In the Arms of an Earl (27 page)

So why had she thrown herself into Frederick’s arms?

And why had he not pushed her away?

His body heat stifled. She broke away from him and turned on her side, moving quickly before tears slid through her hair and onto his hand.

She need not have bothered. He tucked his long legs beneath hers and draped his arm over her waist—comforting and possessive at the same time.

“Good night, Mrs. Blakeney,” he murmured into her hair.

His hand clasped hers, causing her ornate wedding ring to pinch her skin. She welcomed the discomfort, a distraction against the painful breaking of her heart.

Chapter Twenty-Five

“Absolutely no hanging onto his arm when you’re in public. Gentlemen detest clinging wives. You must keep your distance.”

“Cultivate a little flirtatious behavior of your own. All eyes will be on you, and your husband will go raving mad with jealousy.”

Jane sipped her tea without tasting it. Alice had brought her to Lady Brewster’s home as promised, and the women had talked of nothing else but Jane’s marital status. The clock chimed the hour, and she glanced at the door, almost looking forward to Susanna’s arrival. She could bear even her company if it meant relief from Alice and Lady Brewster’s ridiculous advice.

“Surely, your mamma told you how you should behave around your husband.” Lady Brewster sipped tea from a delicate porcelain cup. Like everything else about her home, it spoke of the finest taste and wealth, which was ridiculous, as the woman herself was vulgar and garish.

“She taught me about love and respect for one’s mate,” Jane replied, astounded they were even having the conversation. “I never thought it wrong to want to actually see my husband.”

“Oh, la!” Lady Brewster tittered behind her hand. “My dear, the less time you spend in each other’s company the better. I know you are newly wed and probably fancy yourself in love with him.” The curve of her lips turned cynical. “Believe me, Lady Falconbury—it will pass. He will start making excuses as to why he cannot attend the opera with you, and then you’ll hear he attended with a paramour.” She nodded knowingly. “Mark my words. I do hope you have a strong temperament.”

Stiff with anxiety and an onset of nausea, Jane shifted to a more comfortable position on the plump brocade sofa. How had her life come to this? She’d only left Weston two days ago, and was now sitting in an elegant parlor learning how not to love her husband.

“And a slick back,” Alice interjected, giggling at her words. Lady Brewster looked quizzical, so Alice explained. “So that all the bad will slide right off.”

Both women laughed, but Jane didn’t even try to pretend she was interested in the conversation anymore. Mercifully, a butler announced Susanna’s arrival.

All three stood to greet her, Jane hanging back behind the others. Susanna entered, and Jane fought a new bout of envy, which mixed poorly with her already sensitive nerves. Susanna’s upswept hair was tucked beneath a cunning silk turban adorned with a gold brooch in the shape of a monkey. Her blue gown was streaked with ribbons of yellow and green, creating an almost startling effect that would look ridiculous on anyone else.

Jane smoothed a crease down the front of her own simple yet expensive afternoon dress. When she’d first put it on that morning, she’d been pleased with the delicate rows of ribbon along the hem and the scooped neckline that endowed her with more than what she was born with. But in comparison to Susanna’s attire, her dress seemed as dowdy and plain as the ones she’d owned before she was married.

“Good afternoon, ladies!” Susanna cried, immediately enfolding Jane in an embrace, which Jane returned stiffly. “And how are you, Lady Falconbury?”

Her painful memories of how she’d spent the night doubting Frederick’s love flooded her like a sudden downpour on a summer day. “Very well.”

“Splendid. Please forgive my lateness. You will never believe who I saw in the park on my way here.”

Alice and Lady Brewster spoke as one. “Who?”

“You know him, Jane. Jeremy Parker, from Shropshire. He sends you his compliments.”

“How very kind.” How did he have the audacity to send her any sort of message?

“Who is this Parker?” Lady Brewster asked.

“The son of a friend of Frederick’s,” Susanna replied.

It was strange to hear her husband’s name bandied about by a woman she hardly knew, but Jane declined to speak, allowing Susanna to acquaint the others. Susanna sank onto the sofa and indicated Jane should sit beside her.

“I know who it is,” Alice remarked, a faint sneer on her lips. “That ridiculous old colonel’s son.” She tapped Lady Brewster’s arm. “My dear, he is the most boorish man you could ever hope to meet! And the daughter…”

“Lucinda is my friend.” Jane stood abruptly. “If you’ll excuse me, ladies, I am going home now. Lady Brewster, thank you for your hospitality.”

Susanna stood beside her. “Allow me to take you. My aunt’s barouche is waiting outside.” She smiled gaily at Alice and Lady Brewster, who looked red-faced and a bit hostile. “I will see Freddie’s sweet bride home by way of the park. I’m afraid she must be tired from her long journey the other day, and all the excitement of coming to town.”

Susanna ushered her out of the house to the courtyard. After they were tucked inside the vehicle, Susanna squeezed Jane’s hand and laughed uncontrollably.

“Good heavens, Jane! Did you see their faces? I’ll wager neither of those beasts have ever had anyone speak to them like that.” She dabbed at the corners of her eyes with her gloved fingertips. “But, oh dear, I hope Alice does not say anything to Freddie. He’s very protective of her since Henry died.”

“I do not think they are beasts.” Her peevishness made her defend the women even though she agreed with her.

“I did not mean to be rude,” Susanna said quickly. She released Jane’s hand, only to link her arm through hers a moment later. “I do not know Alice very well. But do not let them use your back to wipe their shoes on. With your title, you are above them in society, but they will make you feel as if you’ve just come from the country. That’s what they did to me, until I set them straight.”

“How did you do that?” Despite her animosity, she was intrigued by Susanna’s extroverted behavior, especially as it concerned standing up to Lady Brewster.

“I took Lady Brewster aside one night at a ball where she had ceaselessly insulted me. She has been the height of charitable goodness to me ever since.”

“What did you do?”

“Let me just say I told her I knew of certain trysts she’d had with certain spouses of her friends.” She winked and laughed again.

Jane almost admired Susanna’s audacity. “My goodness,” she murmured.

“The funny thing is,” Susanna added, “I do not know of any such trysts. However, her face turned as white as my gloves, so I assume it was true. She has not trifled with me since.” She must have taken Jane’s silence for disapproval and paled a little. “I do hope you will not tell Frederick about it. He will certainly scold me.”

Jane wished she could ask why Frederick would be concerned about a former love’s taking on the
ton
, but didn’t. Frederick and Susanna had some sort of connection, but of what, she was not sure. Furthermore, she was afraid to find out.

“I have an idea,” Susanna said, her face brightening. “Let us drive to Frederick’s offices and demand he take us for a stroll in the park. It will be tremendous fun, and I’m sure he could use some fresh air after being in that dreary House of Lords all day. What say you?”

“I would not wish to disturb him.” But her palms perspired at the thought of seeing Frederick. Of course, it would be nicer if she were going on her own, but if Susanna was the conveyance to her heart’s desire, she could hardly object.

“He will not be disturbed by the sight of his lovely bride.” Susanna gave her arm a little squeeze. “Oh, Jane, I am so happy you are in his life now. He has been so alone these past few years.”

Susanna was the cause of Frederick’s past heartache, but Jane refused to dwell on the miserable thought. Jeremy Parker’s sudden appearance in London was the distraction she craved. “Did Mr. Parker comment on his father’s health, or how Lucinda fares?”

Susanna’s smile wavered. “Who is Lucinda?”

“His sister. She is a friend of mine.”

The sapphire eyes sparkled again. “I believe his father is well. I do not know his sister, but he did not mention anything in particular of her circumstances.”

“He must be a great friend if he came into town to see you.”

A loose string on Susanna’s reticule commanded her full attention. “He is here to visit other friends, of course. I was fortunate to find him at the home of a mutual friend. Oh look.” She pointed out the window where the spires of Parliament loomed. “We are here! Will not Frederick be surprised to see us?”

Chapter Twenty-Six

Jane couldn’t help but glance every few moments at the empty chair opposite hers, as if her constant looks would summon Frederick, who’d been absent since the afternoon before. Alice sipped her tea, eyeing her suspiciously.

“You’ve hardly touched your food.”

Jane forced a hothouse strawberry down her dry throat. “I’m feeling out of sorts today.”

“Missing him, are you?” Alice tore a piece of toast in half and soaked it in her egg. She licked the yellow yolk from her fingers, the gesture reminding Jane of a farm cat cleaning its paw. “You’d best get used to it, my dear. Fine gentlemen are seldom at home, especially when they have other…pursuits their wives aren’t privy to.”

Jane picked the tiny seeds off a strawberry. “What kind of pursuits? Parliament?”

Alice laughed in an unusually high-pitched voice. “My poor, innocent country mouse! Your sisters are both married to quality men. Have not they explained certain things to you?”

“I’m afraid I do not understand.”

“Mistress.” Alice hissed the word. The sodden toast fell onto her plate. “If he didn’t have one before, he certainly has one now, since you’ve been in town for a month.”

Jane wondered if she’d ever breathe again. “Surely,” she clasped her napkin so her hand would cease trembling, “surely you can’t mean that Fred…”

“Ha!” Alice scoffed. “Do you think someone of noble birth—not to mention,
a Blakeney
—would constrain himself to a simple, homespun wife?” Her eyes were cold and hard. “At least, Frederick only has one of whom we know. His favorite brother, my own Henry, was so generous he entertained five or six. My dear, you have but one purpose. It’s up to you and Frederick to continue the family line. It is why he married you and what your focus must be. Swooning after your
husband”
—she sneered at the word—“is not only inappropriate but vulgar.” She nodded at Jane’s hands. “Eat your berry. It’s all gone to mush.”

Jane chewed the pitiful strawberry. Her stomach reacted with a painful spasm, and she bowed over, clutching her middle and fighting the anguish running through her. She had resolved not to reveal her emotions to Alice but couldn’t pretend any longer.

“What…what have I done?”

Alice sipped her tea. “You’ve done what all of us have, my dear. Pity your role wasn’t explained to you before you took your marriage vows.” She sighed, bored with the subject. “Still, you do have certain advantages for a lady in your position.”

“What advantages could you possibly mean?” She pressed her feet hard to the floor. The room seemed to be spinning out of control. The doubts she’d fostered in the last month had come to a crashing point, and they all hinged around one person.

Alice leaned forward, a conspiratorial gleam in her eyes. “You must take a lover of your own.”

The chair skidded behind Jane as she jerked to her feet. “You cannot be serious!”

Alice went around the breakfast table and laid a comforting arm around her shoulders. “A good friend of mine, Lady Harrington, is having a ball tonight. Frederick will be at his club, so there’s no risk he’ll appear. You will accompany me and see what London has to offer.” When she smiled, her teeth poked between her lips like a rabbit.

Jane shook her head. “I cannot do what you’re suggesting, Alice. It’s not right. It’s…it’s immoral, disgusting…”

Alice squeezed her arm. “It’s what a lady in your position does, Jane! Believe me.” She scanned her figure. “Leave your gown to me. No gentleman will be able to resist you. Especially Lord Winters.” Her cool fingers grazed Jane’s hot cheek. “He likes a round face and big doe eyes, like yours. My lilac silk will do nicely.”

She handed Jane a wrinkled handkerchief. “Blow your nose. And for God’s sake, stop moping. Your eyes will stay puffy, and it will be the devil’s own work trying to find someone suitable. Even Lord Winters has his limits.”

****

Jane followed Alice into the crowded town home of Lady Charlotte Harrington, who was, Alice told her, the scandalous, estranged wife of an equally scandalous husband. The crush of the heavily perfumed throng gave her a headache, and she tried to breathe through her mouth. Alice pushed toward the main salon and paused to glance behind her.

“Stop fiddling with your dress.” She snatched Jane’s hand from her low-cut bodice. “You don’t quite fill it out, but we’ll stuff a napkin into it before the dancing starts.” Her gaze soared past Jane’s bosom to the top of her head. “Bridges did a reasonably good job on your hair, but from now on, I insist you use my Francine. She knows all the latest styles from Paris, even though we mustn’t tell anyone.” She gave a conspiratorial wink.