traitorous giggle at her ladyship’s description.
“You may laugh,” Lady Stanton said with a shake of her head. “Although it did require a saw and a lot of rather ridiculous screaming on the boy’s part to get him free.”
Jane’s laughter bubbled forth at the image that popped into her mind. To her surprise, she could easily see David in such a silly, undignified position that was created by his own lack of forethought. As her laughter faded, she caught Lady Stanton watching her.
“It has not been long since David declared his engagement to someone else, yet already you have transferred your affections to my grandson.” She cocked her head. “And so I am torn by two reactions. One is to be pleased by the match… but the other is to wonder at your intentions.”
Jane sobered completely as Lady Stanton put her back in a corner where she was unsure how to answer.
“If you kissed him, as my sources say you did, then you clearly have some feeling for him. But could you truly love him? Or would he only be a replacement for a lost love? Or even a way to stay near David despite your marriages.”
Jane’s eyes went wide. “You-You are direct, my lady.”
Lady Stanton shrugged one shoulder slowly. “I don’t have much time left on this earth my dear. Being direct may be the only way I will get answers. Do you care for my grandson?”
“I-” Jane struggled to say something. Anything. Lady Stanton was asking her the very questions she had begun to ask herself in the past few days. Her feelings had changed, rapidly, overtaking her when she least expected it. And now she was upside down, inside out.
“Your grandson is… I have a high regard for him, my lady. We share a true friendship. And I-I do care for him, of course.”
Her ladyship’s face wrinkled and she did not look completely pleased by Jane’s response. But she could not ask another question because the door to her parlor opened and Wesley himself stepped inside.
The look on his face, the gleam in his eye, instantly told Jane that he had overheard at least part of their conversation. That he had heard her inadequate explanation of her feelings and wasn’t pleased.
What she could not determine was whether his annoyance came from a wish for her to declare herself for the benefit of his grandmother… or something else. Something deeper that she couldn’t dare to wish for.
“Grandmother, Jane,” he drawled, sparing Jane just a mere glance before he dropped a kiss against Lady Stanton’s cheek. “You didn’t mention you would have other guests when you invited me here.”
Lady Stanton’s eyes shone as she smiled up at Wesley. “My dearest, I’m so glad to see you.”
“Yes, I have arrived just in time to hear you interrogating Lady Jane here.” Wes cast another glance over his shoulder at Jane, but didn’t let his eyes hold on her too long.
Jane’s heart sank as a terrible thought crossed her mind. While she had spent a night reliving that kiss… did Wesley regret it? Worse, would it change the friendship they had developed? A relationship she cherished in ways she had never known until they began this strange bargain.
“Interrogating?” Lady Stanton pressed hand to her breast even as her sharp eyes brightened. “My goodness, that was not my intention.”
Jane shifted as Wesley took a seat between them and poured himself a cup of tea. “Wasn’t it? Then I must have heard incorrectly.”
“I was merely relaying a rumor to Jane that I heard about the two of you,” Lady Stanton leaned forward. “I was trying to verify its veracity and determine what kind of courtship the two of you are involved in.”
Wesley sighed as he took a long swig of tea. From the expression in his eyes, Jane could see he was wishing for a stronger brew. Truth be told, she could use one herself. Now that he was here where she could smell the masculine hint of shaving soap, where she could see the harsh angle of his jaw and knew exactly what it felt
“You may laugh,” Lady Stanton said with a shake of her head. “Although it did require a saw and a lot of rather ridiculous screaming on the boy’s part to get him free.”
Jane’s laughter bubbled forth at the image that popped into her mind. To her surprise, she could easily see David in such a silly, undignified position that was created by his own lack of forethought. As her laughter faded, she caught Lady Stanton watching her.
“It has not been long since David declared his engagement to someone else, yet already you have transferred your affections to my grandson.” She cocked her head. “And so I am torn by two reactions. One is to be pleased by the match… but the other is to wonder at your intentions.”
Jane sobered completely as Lady Stanton put her back in a corner where she was unsure how to answer.
“If you kissed him, as my sources say you did, then you clearly have some feeling for him. But could you truly love him? Or would he only be a replacement for a lost love? Or even a way to stay near David despite your marriages.”
Jane’s eyes went wide. “You-You are direct, my lady.”
Lady Stanton shrugged one shoulder slowly. “I don’t have much time left on this earth my dear. Being direct may be the only way I will get answers. Do you care for my grandson?”
“I-” Jane struggled to say something. Anything. Lady Stanton was asking her the very questions she had begun to ask herself in the past few days. Her feelings had changed, rapidly, overtaking her when she least expected it. And now she was upside down, inside out.
“Your grandson is… I have a high regard for him, my lady. We share a true friendship. And I-I do care for him, of course.”
Her ladyship’s face wrinkled and she did not look completely pleased by Jane’s response. But she could not ask another question because the door to her parlor opened and Wesley himself stepped inside.
The look on his face, the gleam in his eye, instantly told Jane that he had overheard at least part of their conversation. That he had heard her inadequate explanation of her feelings and wasn’t pleased.
What she could not determine was whether his annoyance came from a wish for her to declare herself for the benefit of his grandmother… or something else. Something deeper that she couldn’t dare to wish for.
“Grandmother, Jane,” he drawled, sparing Jane just a mere glance before he dropped a kiss against Lady Stanton’s cheek. “You didn’t mention you would have other guests when you invited me here.”
Lady Stanton’s eyes shone as she smiled up at Wesley. “My dearest, I’m so glad to see you.”
“Yes, I have arrived just in time to hear you interrogating Lady Jane here.” Wes cast another glance over his shoulder at Jane, but didn’t let his eyes hold on her too long.
Jane’s heart sank as a terrible thought crossed her mind. While she had spent a night reliving that kiss… did Wesley regret it? Worse, would it change the friendship they had developed? A relationship she cherished in ways she had never known until they began this strange bargain.
“Interrogating?” Lady Stanton pressed hand to her breast even as her sharp eyes brightened. “My goodness, that was not my intention.”
Jane shifted as Wesley took a seat between them and poured himself a cup of tea. “Wasn’t it? Then I must have heard incorrectly.”
“I was merely relaying a rumor to Jane that I heard about the two of you,” Lady Stanton leaned forward. “I was trying to verify its veracity and determine what kind of courtship the two of you are involved in.”
Wesley sighed as he took a long swig of tea. From the expression in his eyes, Jane could see he was wishing for a stronger brew. Truth be told, she could use one herself. Now that he was here where she could smell the masculine hint of shaving soap, where she could see the harsh angle of his jaw and knew exactly what it felt
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