks flush with warmth as her heart raced. She felt a fool, but she hoped that she was an adorable one, at least.
“Yes,” she said. “Shall we take a seat?”
“Yes,” Alison said brightly, clapping her hands together. Jenny jumped, having quite forgotten that Alison was in the room at all. “And Mr. Jones will be joining us shortly.”
Sebastian adjusted his coat tails and took a seat nearest the window, his face lit up by the sunlight streaming in. It brightened the contours of his face, the tiniest of dimples on his cheeks, the gentle downy sheen of his sideburns. Jenny had to stop herself from running up to him, throwing herself into his arms and whispering delights into his ear as he nibbled on her neck.
Control yourself!
Instead, she cleared her throat and took the seat opposite him, smoothing down the back of her skirt as she sat.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” Luke said as he blustered in, smiling courteously.
He nodded briefly at Sebastian—polite, but not overly friendly. Jenny heard Alison’s harsh whisper to him as she greeted him at the door.Make an effort. He smiled at his wife and whispered back, “I will, I promise,” before kissing her on the cheek in greeting.
“No need to apologize,” Sebastian said, standing in magnanimous condescension. “I understand you are a busy man. Besides which, we have not been waiting long.”
Jenny’s heart swelled at the kind way in which Sebastian had spoken to her brother, the way he had deigned to honor Luke by rising from his seat. It showed his willingness to try, his desire to be accepted and welcomed, even though they all knew he was the superior of them all.
Luke smiled, nodded, and then took his seat opposite the window, a wall between Jenny and Sebastian. He motioned for Fanny to pour the tea, and the maid scuttled over, unused to tasks as lady’s maid. She reached over for the teapot, then poured a cup for Sebastian first, followed by the ladies, and the Luke lastly and as she worked, no one said a word.
Jenny looked at Sebastian, over the maid’s busy arms, and over the barrier built by Luke’s gaze. He stole a glance and threw him a smile in return, a smile that held a promise—of love, of the future, of things unspeakable until they were alone. Sebastian licked his lips and then smiled in return.
“Well, isn’t this nice,” Alison said. She looked around their little group, eyes gleaming, and Jenny appreciated the effort she was making.
Sebastian looked incredibly relaxed given the situation, and that was yet another trait for Jenny to fall in love with. He was so confident, so strong, nothing seemed to faze him. He sat with his back straight as was proper, but he was clearly not tense or uncomfortable, and he smiled often at both Jenny and her family.
“It is very nice, indeed,” Luke said, clearly his throat and looking awkwardly around him. Jenny suspected he felt out of place, uncertain of what he should do, and with that thought she no longer felt irritated at him. This was as new to him as it was to her, only it was up to him to take the lead.
Alison picked up her teacup and took a noisy slurp, watching everyone from over the rim of her cup. Jenny looked at her lap, sensing Sebastian’s sensual gaze on her and trying not to return it, lest her brother notice. Luke looked up at the ceiling, his left hand in his lap while his right fiddled with the teaspoon on the table. No one said anything and the minutes ticked by.
“Have you had a productive day, Mr. Jones?” Alison asked eventually, placing her teacup back on the saucer and looking up at her husband with a smile. He lowered his gaze to meet hers and he nodded, silent and non-committal, but he didn’t say a word.
“Well… good,” she said, then closed her mouth in an awkward smile.
The silence returned, all but for the tapping of the teaspoon on the tabletop and—for Jenny at least—the rhythmic pounding of her heart in her chest. She glanced again at Sebastian, up through her eyelashes, her lips tight with a hidden grin. She almost laughed at the awkwardness of the whole afternoon, but she managed to keep herself polite and sensible.
And then Luke jumped, just a small jolt in his seat but enough to be noticeable. His look of shock in Alison’s direction told Jenny all she needed to know. She had kicked him under the table, encouraging him to take the lead. Jenny snorted, unable to stop herself, but then she feigned a cough to cover herself.
“Are you all right?” Sebastian asked.
“Oh, yes,” she said, her cheeks coloring. “Yes, sorry.”
“How is your sister, Lord Hartwood?” Luke asked. He stirred sugar into his tea, his hand working while his eyes focused on Sebastian.
“Oh, she is well enough,” Sebastian said, nodding over to Luke as he picked his own teacup up and took a sip.
