The Scandalous Duke Takes a Bride (14 page)

What was left of her dowry protected from the entailment was enough to live off indefinitely—so long as she lived modestly—but that was not the type of life she could see herself living easily. More than ever, Jessica realized that it was imperative she marry into a new fortune. This was a difficult predicament to be in, especially considering most potential husbands wouldn’t marry a woman in her first year of mourning.

She returned her focus to her friend.
Except perhaps Hayden.

Could she ask that of him, knowing he harbored feelings for her? Knowing he’d never refuse her request on the basis of their friendship? But what did she want? The one thing she’d not allowed herself to focus on was their kiss. What was she so afraid of in accepting that there was something more between them?

Hayden could do so much better than her, though. While he might not agree with that, it was the truth. She was damaged goods. Ruined by her past. Her secrets would bring too much shame to his name, and that was not something she could live with. So she had to turn his thoughts away from something more with her.

“There are few options left to me. I’m going to have to marry again, and soon, Hayden.” She hated saying it. Hated it with every fiber of her being. It felt wrong to entertain the thought of marrying someone other than …

No, her thoughts had to stop right there. She could not start seeing Hayden in that light.

“I’m not inclined to agree with that sentiment, Jess. The solution is obvious to me.”

Releasing the curtain on the carriage window and slicing out the sunlight from the turquoise velvet interior, she pouted out her bottom lip as she looked at him. “Don’t be such a spoilsport. I need you and Tristan to help me find a husband at tonight’s ball.”

“You needn’t rush a decision like this.”

There was an edge of anger in his statement. She chose to ignore it for now. Perhaps this had something to do with their kiss last night. Which, to her surprise, they had yet to discuss—she was positive that discussion would be high on Hayden’s agenda today.

“Of course it’ll be harder to marry now that my fortune is entailed and my value near worthless.”

Hayden reached for her hand and squeezed it sympathetically. “You are far from worthless, love. And stop with this talk of finding a husband. The solution should be obvious to you.” He looked at her a long moment. She knew he expected her to suggest they consider that option, but she looked away from him instead.

“I think we should turn this afternoon into a shopping excursion.”

She rolled her eyes and pulled open the curtain to watch the passing streets. “That is exactly the kind of thing I should not indulge in.”

“Then let me treat you,” he offered.

She looked at him sidelong, considering the idea. It wasn’t unusual for Hayden to purchase baubles for her or to spend an afternoon shopping at all her favorite stores. But it felt different now.

How had she been so blind for so long? How had he never acted on his desires before the masked ball? While she was desperate to ask him those questions, she couldn’t.

Instead, she relented. “Only on the condition that we go for ices afterward.”

He nodded his agreement.

Their first stop was her favorite millinery shop. The proprietor gave Hayden a chair while she tried on various hats. None of them interested her, nor did the gloves and shawls she tried on.

Hayden must have noted she wasn’t enjoying herself to the fullest; how could she when so many things were clouding her mind? He suggested, “What about trying on some dresses for this evening?”

She nearly laughed at the stunned look on the girl’s face behind the counter, who was fixing the hem of a pink silk gown. “They won’t have anything on short notice.”

“Then maybe some jewelry?”

Jessica trailed her finger over the shawls that hung around the shop, not meeting Hayden’s gaze.

Where was he going with this? It was one thing to purchase baubles for her, another thing entirely to gift her with jewels.

“I haven’t decided what I’ll wear tonight. So I couldn’t possibly select jewelry ahead of time.”

“Who says it has to be for tonight?”

He stood from his chair, his expression devilish as he held his hand out for her to take. She hesitated for only a moment. Before she could ask where they were going, he whisked her out of the store and into one of the larger jewelry shops on Bond Street.

*   *   *

The thought of Jez remarrying infuriated him so profoundly it left him speechless. Speechless only because anything that might come out of his mouth would need to be censored from the general public surrounding them. Censored even from Jessica’s ears.

Why did she refuse to see what was right in front of her? In all likelihood, their friendship probably made it difficult to think beyond committing to something more intimate.

If she insisted upon marriage, he would be the only candidate for husband. Who better to marry her than someone who respected and adored her completely?

After their kiss last night she must see that he harbored a desire to have her as his own. That desire ran so deep that he would most likely call out any man who so much as thought to court her. Was she perhaps afraid of the feelings developing between them?

First thing first, he would have to obtain a special license. Not only was Jez a woman of sudden decision making, but he’d damn well better be ready to hie off in the middle of the night, if necessary, to marry the moment he knew she was ready to accept him as her partner in life.

When their carriage pulled up to the front of the jewelry store, he rolled out the stairs and took her hand to assist her down. He tossed a coin up to the driver and dipped his head in thanks.

When he opened the door to the shop for Jessica, a brass bell jingled above their heads. The shop was brimming with customers.

“What shall we look at first?” he asked.

“Hairpins, of course.”

He gave a succinct nod and motioned toward the cases that flanked the large room.

“Can I persuade you to try on some of the necklaces?” This was one of the nicer jewelry shops for such things.

She leaned closer to him, whispering, “The other patrons might mistake me for your mistress should we be so familiar and dare look at the jewelry.”

“Do you honestly care?”

She thought on that a moment, her smile secretive. “You know, I don’t think I do, even though I should.”

Jez found a gold hairpin with a pearl on the end that she adored and had to have—he bought it for her, even though she insisted the simple piece was well within her budget.

They drew a lot of stares as Jessica tried on a multitude of necklaces with Hayden’s assistance. Today was no different from any other day they’d shopped together, but for some reason there seemed to be more whispering behind gloved hands than usual. He did his best to tune it out, but Jessica’s gaze was drawn to the unwanted attention all too frequently and he could see that she was growing uncomfortable, despite her insistence that she didn’t care what anyone thought.

After purchasing a few items, Hayden took her for ices at Gunter’s.

“Do you suppose everyone hates me, now” she asked as they sat on the lawn across from the ice shop.

Her frankness took him by surprise, but he didn’t miss a beat in answering. “I think they are surprised to see you out when you’ve hidden away in your house for the better part of a month.”

“I haven’t hidden away. I was forced into solitude because of my health.”

“You know what I meant, Jez.”

She twirled her spoon around in her ice. Why would the
ton’
s reaction bother her now when it had never fazed her before?

“You want to know what I think?” he asked. “They’re all jealous. You are the only lady I ever have on my arm.”

She took a spoonful of ice, sucking it into her mouth in such a fashion that he had to adjust his position on the lawn. He was starting to believe her teasing was done intentionally.

“I never took you to be conceited,” she said.

He winked as he scooped a thin layer of her pistachio ice with his spoon and offered up his glass for her to try his lime-flavored one. She shook her head and leaned back against the tree they’d had the good fortune to procure a seat beneath.

“Have my actions been irredeemable? So much so that half the patrons here have turned their backs to me?”

There were plenty of acquaintances but no one present whom he and Jessica would invite to sit with them. “Since when”—he motioned toward the patrons sitting on the lawn—“did you let them start bothering you? You’ve never cared about their opinions before.”

“It’ll be difficult to find a husband when so many women dislike me.” She looked away from him.

“I don’t think it’s the ladies you have to worry about liking you. You have made many a friend in the card and game rooms over the years.”

“I wouldn’t wish to marry any of them, though.”

He wanted to discuss the matter further, but this was a private conversation to be had where no one could overhear them. “We can talk about this tonight, Jez. Just try to enjoy the afternoon. I’m starting to think I’m a terrible friend for not keeping you carefree and happy today. And for failing to keep your mind on us instead of the multitude of suitors you want calling on you.”

She reached for his arm, squeezing it for all present to see. And he realized that was part of the problem—though he didn’t see it that way in the least. They’d always been familiar with each other and intimacy of this nature might be normal between them, but looking at the faces around them he knew it was not acceptable, especially now that Jez was widowed. Even though it had a visible effect on her reputation, he’d never ask her to consider monitoring her actions when they were together. Not when he intended for her to be his bride.

“Do you suppose Warren attended the ball last night with his mistress?”

“From what little information I gathered, he doesn’t currently have one. I looked into it after you came to me about the will,” Hayden said.

“I guess that’s unsurprising, since he probably doesn’t want to muddy his name with the announcement of his engagement not far off.” Jez tapped the spoon against her lips. “What other reason do you suppose he would attend a ball of that caliber, then?”

“Hilliard is part of his inner circle of friends, so it’s possible they were discussing nothing more than politics.”

Jez put a small spoonful of her ice in her mouth, the utensil lingering between her lips as she sucked it clean. Hayden swallowed. Why did the act have to look erotic? Better yet, it had his imagination traversing waters better left for the bedroom.

He took a bite of his own ice and looked out over the lawn. “When were you planning on telling me that you needed new lodgings?”

“It was decided only yesterday. I didn’t have an earlier opportunity.”

“What did you say for Warren to take such measures?”

“I may have pointed out a few of his flaws.”

“May have?”

“All right, I did. But it was a truth he needed to hear. You needn’t worry; I think this will be for the best. And it made me realize that I wasn’t taking an active part in creating a better future for myself.”

His gaze met hers. “So that was when you came up with the idea to remarry.”

She nodded. “When Fallon died, I couldn’t see myself ever marrying again. But I see now that there are more good men than there are inherently evil ones.”

“You know three of the best,” he teased, and was rewarded with a smile and a slight blush to her cheeks.

That blush told him everything he needed to know about how she felt. She didn’t blush for Leo or Tristan. No, Jez was thinking about him as the flush colored her face and stole any further words she had. Hayden leaned back against the tree, the side of his body lining the length of hers from shoulder to hip as they finished their ices, intermittently commenting on and gossiping about the other patrons nearby.

Chapter 11

A perfectly respectable lady has caught Mr. W——’s eye this season. Though it is my opinion that she has no interest in him. Has the coldest of men’s hearts finally melted or has circumstance and an impending acquisition of a title spurred a marriage for convenience’s sake?
Mayfair Chronicles,
July 1846 Hayden took the stairs to Jez’s townhouse two at a time on his arrival. He didn’t care who saw him, but he was running late this evening and he wanted to discuss the night with Jez before they left.

She was in her room still readying, but he was led upstairs to sit with her while her maid did some finishing touches on Jez’s ensemble. She stood at his entrance but turned to face the mirror to adjust the curls at her crown.

Her dress was a rich, deep emerald with ruching at the hips, and layers of silk, satin, and delicate lace layering the train. He well imagined she’d make many women envious with the radiance of her beauty. She had spared no expense on her wardrobe when her husband was alive and it seemed she had a few dresses left to parade about in. She was by far the most handsome sight he’d ever laid eyes upon.

Her hair was twisted back in an elaborate bun with curls cascading around her temples. A simple tortoiseshell hair comb was tucked deep into the base of the bun at the front, small white flowers were woven into the twists, and a bronze silk ribbon wrapped around it all and tied in a bow at the back.