Page 7 of The Truth about the Marquess
“But of course.” Leaning back, Emma’s smile remained, though Jane caught the flicker of tears in her eyes. “I want to see you happy again, Jane. I thought at first that it might be in finding another gentleman to marry, one who might leave you feeling happy and contented, but I see now that such a thing is not theonlyway for you to be so.”
Jane nodded, her throat tight again though, this time, it came from tears of gratitude over her sister’s thoughtfulness.
“Might I ask if you will consider it?” Emma asked, quietly. “Will you think of it for a time, at the very least?”
Pressing her lips together, Jane lifted her chin and, despite the quailing of her heart, spread out her hands.
“I do not need to think about it. It is, as you have said, a way to support myself but without the need for matrimony. So yes, Emma, I shall accept the employment and write for ‘The London Chronicle’.”
Chapter Three
“Ihear that Lady Janice is now courting.”
Oliver scowled at his friend, though Lord Dunstable only grinned.
“Yes, I am well aware of that.”
“Was that not someone that you were thinking to call upon?”
A slight flush came over Oliver’s face.
“Yes, I did. I mean, yes, I was going to.”
Lord Dunstable’s eyebrows rose.
“You called on her?”
Oliver winced, wishing that he had not misspoken in such an obvious way.
“Yes, I did. In fact, I did call upon her, at the very time that Lord Brackston did also.” Seeing the way that his friend’s lips quirked, Oliver let out a groan, knowing that he would be unable to escape his friend’s inquisitiveness. “Lord Brackston came into the room, greeted the ladies, and thereafter, practically fell upon his knees and begged Lady Janice to allow him to court her! Just as I was thinking that there was nothing about Lady Janice that I did not like, thinking to myself that I might very easily begin to pursue her, only for Lord Brackston to interrupt my plans!”
“How very rude of him,” Lord Dunstable chuckled, his mouth broad in a smile. “Though that is not necessarily a bad thing, is it? It means that you had no need to pursue her, only to then realize that Lord Brackston was interested in her also. That has saved you a great deal of time and effort, I think.”
“I suppose so.” Oliver let out another sigh, reaching to take a drink from a passing footman’s tray. “It does make me feel that there is very little hope for me, I must confess. First, I had Lady Anna’s rejection and now, I have been pushed away before I even had the chance to draw close to Lady Janice!”
“But do not give up yet,” Lord Dunstable said, quickly. “I will help you, I think.”
Oliver’s eyebrows lifted.
“You want to help me find a bride?”
“If it stops your complaining and whining, then I think that I would be more than willing to do anything you asked!” came the reply, though Lord Dunstable grinned with it, making Oliver roll his eyes, though he could not help but smile also. “Yes, I think I shall. And mayhap I shall find myself a bride at the very same time!”
This made Oliver laugh, knowing that his friend was a dedicated bachelor and had no intention whatsoever of becoming attached to any young lady.
“Now I know that you are jesting.”
“I certainly am not!” Lord Dunstable replied, only to chuckle as he shrugged his shoulders. “Very well, I say that Imayfind myself a bride but the chances of doing such a thing are very faint indeed. It would have to be a very special young lady, and a veryintriguingyoung lady, to capture my attention, I am sure! But all the same, I would be glad to be of aid to you, seeing that you are so very fervent – both in what you seek and in what you hope for!”
“Well, I would be grateful for it, I am sure.” Looking out across the ballroom, Oliver let out a long, heavy sigh and shook his head. “I seem to be failing before I have even begun!”
A more serious look came over Lord Dunstable’s expression as he surveyed the room.
“The first thing we must do is to have your dance card entirely filled. After all, you are a Marquess – albeit one with a slightly smaller fortune compared to others – but that should not be too difficult a thing to overcome! There will be many a young lady who will not be too concerned about that, I am sure, especially if you make it plain that you are doing all you can to improve it of late! I will make sure that I speak of that to as many of thetonas I can, and that will improve your standing all the more.”
Oliver nodded, rubbing one hand over his chin. That was his only flaw, he was sure. To have a slightly diminished fortune did mean that thetonlooked at him with a little more concern, and did not instantly consider him to be as eligible as others.
“That will help.”
