Page 33 of Avenging the Earl's Lady
Chapter 8
Jane held tightly onto Mr.Lewis’s arm as he escorted her and Jenny through the Hackwell House mews to the residence’s back entrance.
She’d risen early and dressed in her plain traveling gown, an unadorned drab, the better to pass inconspicuously through town.She’d been preparing for the most important visit of her life, when this summons to Hackwell House had arrived.
If Lady Hackwell insisted on this meeting, there must be boundaries to her benevolence.
At the garden door, Lady Hackwell’s warm greeting eased the knotting in her stomach, and they climbed up the stairs to a small sitting room.
“My lady.”Barton shot up from her seat and came to greet her, with Lady Sirena joining in, and Mrs.Gibson reaching for Jenny.
A tea tray littered with empty cups sat atop the round table, and Barton’s large portfolio lay open next to it.
“I’m sorry we’re late.We decided to walk.”It wasn’t far, and she needed to conserve her coins.
“Next time I’ll send a carriage,” Lady Hackwell said.
“Or I will,” Sirena said.
“Better I should,” Paulette Gibson said.“The Gibsons are not so grand.Bink and I, being mere commoners, generally find it easier to elude Lord Shaldon than the rest of you.”
Her stomach fluttered.So, they all knew she was avoiding the Earl.
“You are so kind.”Jane forced a smile.If they knew the whole truth about her flight from him, they might not be so willing to help.
A maid appeared and refreshed the table, and they all seated themselves.
She was grateful for the few moments to gather her thoughts.She must have a care what she said.Other than Barton, none of the women present, not even Jenny, knew the extent of her duplicity.
Barton brought her a cup and a plate, worry clouding her eyes.
“Well,” Sirena said, “What’s afoot, Lady Jane?What has Shaldon got up to with you?”
The mouthful of biscuit stuck in her throat.She took a sip of tea and set her cup aside.
“This has nothing to do with Lord Shaldon,” she said.
“Everything has something to do with Lord Shaldon,” Paulette said.“Or rather, he is so often behind tweaking our strings, he has something to do with everything.”
She had heard the story—Shaldon had arranged the marriage between Paulette and his eldest, Bink Gibson, managing to capture a traitorous marquess in the process.
Lady Hackwell’s lips formed a thin, disapproving line.“Has this to do with Mr.Morton?”she asked finally.
Jane squeezed her eyes closed a moment.“No.”Once a tidbit of news surfaced, there was no possibility of keeping a secret in theton.
Unless one was dealing with the criminal element.She prayed she could count on Madame and her cousin, at least for a time.
“I refused Mr.Morton’s offer.And I assured Lord Shaldon that not even his endorsement of the match would convince me to say yes.”
“What?” Lady Sirena rose and began to pace, her gown framing the babe growing inside her.“I shall tell Bakeley to…no, I shall have a word with Shaldon myself.To think of him attempting to force an ancient roué on a handsome woman like you, still in her prime.Why, no wonder you didn’t return to Shaldon House.”
“No, Sirena.No, that’s not why I didn’t return to Shaldon House.Not entirely.I…” She bit her lip and fought for a breath.“Perhaps I just feel that I’ve…I’ve gone a bit mad.”
Sirena frowned.“The letter from your solicitor—”
“A private matter.”She stood and took the younger woman’s hand.“Oh, do forgive me.You’ve been so kind.”She spun away, alarmed to feel tears welling.
“Besides providing you inconspicuous shelter,” Lady Hackwell asked, “how may we help?”
