by Abigail Agar
Jack shook his head. “What if I offer to marry her anyway?”
“Why would you do that?” Henry asked in a suspicious manner.
Lady Shelton shook her head. “Your brother has a point, Jack. The scandals have already done their work.”
“Would it not put at least some of the talk to rest if Miss Rayburne and I wed? Surely that would be a better solution than them sending the girl halfway around the world out of shame?” Jack looked at his brother and mother only to be met with stares of disbelief.
Lady Shelton sighed heavily. “Jack, you have always been a bit of a Knight Errant when it comes to those less fortunate, but this is a step too far. This girl’s family is unscrupulous and will bring nothing but suffering to this household. I cannot allow it. Your father, although he is not present, agrees and since we both know what a soul you are, we have already agreed to handle the matter quietly with the Rayburne family.”
“So, you have already agreed for me?” Jack asked as he shook his head in disbelief. “Am I child still? Do I not even have the ability to answer a question for myself? It is bad enough that you send Gwyn to whisper in my ear about things, but then to just undermine me is preposterous. What do I need to do now, Mother, for the good of the family?” Jack asked the last question with a rising voice as he slammed his hand on the table causing his teacup to jingle against its saucer.
Lady Shelton flinched but said calmly, “You will do as you have been doing, Jack. You will find a suitable bride.”
“As if any family would be associated with me now,” Jack said scathingly. “They will all be hiding their daughters at home lest I get them with child as well.”
Lady Shelton clucked her tongue and scolded, “Stop that at once. The Rayburne family will express their deep regret for involving you in such a scandal. They will secret the girl away, and she will be seen no more among society. That is the fate of those who forget etiquette, my son. She chose that, not you. It is her scandal to bear as it is her child to bear.”
Jack looked down at his breakfast and felt his appetite leave him. He stood up and nodded. “Very well,” he said with little feeling. “You know all of the ladies who would be a good match for me. Why do you not take upon yourself to set me up with another? I pray she has more morals than the last.” With that, Jack turned on his heel and headed towards the back door of the house.
Jack startled a couple of the kitchen staff, but he only spared them a brief glance as the women stared after him. Jack was swiftly out the back door and down the stone steps into the garden. His pace did not slow until he was well out of earshot of the house.
Jack turned towards a nearby birch tree. It stood tall, catching the morning light that came over the hill behind the family property. Jack closed his eyes and hit the tree with his fist. He took the pain, and it reminded him that he was in control of something. He beat the tree with his fists until they were bloody.
When he had exhausted himself, Jack sank to the ground. There he sat watching the tree limbs sway above him as a breeze caught the tree in a dance. Jack sighed up at the tree. There was little he could do to stop his mother’s schemes, and he took his mind away from her.
His mind settled on Gwyn as he sat with his back against the birch tree. The woman had said some things that Jack needed to be clarified. She had seen him? What had she meant? She had seen him with other women? That was an impossible task as Jack had indeed always been faithful to Gwyn.
And what had Henry and Gwyn been arguing about? Jack pondered that for a few moments before a vision of the way Gwyn had looked right before Henry had interrupted them. There had been several moments during the encounter with Gwyn where Jack had had to distance himself to keep his scruples, but that moment had been the breaking point. If Henry had not intervened, then there was a good chance that Jack might have lived up to his family’s reputation.
Jack sighed at what Gwyn must really think of him now. He laughed because it was apparent what she had already thought of him. She had accused him of being a womanizer like his brother. The only saving grace was that Jack trusted her word. If Gwyn said she had not told anyone, then she had not.
Jack pondered the most disturbing thing of all that Gwyn had said. Far more so than any accusation that she had hurled at him. She loved him. Jack felt a burst of happiness in his chest at the mere thought of it, but it died down. What good did that knowledge do him? Gwyn was already betrothed or would be very soon at any rate.
The blossoming warmth and happiness wilted back down in Jack leaving him feeling hollow. Still, he knew now that Gwyn harboured feelings for him. Jack pondered if there was a way to use that perhaps to his advantage with a mischievous smile. Perhaps the social events of the season would be more entertaining in the near future, Jack mused with a smile. He might be miserable, but it did not mean that he had to be alone in his misery.
***
“That poor girl,” Gwyn said after her mother told Gwyn of what she had heard from Lady Shelton.
Lady Stanton nodded. “Yes, but she brought it upon herself, child. There are rules of etiquette for a reason. I keep telling you that.”
“I am aware, Mother,” Gwyn said with a sigh. “However, being young can be trying, and I can empathize. Can you not? Some unscrupulous man took advantage of her no doubt.”
Lady Stanton tipped her hand palm up in a helpless gesture. “I suppose that I can somewhat feel pity for the girl, but she is the one who tried to profit from her circumstances at the expense of a good man’s reputation. That is inexcusable.”
A good man, Gwyn echoed in her thoughts. She thought back to that night and the giggling girl on the balcony at Shelton Hall. Gwyn shook the thought away. “It is all settled down anyway. I am surprised actually. I thought that Jack would have married her no matter what after that last conversation. He seemed determined that that was the way it should be.”
“Men are silly creatures sometimes, my dear,” Lady Stanton said with a small shake of her coifed locks. “I suspect his mother and father handled the arrangements and talked him down. Jack always was a bit stubborn.”
Gwyn nodded. “Yes. He was.”
“Sergeant Chavers sent an invite for you to attend the Firefly Ball at the Hudson Residence. Shall I respond favourably?” Lady Stanton asked curiously.
Gwyn said, “Of course. Why would you not?”
“I just have to ask, darling, for manners’ sake. You seem distracted. You should be happy. Things are looking up both for you and for the Shelton family,” Lady Stanton said as she picked up her embroidery loom.
Gwyn frowned. Did she seem unhappy? “I am not unhappy. I am grateful that things seem like they are looking up for everyone involved. It has been a long time since everyone has been happy.”
“If I might ask,” Lady Stanton said as she pressed her needle into the fabric. “What is the matter between you and Lord Shelton?”
Gwyn knew that her mother was asking about Henry, as she only referred to Jack by his name or military rank. Gwyn shrugged. “I think he is just afraid that I am out to hurt his brother again or some such nonsense. I can handle Lord Shelton’s animosity, Mother. How can I fault him for being protective of his brother, after all?”
“Hurt his brother? I seem to remember you being quite hurt at the time, even if you would never tell me directly what the issue was between you and Jack,” Lady Stanton said with a protective edge to her voice. “I might be fond of Jack, Gwyn, but I am no fool to how men are.”
Gwyn sought desperately to take the conversation away from Jack. She had been having a hard enough time keeping her mind off the man’s green eyes and strong hands. Her mother talking about him was not helping. “Everything is fine between Jack and me. We are just friends, and that is better all-around for everyone.”
“I suppose it is,” Lady Stanton said as she carried on with her embroidery. “It is good that you two can put the past behind you so easily. I know of others who would not be able to do so.”
&nb
sp; Gwyn nodded. “Yes,” she said softly. “I am feeling a bit tired. I think I will lie down.”
“You are not getting sick, are you? I knew that the boat ride was a mistake. The dampness alone is not good for the constitution,” Lady Stanton said with a worried look at Gwyn.
Gwyn fought to keep from rolling her eyes thinking of all the dampness that she had grown up playing in down at the creek. “I am fine, Mother. It has just merely been a straining few days. I want to be well rested for the ball,” Gwyn said in explanation. Lady Stanton seemed to accept Gwyn’s words as she nodded and bid Gwyn a good rest. Gwyn took her leave before her mother could change her mind and continue talking.
***
Up in her room, Gwyn lay down on her bed and closed her eyes. The fatigue washed over her, and she fell asleep so quickly that Gwyn barely remembered her head hitting the pillow. It felt good to sink into that dreamless abyss for she was too tired to even dream.
The next thing Gwyn knew there was the sound of rain at the window. Gwyn blinked her eyes open and looked over at her window. The day had turned dark and cloudy. Rain battered against the glass panes.
Gwyn sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She knew very well that she would be expected down to dinner soon. She felt fortunate that tonight would be a normal night with her family.
She had a reprieve before she had to put on the airs of Sergeant Chavers’ beloved yet again. Gwyn sighed deeply at her reflection. Why was it so difficult to just be smitten with Chavers? Surely he was worthy of such admiration. He was a soldier. Jack was a soldier too, a small voice in her mind added in.
Gwyn huffed in frustration with herself. “You are matched with Sergeant Chavers,” she told her reflection. “You would do well to just accept that.” Gwyn then felt silly for talking to her reflection, and she laughed, blushing.
Standing up, Gwyn walked to the west window in her bedroom. One window looked out on the fields and Shelton Hall, while the west window looked out upon the road and approach to the house. Gwyn was standing there when she saw a carriage that looked familiar pull up.
“Oh no,” Gwyn breathed against the window pane. The Shelton family was here. Although they were neighbours, the properties were massive, and it would be quite the walk for Lady Shelton, especially in the rain. Gwyn frowned as she tried to make out just who was coming in.
She quickly dashed over to her mirror and fixed herself up where she had been dozing most of the evening. It had left her hair quite dishevelled. Gwyn rang the bell, and Adrienne quickly appeared to help. “What can I do for you, Miss?” Adrienne asked as she looked Gwyn over.
Gwyn smiled feeling ridiculous. “I fear that I fell asleep and have tussled my hair. Can you help me get it straightened out again?”
“Of course, Miss,” Adrienne said readily as she set about brushing Gwyn’s hair out. “Were you wanting it up again, Miss?”
Gwyn frowned. “Pinned at the nape of my neck, I think,” she said thoughtfully.
Adrienne nodded and set about getting Gwyn’s hair smooth and shining again. Soon enough the young woman’s deft hands were pulling the hair back and putting in a pearl clasp to hold it at the nape of her neck. Gwyn nodded her approval in the mirror and gave Adrienne a smile.
“Thank you,” Gwyn said with genuine gratitude.
Adrienne just lifted her shoulders and said, “It is my job, Miss. Do you require anything else?”
“No, thank you,” Gwyn said as she smoothed her dress. Gwyn watched the young woman go, and then looked back at her reflection. Gwyn looked at her dark hair and brown eyes and wondered what did Jack see? She frowned and sighed in dissatisfaction that her thoughts had gone to the brown-haired man.
Gwyn finally ventured down to find her mother and see what was going on. Surely her mother would have told her if they were having guests. Gwyn approached the sitting room and found her mother and Lady Shelton talking amicably while they admired some embroidery work that Gwyn’s mother had done.
Lady Shelton looked up and noticed Gwyn finally. “Oh, Gwyn, there you are. I was worried you were sick when your mother said you were resting.”
“No. I just felt a bit tired,” Gwyn said quietly as she came over to sit down on the soft cushioned couch next to Lady Shelton. “I was quite surprised to see your carriage pull up, especially in this storm.”
Lady Stanton smiled and said, “Lady Shelton decided to come to visit me while the men went to see your father. Ian will be so pleased to see Gregory.”
“I was hoping that it might cheer him,” Lady Shelton said with a hopeful smile as she clasped her friend’s hand. “Now, I do hope that we have not imposed on you with Gwyn certainly feeling under the weather.”
Gwyn insisted, “I am not ill. I assure that I am fine, Lady Shelton.”
“As you say, but you never were one to admit when you were sick,” Lady Shelton said with a knowing smile. She looked over at Gwyn’s mother. “Remember when she had that cough all winter and kept telling us that it was just a frog she had eaten?”
Gwyn covered her face and sighed, “I was seven.”
“Yes, but you are still just as stubborn,” Lady Stanton said as she gave her daughter a smile.
Gwyn gave up trying to talk to them. “I think I will go seek out some tea. Do you wish me to bring some back for you?”
“Oh no, dear,” Lady Shelton said. “You go on and get yourself perked up. Your mother has insisted that we stay for the evening meal so I shall hold my thirst until then.”
Lady Stanton laughed. “Lydia, you act as if there is a feast awaiting you. We are of modest means at the moment.”
“Modest food is as good as fancy, better in most cases. Do not forget, dear Clarisse that I grew up as a shepherd’s daughter. I know how to make do,” Lady Shelton said with a pat on her friend’s knee. “Now, you run along, Gwyneth. We have things to discuss, your mother and I.”
Gwyn frowned in puzzlement but nodded and did as she was bidden. She made her way to the kitchen to find some tea. As she turned the corner, she ran into someone bodily and stumbled backward a bit. “Oh, I am so sorry!” Gwyn said as she dusted off her skirt out of habit.
“Not at all. It was my fault,” Jack’s familiar deep voice said.
Gwyn looked up and into Jack’s face. For a moment she did not know what to do. After what had happened last time she was alone with Jack, Gwyn did not trust herself around him. “Captain Shelton,” Gwyn said formally to put some distance between them in her mind.
“The one and only,” Jack said with some of that old mischief in his eyes. Gwyn wondered if she just imagined that mischievous glint or if it was really there. “Where are you heading, Miss Stanton?”
Gwyn cleared her throat. “I was on my way to the kitchens to get some tea,” she admitted hesitantly.
“Excellent suggestion,” Jack said as if Gwyn’s words had been an invitation. “Shall we go get some tea then?”
Gwyn opened her mouth to refuse, but then she realized how foolish she would look. “Of course, Captain Shelton,” Gwyn said begrudgingly as she walked on towards the kitchens.
Jack fell into step beside her. “Your father is a bit confused tonight, I am afraid.”
“It comes and goes, as I told you,” Gwyn said, not really wanting to talk about it, but also grateful that at least he was not grabbing her.
Jack leaned over slightly and whispered, “He thinks we are betrothed again.”
“We were never betrothed,” Gwyn corrected him.
Jack shrugged his shoulders lightly. “Only in the most technical of senses, Gwyn. Everyone, including us, knew we would get married.”