by Quinn, Ella
Chapter 5
What on earth could Frank mean by not knowing the answer? Jenny had never heard of anything so ridiculous. Maybe he thought she was unable to understand his circumstances because she was American. Quite frankly, she had experienced more than enough of that sort of disdain from the English.
She crossed her arms over her chest, then had to grab on to the side of the curricle when he made a turn. “Please explain yourself.”
“My mother sent me to Damon. She said I needed some Town bronze. However, my father was, and possibly still is, away in Scotland. I am not at all sure if he knows I’m here. But I’ll wager anything that Lord Thornfield will write to him about our meeting.”
“You must be in your late twenties. I do not understand why he’d care.”
“That is where knowing my father comes in. He keeps all of us under his thumb. Except for Damon, and my brother only made his escape this past Christmas.”
“But your brother was a military officer.” One Jenny had been pleased to hear did not think the regent should have sent troops to her country.
“He was, and, unlike me, he is not dependent on my father for funds. The duke threatened to cut him off from all contact with the family if he did not do as he wanted.”
“Just so your father could have his way?” When Frank nodded, she gasped. “That is reprehensible. What an old reprobate.”
Suddenly he laughed. Thank God she was angry and not afraid. “You are in good company with that opinion. Meg agrees with you.”
Jenny liked Meg and found it almost impossible to believe that any father could not want her for a daughter-in-law. “That doesn’t surprise me. She is an intelligent woman.” For a few minutes she listened to the clop of the horses and the sounds of vendors hawking their goods. “Thank you for getting me out of the museum. You were very impressive.”
He flashed her a quick smile. “It was my pleasure. She clearly would have stuck you with Pomfry. That wouldn’t have done at all.”
“No. I have little desire to spend any time at all with him.” In fact, his lordship would be a great waste of her time. Even if she was interested in him, which she most decidedly was not, she would not remain here, and he would not move to America. Frank, on the other hand, had great possibilities. She had only three things to ascertain. Could he leave his family, was he willing to work for a living, and would they fall in love.
She already had strong corporeal feelings for him. Not that she could admit that to anyone. Before her mother died, she had explained the physical side of marriage to Jenny, and told her how wonderful it could be. Mama had also said that lust was not a good basis for marriage, but it did help separate the wheat from the chaff.
“Why do you not find other employment?”
She watched him carefully for any indication he did not care for her question. After a few moments he glanced at her. “I’ve considered it several times, but my father would make sure I was never able to. As I think I may have mentioned or alluded to, he wants to control us.”
She had heard of a wealthy industrialist who attempted to treat his children that way. One of his sons had followed frontiersman Daniel Boone west and had never returned. Then his daughter ran off with a gambler. After that, he’d changed his tune. A duke must have the same type of power. It could actually be worse. England wasn’t as large as the United States, and there was that whole peerage thing. “What would you want to do if you could? Does not having an occupation appeal to you?”
“No.” He gave her a rueful grin. “I’d go mad without something to keep me busy. I like organizing, and planning. I enjoy finding ways to increase the estate’s income.”
“You mean that you like making a profit.”
“Good heavens!” He gave a dramatic shudder. “Do not, I pray, let anyone hear you discussing trade.”
For the first time in a long while, she laughed. “But that is it, isn’t it?
“Yes, although no one in the ton would use that term. Even pinching pennies is frowned upon.”
“Well, that type of attitude makes no sense to me.”
“I’m beginning to think it does not make a great deal of sense to me either.” He kept his attention on the horses, but his voice was thoughtful.
She smiled to herself. Maybe, just maybe, she was making a convert of Frank to the good old New England way of thinking, as her mother would say. At least they’d be living in the same house. That would give her an opportunity to know him better.
“We shall be back at my brother’s townhouse soon.” Jenny had gone so quiet, Frank wished he could steal a look at her. Something was going on in that clever head of hers. He merely wished he knew what it was.
A few minutes later, he pulled up in front of the steps. A footman ran out and took the horses as he jumped down and went around to assist Jenny down. Yet, the moment she was in his arms, he didn’t want to let her go.
His hands were still on her waist, when she smiled up at him. “I had a lovely outing. Thank you.”
One digit at a time, he forced his fingers off her soft body. Finally, he had enough command of himself to place her hand on his arm. Thank God she’d be staying here. It would give them time to see if they wanted the same things. “We should discover if your trunks have arrived.”
“And my aunt.”
“Indeed.” The door opened, and Saunders executed a stiff bow. “Miss, my lord, you are expected in the morning room.”
“Have Miss MacGowan’s bags been sent over?”
“His lordship wishes to speak with you.” He took Jenny’s coat. “I believe Miss Brodhead is present as well.”
As Frank and Jenny left the hall, he glanced at her. “That’s the worst thing about butlers –they won’t even give you a hint. I wonder what Damon wants.” Something was going on, and he had a feeling he wasn’t going to like it. “Does your family have a butler?”
“We do, and before you ask, he is just as bad. Possibly worse.” Her fine dark brows drew together as if something were bothering her. “Do you . . . do you help your servants find better positions?”
“As in rising through the ranks?” he asked, not sure what she meant.
“No, I mean jobs in business.” She sounded confused.
This must be yet another difference between England and America. “Being in service is considered extremely good employment. Upper servants have the same respect, if not more, than a middling shopkeeper. Most of our servants have been with us for several generations. It is safe and, unless a servant is dishonest or cannot do the work, the position can be held for the rest of their lives.”
She glanced at him, her eyes widening. “I had no idea. At home, being a servant is a beginning for many of the poor, but in only a few cases is it something one wishes to do for the rest of one’s life.” She fell silent for a moment. “Perhaps Americans and those who come to my country would rather take the risks needed to improve their lot. Opportunity is the reason many of them come over in the first place.”
How different from here, where most people wished to remain the status quo. Or at least that was what the landowners wanted. He opened the door, standing back while she entered. His brother and the Earl of Warwick rose. Miss Brodhead had a tight smile on her face, and Meg didn’t look at all happy.
By the time Frank and Jenny had taken a seat on the small sofa, tea arrived. After Meg had served, Miss Brodhead looked at Jenny and said, “As much as I appreciate the invitation to reside here for the next week or so, we cannot accept.” Her chin took on a mulish cast, and her aunt hurried on, “I have had our possessions moved to the Pulteney Hotel. We shall be quite comfortable there until Geoff and I marry.” Miss Brodhead looked at Meg. “After that, if you have decided to remain in England for a while and the invitation is still open, I will have no objection to you visiting her ladyship.”
Hell and damnation! That would give every gentleman in London access to her. There is no way the hotel would be able to keep them out. Frank opened his
mouth to say as much, when Damon caught his eye and gave an imperceptible shake of his head.
“Jenny,” Meg smiled more warmly this time. “Our invitation stands. You are welcome here at any time, and for as long as you wish.”
“Thank you.” As the others began to talk, Jenny whispered furiously to Frank, “I am twenty-four years old. I do not have to abide by my aunt’s decision.”
“The difficulty is that if you remain here, which would please me immensely, your aunt would not be able to stay at the hotel alone. It would also appear odd. I assume that returning to Lady Heathcote’s home would be insupportable.”
“It would be.” Her tone was still angry, but her chin had lost its stubborn appearance.
“There is nothing to stop me from calling on you, if you would like me to do so.”
Her gloved hand found his, and she squeezed his fingers. “Call as often as you wish.”
It was probably too soon for his next question, but ever since he’d run into Lord Thornfield, Frank felt as if he was on borrowed time. “Whom do I ask for permission to court you?”
Jenny searched Frank’s face, looking for any indication that he was not serious. He knew what she needed in a husband. Was he truly willing to leave his family and move across an ocean? A hint of fear lurked in his light blue eyes, but there was also friendship and liking that might become love. As Papa said, nothing ventured, nothing gained. She swallowed. “You ask me.”
He turned so that his body blocked the others from seeing his face and hers. “Miss MacGowan, may I have permission to court you, woo you, and discover if we were meant for one another?”
Somewhere in the vicinity of her heart, a hummingbird took up residence. The fear fled his eyes, replaced by warmth that was directed entirely at her. Other men had asked to court her, but none of them had known she wanted a husband who would return home with her. Frank knew, and he asked anyway. “Yes, Lord Frank Trevor, you may.”
They stared at each other, unable to drag their gazes away. If they had been alone, he would have kissed her. Then something made a strange sound, and a gray kitten jumped on his lap. Frank laughed. “How did you get in here, my lady?”
Jenny reached out to stroke the cat, but it drew back, looking at her with large yellow eyes. “Cats generally like me.”
“Don’t be offended. This is a Chartreux. They are known for being standoffish to strangers. She’ll warm to you soon. Jenny, meet Lady Quimby.”
“How do you do, my lady?” She glanced at him. “Quimby?”
“Ah, yes. We’ve always had a cat by the name of Quimby. Some of them were Lord Quimby. It’s a name Damon came up with as a child, and the rest of us followed suit.”
“I can see why. It’s a fun name.”
“It was also useful in other ways.”
“Jenny,” her aunt said as she rose, “we should be getting to the hotel. I have accepted Lady Hawksworth’s invitation to dine with them before we attend the ball this evening.”
Frank set the kitten on the sofa, stood and held out his hand. “Will you save me two waltzes?”
“If I had my way, I would only dance with you.” None of the other men she’d stood up with had been half as entertaining or danced as well as he did. “Would you like the supper dance?”
“Do you plan to stay that long? I seem to remember you slipping out early last night.”
“I shall remain if I am to dance with you.” When she rose, they were standing much closer than propriety allowed, but no one said anything. “At least this evening I shall not be plagued by the gentlemen Lady Heathcote has selected.”
“I still think you’ll have to beat them off,” he murmured in her ear as they entered the corridor. “Perhaps I shall stand over you the entire evening and glower at the other men.”
If only he could, but Sarah and Geoff would probably not approve. And right now, Jenny was so happy she did not want anything to interfere with her mood.
Before assisting her into the town coach, Frank kissed the palm of her hand, closing her fingers around it. “Until this evening.”
She wished she did not have to leave, but at least she’d see him soon. “Until then.”
Once she was settled, he shut the door, and Geoff used his cane to tap on the roof. The carriage lurched forward, and they were soon traveling through Town. She glanced out the window, wishing again that she had not had to leave, but perhaps a little distance would do her and Frank good. At his brother’s house, it would have been hard to stay away from him. And, if she was honest, out of his bed. Now that temptation was gone. After all, she had only met him last night. Normally, she was slow to take to a new person, but he had captured her interest almost immediately. She also had a great deal to think about. It occurred to her that many of the wealthy land owners did work, although they would not call it that. Perhaps she had been unfair.
“You seem quite taken with Lord Frank,” Sarah said.
Jenny wasn’t sure if she was ready to share her feelings yet. Her aunt might think it was too soon to feel so much for a man. She gave herself an inner shrug. It was her life and her decision. “I am. He has asked if he could court me, and I gave him permission.”
Across the short expanse of the coach, Geoff barked a laugh and held out his hand. “You owe me a guinea, my love.”
Sarah fished a coin out of her reticule, handing it over.
“You wagered on me?” Jenny could not believe what had happened. “You never gamble.”
A blush stole up Sarah’s neck into her cheeks. “Yes, well, I did not think I would lose. Therefore, it was not wagering.”
“But you did lose,” Jenny pointed out, taking more than a little satisfaction from the incident.
“Genevieve Elizabeth MacGowan,” her aunt said tartly, “you have been wooed by handsome wealthy Americans, equally handsome and wealthy French nobles and aristocrats, and none of them has turned your head. You meet Lord Frank Trevor, a hated Englishman I might add, and in less than twenty-four hours you are smitten. Of course I did not believe it.” She shook her head. “You are perverse. I do not understand you at all.”
A smile pulled at the corners of Jenny’s lips. “That is just it. I think he does understand me. We may not agree on everything, but he listens to me, and tries to find ways to bridge our differences.”
“Does he know you intend on returning home?” Geoff asked.
“I told him today. I do not think he is very happy with his situation.”
“In that case”—a concerned tone colored her aunt’s words—“make sure he is not courting you to run away from his life.”
Jenny’s happy mood fizzled. Could that be what he found so attractive about her? The fact that marrying her would give him a completely different life? She straightened her shoulders. Well, she would have to find out, and quickly. She promised her father she would marry for love, and that is what she wanted as well.
Frank watched until the town coach Jenny was in turned the corner before strolling back to the morning room where Damon and Meg were still in conversation. “Did Miss Brodhead say why she and Jenny could not stay here?”
Meg nodded. “She and Lord Warwick agreed that it would give an odd appearance for Jenny and her to leave his sister’s house and move here. The hotel gives Miss Brodhead an opportunity to receive ladies for visits and more control over their wedding breakfast. I should have realized at once the plan would not work.” Meg pressed her lips together. “It was just that you and Jenny seem so comfortable together. I wanted to . . . .” She shrugged and pulled a face. “So much for my attempts at matchmaking.”
“You wanted to help.” Frank went to the sideboard, poured a glass of wine and held up the decanter. When his brother and sister-in-law both nodded, he poured two more glasses. “I appreciate your gesture. I do want to know her better. My concern about the hotel is that it is not as safe as a house.” Visions of men popping out from behind potted plants and laying siege at Jenny’s door flooded his mind. He never kne
w that caring for a lady would make him so fanciful or so possessive.”
Damon took the glass Frank handed him. “I don’t like the idea of a hotel either.” He raised a brow. “Too many ways to stage an ambush.”
His brother had been in the war and frequently used military analogies. In this case, Frank agreed with him, even if it did make him sound a bit mad.
“How so?” Meg asked.
“Jenny’s an heiress.” Damon took a sip of wine. “There are some who would not hesitate to attempt to force her hand.”
“She has no close family or connections,” he continued. “And no one to scare away the fortune hunters and rogues.”
Perhaps Frank wasn’t being so cockled-brained after all. “Except us. No matter what ends up happening between Jenny and me”—which he hoped was a great deal—“we can take care of her.”
“We will surround her with our friends,” Meg added. “That way she will be safe from the Pomfrys of the ton.”
“That will work when we are at the same entertainments, my love.” Damon poured himself another glass of wine. “However, it does not address the problem of the hotel.”
“I will take that watch.” Frank grinned. “I asked her if I could court her, and she gave me permission.”
“How wonderful!” Meg jumped up and hugged him. “You two just feel right to me.”
“If only you could have seen that with us, my love,” Damon drawled as she wrinkled her nose at him.
Now, all he had to do was find out how deep his feelings about Jenny were, and how deep hers were for him.
Chapter 6
Shortly after Jenny and her aunt arrived at the hotel, Jenny made arrangements for one of the hotel’s servants named Suky to act as her maid. Geoff had also given Jenny a letter from her father.