Page 51 of Sleepless in Saunton
Resolutely, she headed down to the main level in search of the other guests. She soon found the countess drinking tea in one of the drawing rooms with an accompaniment of women of all ages. The Duchess of Halmesbury gestured for her to come join them, so Jane walked across to take a seat.
The moment she sat, the babe in the duchess’s arms turned to watch her. Reaching up two chubby arms, Jasper mewled loudly. The duchess laughed. “Jane, my dear son has grown weary of his mother. Would you like to hold him?”
Jane immediately reached for the boy. As soon as he was in her arms, gazing up at her with enormous eyes, she leaned forward to sniff his sweet scent and was hit with a wave of yearning. If she could find a beau to marry, she could start her new life. Perhaps have her own babe by this time next year. She nearly wept with the sheer desire to begin on this path. This Season was turning out to be a bitter experience, and there was no need to prolong the agony.
Drat! These symptoms from the coffee are turning me into a dreary mess!
As Jasper grabbed one of her fingers with his tiny fist, Jane thought once again about how she might be betrothed before the house party ended. She was ready, and she did not want to meet more men who would lead to more disappointment. All she needed was one suitable gentleman to propose. Her impatience was not to do with her throbbing head, she assured herself, nor the architect she wished she had never met. This was about stepping into her future.
When Jasper grew weary, his little eyelids drooping, she handed him back to his mother, who summoned their nanny to take him for a rest. Then Jane left to find Mr. Dunsford. Exiting the manor, she found him engaged in a discussion with several young gentlemen and ladies. He grinned broadly when he spotted her. Completing the anecdote he was telling, he quickly excused himself to join her.
Bowing, with a tip of his hat, he straightened and held out an arm. “Miss Davis, would you do me the honor of taking a turn in the gardens? There are several guests here to maintain propriety.” He gestured back to the table. Jane accepted his arm, and they descended the stairs to walk the pathways of the formal garden.
“Tell me about your home, Mr. Dunsford. Is it far from here?”
“Not at all. About two hours at most, to the northeast of Saunton.”
“And do you have a large family?”
“Alas, no. There are my father and my little sister. My mother died a few years ago. What about you, Miss Davis?”
“I have three brothers, all younger than me. And two sisters. You might have met Emma the day you arrived?”
“Ah, yes. The young lady who married Mr. Peregrine Balfour. I was most surprised when he mentioned he plans to remain at Shepton Abbey throughout the year. I always thought the gentleman loved the sophistication of London too much to rusticate.”
“Do you visit London?”
“As frequently as family obligations permit. Now that I hear you will be there with the earl’s family for the rest of the Season, I am quite inspired to follow you!” Mr. Dunsford smiled, revealing pearly teeth. He was the epitome of the gentry. Fine-looking, charming, and modest for the most part—having made her smile many times with his dry and self-deprecating wit.
Jane smiled in acknowledgment, thinking about how she had enjoyed their interactions. There was every reason to believe that they would enjoy the companionship of a good marriage and to believe she would eventually forget the architect who had awakened her to passion.
CHAPTER14
Barclay had not seen Jane except for dinner last evening, which was a small mercy. Instead, he had spent his time with Mrs. Gordon, even mildly enjoying their game of nine-pins under the afternoon sun. He had been regaling the widow with various anecdotes about his clients across the realm, and she had giggled and laughed in a gratifying manner for most of their game.
He had not been aware that he could be so amusing, but clearly he had unplumbed depths of humor to share with a new wife.
As the afternoon progressed, they completed their game and walked with the other players back to the terrace. There they found refreshments awaiting them and took a seat at one of the tables. In the distance, he noted Jane arm in arm with the young Mr. Dunsford, and for a moment, he was distracted, before dutifully pulling his attention away to laugh at an anecdote Mrs. Gordon now told him about visiting one of the tenants’ homes at Saunton Park.
Apparently, the widow made a habit of visiting the various homes, seeing it as her duty, since until recently there had been no mistress at Saunton Park in many years.
Swallowing a dainty biscuit, Barclay reflected on how much he had changed since his arrival there. Here he was laughing and enjoying pleasant conversation instead of pursuing his wife’s ghost. Soon he might bring a new wife home with him. Tatiana would have a mother once more, who could sit with her and play the pianoforte on a Sunday afternoon, as Natalya had done.
He could well imagine this woman bending her head over his daughter, as they learned a new piece of music together and he watched from the comfort of his armchair. It was the small moments he missed the most. The joy of sharing a lazy afternoon with Aurora sewing, Tsar reading his news sheets, and him … just watching his wonderful family in a moment of quietude. He missed it like the blazes.
Mrs. Gordon was a mature woman who understood the implications of marrying someone like him. She believed her reputation would further improve his credibility, and her fascination with him had not flagged.
Aurora had confirmed that the widow had taken pains to join her for breakfast, so Mrs. Gordon was willing to do the work required to make their family whole.
Several times during their conversations, he had clarified that he lived with Tsar and Aurora in their family home, to ensure that the widow found this acceptable.
“Have you traveled much, Mrs. Gordon?”
“I have a little. I used to live in Canterbury, which is where I met Mr. Gordon. When he learned of his new post here in the village, he asked my father for my hand in marriage. So I am well familiar with Kent, as well as Surrey, where I attended a ladies’ seminary.”
Barclay blinked. “Surrey? So far from home? What age were you when you were sent away to school?”
“I first left home when I was seven years old. I personally think it was a little too young, but it all turned out for the best.”
