“We shall wait,” he said to the butler. He then turned to Helena again and said. “No. No. Nothing like that. It was a chance encounter in the rain. I happened upon a young village girl and assisted her.”
“And she is here?”
“She is drying off and should join us shortly.”
“Thomas Haddington, you rogue…” she teased.
He smiled shyly. “Helena, it is nothing like that. You know me better than that. I may have a reputation as a flirt, but I would never cross the line.”
They heard the door creak open, and Jenny quietly entered.
Helena looked up and cried out, “Jenny!”
“Helena?” Jenny replied, equally surprised.
“You know each other?” Thomas asked.
Helena rushed over and took Jenny in her arms. She broke free and turned to Thomas with one arm around Jenny’s shoulder. “We are the best ever friends. We have known each other since childhood.”
“Miss Barnett, then your family is associated with Helena’s father, the Earl?”
“You might say that. Our family often prepares pies for their social events.”
“Pies?” Thomas asked, not understanding.
Extending her hand, Helena invited Jenny to join them.
“The best pies and pastries for many miles around. The Barnett Bakery—surely you are aware of it in the village?” Helena asked.
Thomas’s hopes were dashed that Jenny might be part of the aristocracy. “I am not familiar with them.”
“Well, I know you have had some of their delicious treats when you have come to our parties. We buy from them all the time.” She leaned in and whispered, “Ever so much better than what our cook can do.”
“I see.” Thomas waved to Willoughby. “We will have the tea now.”
Willoughby began serving the tea. Helena and Jenny chatted amongst themselves for a moment before Helena turned to Thomas and said, “I am so happy the two of you have met—my two very best friends. I have longed for the two of you to meet, but there was never the opportunity before now.” She studied Jenny for a moment and asked, “Is this a new dress? I have not seen it before?”
Jenny laughed. “Oh, no. My clothes are drying after the rain, and this was lent to me.”
“It suits you. You really need to update your wardrobe, my dear.”
“But most of my days are spent making pies and I could never wear anything this fine in the bakery.”
“Well… just the same. If you are ever to meet a suitable young man, you will need to make yourself more presentable.” She turned to Thomas, “And what do you think, Thomas. Is not Jenny a vision of loveliness in this becoming dress?”
Thomas smiled. “She is indeed. I think you must have it, Miss Jenny. I believe it is a dress that was left behind by some guest or other, and it is of no use to anyone in this household.”
“Oh, Your Grace, I could not…” she replied sheepishly.
“Nonsense. You shall have it. Not another word. I insist.” He turned to Willoughby. “Will you see this dress is wrapped up and sent with Miss Jenny when she leaves and make certain she is sent home in my carriage.”
“Of course, Your Grace.”
“Oh, that is not necessary—I shall return Jenny home in my carriage,” Helena said
“As you wish.”
Thomas sat in his chair, his hands clasped under his chin, and studied the two women. He was filled with many strange emotions. His dear friend, Helena delighted him in so many ways. They had a deep bond that went back to childhood, but they were so comfortable and familiar and neither could ever imagine a marriage together.
And then there was Jenny—a totally unsuitable young lady—certainly without any living attached, and his uncle pressing him for a marriage with a substantial dowry. But Jenny… there was something about her he could not ignore. Not since Amanda, did he have feelings stir deeply within him. What could this mean? But he immediately shook off those thoughts. “Miss Jenny, I hope you have not caught a cold from your misadventure.”
“I feel quite well, Your Grace, thank you.”
Willoughby came by to refresh the guests’ tea. While he was serving, Jenny turned to Helena and asked, “Have you seen Mr. Edgerton…?” But Jenny suddenly caught herself and stopped when Helena gave her a subtle shake of her head.
Thomas picked up on that cue and asked, “You know George Edgerton?” he asked Jenny.
Jenny stammered a reply. “By name only… He… Sometimes he comes to the bakery…”
Helen threw her hands up in the air. “Oh, this is ridiculous…”
“What?” Thomas asked.
“My dear friend, I have been keeping a secret from you and it has been eating me alive.”
“A secret? Oh, Helena…”
“George Edgerton and I are courting.”
“George is my best friend, and he has said nothing to me about this.”
“I know… we decided to keep it a secret. We fear if my father finds out he will forbid us to meet. And that would be a tragedy of monumental proportions.”
Thomas could not help but laugh. “Then why not tell him? George is a very decent chap and would make a fine husband. And… he will come into a fine estate in time.”
“But father insists I marry a gentleman with a title. That is why he has insisted you and I marry.”
“I see.”
“And that is one reason I came to see you today. I was hoping I might see if there was any young lady who might have sparked your interest. If you were to marry someone else, then he might allow George and I to marry. I am sorry, it is very selfish of me, but we are desperate.”
“Hmm,” Thomas said, thinking aloud. “Why not tell him I am about to be engaged if that might help you.”
“You would do that? But who might I say is to be your intended?”
“Say it is a secret engagement. Make up some story or other. I care not.”
“I think I had better discuss this with George first. We agreed to keep our courting a secret and I do not want to go against his wishes.”
“Know that your secret is safe with me, dear friend. But do whatever works for you best.”
“Thank you. I shall speak with him soon and let you know what we decide.”
“And tell him he is a rotten friend for not telling me about you two courting.”
“Oh, he has wanted to tell you so badly. He will be relieved you know now.”
The maid came into the room, exchanged a few whispered words with Willoughby then disappeared.
“Miss Jenny, your garments are dried if you wish to change,” Willoughby said.
“Thank you.” Jenny turned to Helena. “I think I should change and am ready to leave when you are.”
Thomas felt a stab of disappointment when she said that.
“I am ready. I have had my little talk with Thomas and am now anxious to meet with George as soon as possible. I shall send him a note when I get home.”
Jenny stood up, nodded to Thomas, and left the parlor to change.
Chapter 7
One of Jenny’s early morning tasks—even before she started baking—was to go to the market and hunt for fruit for her pies as the vendors arrived from the countryside to set up their stalls.
She quite enjoyed this, as the morning was fresh and the air clear. There was little activity yet in the village, and she would wander with her pushcart to where the market set up and go from farmer to farmer enquiring about what they had to offer that day. She knew all the farmers and their wives by their first names, and they bantered and joked before she finally purchased what she wanted. She was very picky about what she purchased, and the vendors always saved the very best selections for her viewing before they offered them to anyone else. She was everyone’s favorite.
One of her favorite vendors was Steven and Betsy Drake. They were playful and joked freely with Jenny—but they also had some of the finest summer berries in the market. She always made a point of stopping by
where they were setting up early in her visit.
“What have you got for me today, Betsy?” Jenny asked as she approached their wagon even before they had set up their stall.
“O-o-o some lovely strawberries—and the blackberries are just coming in. I have a few pails of those. But only a few. Pricy, they are today… but I guess we could give you a break on the price,” Betsy said with a wry smile.
“You better had. I am your very favorite customer, am I not?”
“You would be if you would ever pass some of your day-old biscuits along to us.”
Jenny laughed. “I guess you do not know our bakery then… We always sell out. We have never had any day-old anything… not ever. But I might manage to save a few treats for you for tomorrow morning… if I get all the berries you can spare me this morning.”
“Oh, you drive a hard bargain,” Betsy said, already loading all her berries into the bowls on Jenny’s cart.
“Mother, you missed the gooseberries,” a young man said, coming over with a pail full of the luscious green berries.
“Oh, gooseberry pie is one of my favorites,” Jenny cooed. “I will certainly take those as well.”
The young man emptied the pale into one of Jenny’s buckets and, when he was finished, gave her a happy and welcoming smile.
“You know our boy, Evan, do you not? He’s been apprenticing in Bristol these past few years.”
Jenny was surprised at the handsome boy. He could not have been more than eighteen or so and she tried to remember if she had seen him before, then said, “Evan! Oh my, you have grown into a man. I only remember a scrawny little ragamuffin.”
“And you have grown into a fine young woman,” he replied. “If you do not mind me saying.”
They both laughed as they sized each other up.
“I mind not what you say,” she said with a grin. “As long as I get your best fruit.”
“Not for me to say,” he said. “But I would not mind a walk around the square with you some afternoon after the market. I would like to hear about these pies you make.”
Jenny gave him a saucy look and said, “Tellin’ does not do justice to my pies. You have to try ‘em. Then you will know.”
“Save me your favorite for this afternoon, and I will come by and use my pocket money for such a treat.”
“You like custard? I make the best tarts ever. I will save you a dozen. Four o’clock. That’s when we close.”
“Then we have a deal.”
Evan arrived promptly at four and put his pocket change on the counter as Jenny came out from the back.
“Take what you need from this, let me have my tarts, and come with me for a promenade around the square.”
She wrapped the tarts expertly, handed him the package, and took her price from the change. “Let me hang up my apron and I will meet you outside.”
Evan stood in the street with his package and waited. Jenny came right out and said, “My sister Claudia will be accompanying us.”
“Hello, Miss Claudia, I am Evan,” he said, shaking her hand.
“Mr. Evan,” Claudia said nodding.
Jenny said to Evan, “Tell your mama and papa the berry pies all sold out first thing. And to please save me whatever they have for tomorrow.”
Jenny linked her arm with Evan’s, and they began to walk the square—Claudia walking discreetly behind. They stopped at a stall for a cup of tea. There were a few tables set up in front of the stall, and they sat.
“I understand these are quite special. Might I offer you one?” Evan said unwrapping the tarts and offering Jenny and Claudia one.”
“I make these every day, and I should be sick of them by now, but I never am,” Jenny said taking a bite.
The first thing Jenny had noticed about Evan was his nice smile, and then how polite he was. As she ate her tart, she kept her eyes on him but realized her mind kept drifting back to her encounter with the Duke. As nice as this young man was, he did not have the same stature as Thomas Haddington. And she involuntarily shivered as she thought about Thomas’s hands on her waist.
“Are you cold, Miss Jenny?” Evan asked, reaching out and taking her hand.
She smiled but withdrew her hand. “Not at all. But Evan, your mother said you had been apprenticed in Bristol. What is it you are leaning to do?”
His eyes lit up. “I am apprenticing to be a printer. I am just now learning typesetting. I make mistakes, but I am getting better all the time.
“A printer? That is a noble profession. Are you thinking of opening a newspaper here in Chatsworth?”
“Do you think our citizens would purchase a newspaper? Everybody seems to already know everything that there is to know about each other and all that is going on through all the town gossips.”
Jenny and Claudia laughed.
“I see you know our village very well,” Jenny said.
“Shall we walk a little more,” he asked, standing and offering her his hand.
Claudia leaned in to Jenny as they were standing and whispered, “He is a very handsome young man. Is he to be your beau?”
Jenny smiled but would only say. “We shall see.”
The three continued walking the square.
As they approached the mercantile, Claudia spoke up. “Do you mind waiting a moment, please? I need to make a quick purchase.”
“Not at all. We will wait here,” Jenny said.
Evan took this opportunity to take Jenny’s hand again and asked, “Miss Jenny, I will only be here for a short time longer before I need to go back to Bristol. I hope I might be able to see you again before I leave.”
“I do not see why not,” she said. She had to admit, she did find this young man attractive, polite, and he seemed to have some sense about him.
“Do you think you might be able to care for me?” he asked. “I know we barely know one another, but you have already stolen my heart, Jenny Barnett.”
Jenny blushed. “Oh, Evan… It is so early on… And with us so far apart, what might you be thinking?”
Evan now took both of her hands in his. “I am thinking I must have you in my life. And whatever it takes to achieve that, I shall do. If it means me coming back here to make my living, I shall. I would be so honored if you might choose to take my hand in marriage one day. We could live anywhere. Printers are always in great demand. We could open a shop and perhaps you could run the business while I do the printing. There is always a demand—invitations, announcements, pamphlets and even a newspaper. Could you entertain such a notion, Miss Jenny?”
Claudia came out of the shop.
“What do you say?” Evan asked quietly.
“I will think about it, Evan. But it is far too early for me to contemplate such an offer. And I have to say I too have a dream.”
“What is it? Maybe I can help you accomplish it.”
“This is not the time,” she said as Claudia approached.
“I understand. But you will save a space in your heart for me?”
She smiled. “Perhaps.”
“Oh, my…” Mother said as she held up the dress the Duke had given Jenny. “This is just about the most beautiful dress I have ever seen.” She looked askance at Jenny. “And why did he give this to you? I do not understand.”
“Mother… I have explained this half a dozen times,” Jenny said exasperated.
“Then tell your old mother again so she can understand.
“I got caught in the rain. His Grace rescued me and took me to Pemberton Hall to dry out. The chambermaid gave me this to wear until my clothes dried, and then the Duke offered it to me as it was left behind by a guest, and no one had any use for it. There. Simple. Explanation over.”
Jenny sat on her bed and crossed her arms. “And I told you Helena was with us the entire time at tea.”
“Your Helena knows the Duke?” Mother asked as she put the dress in the armoire.
“They are old friends.”
“She knows the Duke? I would have thought…”
“Mother, her father is Lord Comerford. Of course, they know each other,” she said rolling her eyes.
Claudia burst into the room and stopped. “Oh… hello Mother.”
“Have you seen Jenny’s new dress?” Mother asked.
A Pure Lady for the Broken Duke_A Historical Regency Romance Novel Page 5