Page 16 of The Duke's Reluctant Muse
“Can you walk?” He leaned closer to her, a light scent of lavender reaching him. “I did not mean to hurt you, Miss Jeffries. It was an accident.”
“I am well aware of that, Your Grace.” The lady opened her eyes and looked up at him, though there was a slight pallor to her skin. “Might you find me somewhere to sit? I am sure that, if you do not mind my leaning on you as I am, I will be able to walk.”
Jonathan nodded, his throat constricting as he began to take a few steps, sensing her fingers digging into his arm all the more. Heat rose in his chest, crawling up his neck and into his face as he saw two vacant chairs at the back of the room and led her to it, his eyes darting to her face every few seconds. Turning, he leaned down so she might sit without too much difficulty, seeing how her face twisted with pain again.
“What else can I do?” Panic began to claw at his chest as he watched her reach down to rub at her ankle. “I have prevented you from having a pleasant evening yet again, it seems. I am truly sorry, Miss Jeffries, I was lost in thought and was not looking where I was going.”
She looked up at him, her brown eyes darker than he had seen them before. “It is only my ankle, Your Grace. I am sure that it will recover itself soon enough with a little rest.”
“I should find your brother.”
“Please, do not.”
A hand on his sleeve made Jonathan start in surprise, astonished that she had reached out and grasped at his arm with such strength. “Why should I not?”
“I do not want him troubled.” Her hand lingered, as though she could force him to stay near her. “This is the first occasion he has attended in some days and I do not want him to worry. Please, Your Grace, do not go to him. I have gone over my ankle before and it has been quite all right within an hour or so.”
Jonathan hesitated, feeling as though he ought to go and find his friend regardless of the lady’s demands though, at the very same time, he felt the urge to linger. He did not want to upset Miss Jeffries more than he had already done.
“Then what can I do?”
Her hand fell from his arm. “You can sit with me until I recover. Then, mayhap, we might go and speak with my brother so that he can see all is well and discover that the reason for my absence is that I have been in your company. Since you are to be my chaperone when he cannot be present, I do not think that he – or anyone – will have anything to say on the matter.”
Jonathan blinked, a little surprised at the simplicity of the request but also at the firmness with which the request was delivered. The lady was quite decisive and determined – something that ought not to have surprised him, given what he had experienced of her the previous evening – and that, Jonathan recognized, was not something that many a young lady would make so apparent.
Mayhap I can trust her after all.
“Very well.” Sitting down, he cleared his throat and then settled his hands in his lap, not entirely certain as to what he ought to say. He had felt distinctly uncomfortable in her presence at the soiree given all that he had been worried about as regarded the young ladies of London as well as being distracted by his own thoughts and concerns so now, he was at a loss as to what to say. Guilt swarmed him, glancing at her as she let out a slow breath, fearful that she felt a great deal of pain still.
“You need not look so concerned.” Miss Jeffries lifted one eyebrow. “I am quite all right. The pain is fading already.”
“That is good.” Jonathan nodded then looked away from her, recalling the way that his friend had requested in his letter that he also apologise to Miss Jeffries. Mayhap now was the best opportunity for him to do so even though the desirenotto dosuch a thing, to pull back and say nothing, fought hard within him. It was one thing to write an apology but quite another to look into someone’s eyes and say the words.
“Miss Jeffries.” Forcing himself to speak, he turned to look at her directly, a little surprised at the intensity of her gaze that he was met with. Perhaps she was already anticipating this from him, perhaps her brother had told her of his letter already. Looking away, he rubbed one hand over his chin. “Miss Jeffries, I must apologise for the way I spoke to you last evening.”
A flicker danced across her lips though other than that, she remained utterly silent.
“You were quite right to respond to me in the way you did,” Jonathan continued, a tightness in his chest as though every word was pulling the air from his lungs. “I can see now that I did not act as your chaperone in the way I ought to have done. I permitted my frustration over something else to spill over into the words I spoke to you and for that, I am deeply sorry.”
Miss Jeffries held his gaze steadily for some moments longer, saying nothing as she searched his face. Then, with a small smile, she answered him. “I do appreciate your apology, Your Grace. I have told my brother that I am more than willing to permit you to be my chaperone when required, given that you have recognised your mistakes.”
Something like relief swirled in Jonathan’s chest. “I thank you.”
“Though I shall also make sure to stay near you rather than wander away.” Miss Jeffries’ cheeks warmed, her eyes darting away from his. “I will not pretend that I did everything perfectly. I grew tired of your lack of interest and, having made a new acquaintance, permitted myself liberties that I ought not to have taken without speaking to you first.”
“I am not your brother, Miss Jeffries.”
She smiled at him gently. “All the same, I should have not walked away from you as I did. I think that our next outing together, whatever it shall be, will be all the better now, however, given that we have been honest with each other.”
Honest.
The word hit Jonathan hard. It was precisely what Lord Dennington had suggested, exactly what he himself had been thinking of and now, Miss Jeffries herself was speaking of it.
You must permit yourself to trust, even a little.
Jonathan took in a deep breath, then lifted his chin. “I do value honesty, Miss Jeffries. I think it can be hard to find it amongst society.”
This made her lips pull into a wry smile. “Indeed, Your Grace. I can imagine that having as high a title as yours must make things all the more difficult! There will be many in thetonwho wish to be in your company and will do whatever they can in order to encourage such a connection.”
