day.”
Jane shook her head. “Of course I don’t mind, my lady. I’m pleased to be able to share tea with you. Your comfort is most important.”
“Perhaps you wonder why I have invited you today?” her ladyship asked, leaning forward to take her cup.
“I admit, I am curious to know the reason for this honor,” Jane admitted as she reached for her own tea. Her statement wasn’t exactly a lie. She was sure it had something to do with her pretended courtship with Wesley. She only wasn’t clear on why Lady Stanton asked her now and on such short notice.
Jane took a sip of tea just as Lady Stanton cleared her throat. “I won’t mince words, my dear. I have invited you here because I heard a report last night that involved you, my grandson and a most passionate kiss on a terrace at the Ketterick ball.”
Jane barely missed spraying her mouthful of tea across the parlor. She managed to swallow as she snatched up a linen napkin to she wipe warm liquid from her chin. While she tried to regain her composure, she looked at Lady Stanton. Sweet and grandmotherly indeed! Although the woman looked frail in her little wheelchair, her eyes were incredibly focused… and waiting for a reply.
One Jane wasn’t sure how to give. Her heart pounded, drowning out all other noise in the room and leaving her gasping for breath. She and Wesley had been seen? Worse yet, that passionate moment was being gossiped about? She could be ruined!
“I-My lady-” she stammered.
Lady Stanton arched a brow as she took a sip of tea in an infuriatingly calm manner. As if she hadn’t just ripped the floor out from under Jane and sent her scrambling for purchase.
“I have always liked you, Jane.”
Jane blinked. A change of subject? “I-Th-Thank you, my lady,” she whispered, straining for any way to avoid facing the stunning fact that Lady Stanton knew about The Kiss.
The other woman leaned back in her chair, but her gaze never left Jane’s face. She was watching, appraising and Jane found herself longing to stay in her ladyship’s good graces. And for more than just the sake of the ruse she and Wesley were playing out.
“No one would have blamed you for hiding away after your father’s… unfortunate incident.”
Jane winced. It was a kind way to phrase the public humiliation which had ruined her family’s fortune and sullied their name.
“But you did not hide,” Lady Stanton continued. “In fact, you came out boldly and faced the whispers of those around you. That showed your character.” Lady Stanton smiled that deceptively sweet smile again.
Jane gathered her thoughts. “Well, your grandson was certainly part of helping me through those difficult first months. He was nothing but kind to me after I developed a-a friendship with David Langston. If I was bold, it was only with the help of my friends.”
That statement was true. Wesley had accepted her from the moment she turned her affections on David. He had never wavered. Never questioned the prudence of allowing a girl with her past, with her family name and reputation and lack of fortune, into their group. If he had discouraged David from pursuing her, as many of his other friends had done, she had never known about it.
Even now, his ingenious plan had made her the talk and the toast of the ton , as a dozen wilting bouquets at home in her parlor from potential suitors reminded her daily. Wesley had, in so many ways, saved her.
Lady Stanton’s smile grew with the praise of her beloved grandson. “I even thought I saw something more between the two of you after you came out to Society. The way Wesley watched you, the way you sometimes smiled at him… but you seemed determined to give your affections to that-” she sighed and rolled her eyes in a surprisingly unladylike display. “Well, David is not a terrible person, but he’s always been a bit of a dolt. Honestly, the child once got his head caught in my stair rail.”
Jane covered her mouth to stifle a
Jane shook her head. “Of course I don’t mind, my lady. I’m pleased to be able to share tea with you. Your comfort is most important.”
“Perhaps you wonder why I have invited you today?” her ladyship asked, leaning forward to take her cup.
“I admit, I am curious to know the reason for this honor,” Jane admitted as she reached for her own tea. Her statement wasn’t exactly a lie. She was sure it had something to do with her pretended courtship with Wesley. She only wasn’t clear on why Lady Stanton asked her now and on such short notice.
Jane took a sip of tea just as Lady Stanton cleared her throat. “I won’t mince words, my dear. I have invited you here because I heard a report last night that involved you, my grandson and a most passionate kiss on a terrace at the Ketterick ball.”
Jane barely missed spraying her mouthful of tea across the parlor. She managed to swallow as she snatched up a linen napkin to she wipe warm liquid from her chin. While she tried to regain her composure, she looked at Lady Stanton. Sweet and grandmotherly indeed! Although the woman looked frail in her little wheelchair, her eyes were incredibly focused… and waiting for a reply.
One Jane wasn’t sure how to give. Her heart pounded, drowning out all other noise in the room and leaving her gasping for breath. She and Wesley had been seen? Worse yet, that passionate moment was being gossiped about? She could be ruined!
“I-My lady-” she stammered.
Lady Stanton arched a brow as she took a sip of tea in an infuriatingly calm manner. As if she hadn’t just ripped the floor out from under Jane and sent her scrambling for purchase.
“I have always liked you, Jane.”
Jane blinked. A change of subject? “I-Th-Thank you, my lady,” she whispered, straining for any way to avoid facing the stunning fact that Lady Stanton knew about The Kiss.
The other woman leaned back in her chair, but her gaze never left Jane’s face. She was watching, appraising and Jane found herself longing to stay in her ladyship’s good graces. And for more than just the sake of the ruse she and Wesley were playing out.
“No one would have blamed you for hiding away after your father’s… unfortunate incident.”
Jane winced. It was a kind way to phrase the public humiliation which had ruined her family’s fortune and sullied their name.
“But you did not hide,” Lady Stanton continued. “In fact, you came out boldly and faced the whispers of those around you. That showed your character.” Lady Stanton smiled that deceptively sweet smile again.
Jane gathered her thoughts. “Well, your grandson was certainly part of helping me through those difficult first months. He was nothing but kind to me after I developed a-a friendship with David Langston. If I was bold, it was only with the help of my friends.”
That statement was true. Wesley had accepted her from the moment she turned her affections on David. He had never wavered. Never questioned the prudence of allowing a girl with her past, with her family name and reputation and lack of fortune, into their group. If he had discouraged David from pursuing her, as many of his other friends had done, she had never known about it.
Even now, his ingenious plan had made her the talk and the toast of the ton , as a dozen wilting bouquets at home in her parlor from potential suitors reminded her daily. Wesley had, in so many ways, saved her.
Lady Stanton’s smile grew with the praise of her beloved grandson. “I even thought I saw something more between the two of you after you came out to Society. The way Wesley watched you, the way you sometimes smiled at him… but you seemed determined to give your affections to that-” she sighed and rolled her eyes in a surprisingly unladylike display. “Well, David is not a terrible person, but he’s always been a bit of a dolt. Honestly, the child once got his head caught in my stair rail.”
Jane covered her mouth to stifle a
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