Page 13 of The Duke's Reluctant Muse
“I –” Jonathan opened his mouth to give back a short, sharp reply but none came to him. A weight began to sink into his heart, making his shoulders round and his whole body slump just a little.
“You wanted rumours and whispers to stop but I fear that you have only just added to them,” Lord Dalton continued, frowning. “I do not understand what you thought to do there.”
The explanation as to his thinking was not one that Jonathan wanted to express and, with a scowl, he ran one hand down his face. “I may have misstepped.”
“I believe that you have.”
And there is nothing I can do.Letting out a groan, Jonathan threw his head back and stared up at the ceiling. His eyes closed, his heart hammering wildly as he realized just how ridiculous he had been.
“Your Grace?”
Turning, Jonathan saw Miss Jeffries looking at him with curiosity in her expression, clearly wondering what it was he was doing. His upset at her absence, his anger towards his own actions and his deep sense of regret and shame all came together as he looked into her eyes.
“Might I ask, Miss Jeffries, what it is you think you are doing?” Grasping her hand, Jonathan pulled her towards a quieter part of the room, though Lord Dalton came to join them. His eyes sharp, he glared at her, his jaw set as she blinked back at him, the color fading from her face.
“I do not know what you mean.” A slight wobble in her voice ought to have held Jonathan back but all of his emotions began to meld together, and he threw them out towards her without having any real intention of doing so.
“Did not your brother – nay, your governess, for it is what every child knows – inform you that you ought to stay near your chaperone? I am greatly astonished to discover that the sister of my dear friend is so poor in her manner and in matters of propriety!”
The lady blinked furiously though she did not drop her gaze. Lord Dalton put one hand on Jonathan’s arm, pulling him back just a little but Jonathan shook it off, his frustration still lingering.
“I have been searching for you and –”
“Might I ask if that was before or after you strode across the room and left me standing alone at the door of the drawing room?” Miss Jeffries, tears now sparkling in her eyes, stood tall as she gazed back at him directly. “Or might it have been once you had fetched a drinkonlyfor yourself and began to sip it without showing me even the smallest interest as you stood to the side of the room? Thankfully, I have made a new acquaintance and it isshewho has led me through this evening so I have not had to stand alone!”
Her words broke through Jonathan’s wall of frustration and anger and brought it tumbling down. Until this moment, he had not realized just how badly he had neglected her.
“If you would all like to come to the ballroom, I have the evening entertainment ready and waiting!”
Jonathan turned his head to see their host calling to them all to follow after him. Swallowing hard, he turned back to Miss Jeffries, but she was already stepping away.
“Might I accompany you, Miss Jeffries?” Lord Dalton intercepted Jonathan and offered Miss Jeffries his arm, his eyesthrowing a hard look towards Jonathan as he did so. “Did I hear you say that you made a new acquaintance?”
“You did.” Turning her back on Jonathan, Miss Jeffries took Lord Dalton’s arm and then began to walk alongside him, her voice drifting away as they made their way from the room. Jonathan closed his eyes and hung his head, feeling more than a little ashamed. He had spoken rashly, had not thought for a moment of his own behavior and when it had been shown to him, he had been left with nothing to say.
And now I have ruined the entire evening.
In speaking first to Lady Matheson and saying what he had, he had made it almost entirely certain that yet more rumors would circulate about him. Thereafter, he had let his irritation and upset rush through him and into the harsh and unfair words he had thrown at Miss Jeffries which, clearly, had upset her a great deal.
With a groan, Jonathan dropped his head into his hands as the entire room around him emptied. Standing alone, he heaved out a long breath and tried to fight against the despair which instantly began to take root in his heart.
Perhaps, he considered, he was doomed to failure and being back in London would bring him nothing but torment and regret.
Chapter Seven
“It was very kind of you to come to call.” Elizabeth smiled warmly at Lady Annette, thrilled that her new friend had come to take tea the very day after their first acquaintance. “Did you enjoy last evening? I thought the entertainment was quite marvelous!”
Elizabeth smiled as she poured the tea. “It was, indeed.” Lord Templeton had put on a performance by some actors and musicians and Elizabeth had been quite transfixed with the story – to the point that she had almost entirely forgotten about all that the Duke had said to her. “I must tell you again how grateful I was for your company. Might I ask if your brother improved in his awareness of your presence at all?”
At this, Lady Annette laughed and shook her head, her auburn curls bouncing lightly. “No, not in the least! He came to find me at the end of it all and asked if I had enjoyed the evening, seeming to be entirely unaware that he had done nothing to assist me.”
“Oh dear.” With a sympathetic smile, Elizabeth set a cup of tea down in front of Lady Annette. “I am sorry to hear it.”
“At least he made sure that I was taking a maid with me today,” came the reply, along with a small smile. “Though he did not enquire as to where I was going. I could have been going to call upon a gentleman and he would not have known it!” She laughed as Elizabeth’s eyebrows lifted. “Not that I would have done so, of course.”
Elizabeth laughed along with her new friend. “Indeed.”
“You did appear to be a little quiet when you first came to the ballroom.” Lady Annette took a sip of her tea, her eyebrows lifting. “Was all well between the Duke and yourself?”
