Page 86 of My Deceitful Duchess
Drowsily, she murmured, “Two percent.” Her cheek rubbed against his shoulder, like a cat staking a claim.
“Only two? Ah, but now it’smyturn.” With just the lightest nudge, he rolled her to her back, and she went in a lazy sprawl, replete and satiated. For the moment, at least. “Perhaps I can convince you to increase that to four.”
∞∞∞
It was dusk again when Jenny woke; she’d succumbed to sleep sometime just after dawn and had slept the whole day through. There was no lamp lit, and the space beside her in bed had grown cold—not even Charlie shared the bed with her.
It was ridiculous to feel abandoned just because she had long since grown accustomed to Sebastian’s presence within this room, be it sleeping or working—and she hadn’t the time to concern herself with it anyway. In the murky, fading light she found the spare clothing she’d brought and struggled into it on her own, awkwardly fastening her gown.
She hadn’t been left alone, she realized; she had only been left undisturbed. Voices floated up from the floor below as she opened the door. Muted and quiet, as if designed not to disrupt her sleep. She hesitated, uncertain, as she crept down the stairs. To intrude upon a private conversation, whoever the caller might be, would certainly be rude.
But then there came an exuberant yip and the dancing clack of nails upon the floor. Charlie bounded into view at the foot of the stairs, tearing toward her, his untidy whiskers quivering with joy.
Caught out by a dog.
“Jenny?” Sebastian appeared just a moment later. “I was coming to wake you shortly. It is only that—”
“You have a visitor,” she said, reaching down to pet Charlie, who pranced about her feet for attention.
“In fact,youhave a visitor.” His hand curled around the newel post at the bottom of the stairs. “Come. Dinner, and then I’ll let you go.”
“You’llletme?” Dodging Charlie’s squirming body, she started down the stairs.
“Yes, I’llletyou. It’s a sacrifice on my part, deserving of great respect.” He extended his hand to her, grasping hers in within it. “Mum’s come to see you. She went to Ambrosia first, of course, but—”
“Oh,no.” She hadn’t been there. Of course she hadn’t. And now Sebastian’s mother was to be confronted once again with evidence of the fact that Jenny was everything that her husband and eldest son imagined her to be.
Sebastian squeezed her fingers. “It’s Father who is the pompous sort,” he said. “Mum isn’t the stone-throwing sort at all.” He coughed into his fist. “Charles was a six-month baby. He’s got no idea.”
Startled, Jenny glanced up at him. “Really?”
“Found the dates scrawled into the family Bible when I was just a boy. The marriage, and then Charles’ birth. So sheknows, you see.” There was the flicker of a dimple in his cheek.
“But your father—”
“Isthat pompous. And a hypocrite besides.”
“Sebastian.” Mary’s chiding voice echoed down the hall.
“Mum hearseverything,” Sebastian warned,sotto voce, and Jenny snickered as he led her toward the small sitting room, where Mary appeared in the doorway, her hands planted upon her hips.
“Well, I certainly heardthat!” But her face softened from exasperation as she saw Jenny at last. “My dear,” she said, reaching out to take Jenny’s hands in her own. “I came to apologize once more. Winston will come around. And so will Charles. They are just—”
“Pompous,” Sebastian supplied on a drawl.
Mary rolled her eyes, sending her son a reproachful glance. “Concerned,” she said to Jenny. “My husband loves his children, though he is not particularly…demonstrative. He worries. Like any parent would. He and Sebastian do not frequently see eye-to-eye—”
Sebastian muffled a snort in his hand.
“—But he is still a father who wants the best for his sons. In time, he will see the same thing I do. That youarewhat is best for Sebastian, and that any woman who could induce my son to fall so deeply in love must be deserving of it.” Mary’s hand came up to cup her cheek. “I understand you have not much in the way of family,” she said, “but I hope—I hope—”
Oh. “Yes,” she said, and there was a funny little quaver in the word. Not a begrudging acceptance at all—this family washersif she wanted it, just the same as if she had been born to it. It wasn’t a perfect one, and it would come trials and tribulations, but still—it washers. And even if Winston and Charles never gave her anything more than a begrudging acceptance, still there would be Sebastian and Mary. “Yes,” she said again, and accepted the embrace that Mary offered, and knew that Mary would be the best grandmother her child could have—the best mother-in-law any woman could hope for.
And if she said her husband and son would come around—well, then, Jenny believed her.
Chapter Thirty Nine
“It’s not enough.”
