Читать книгу Every Time We Kiss - Christie Kelley - Страница 10

“What is going on, Jennette?” Elizabeth asked as she sat down in the salon. “I have been hearing rumors all day that Lord Blackburn attended your party last night. Was he there? I never noticed him.”

“I have also heard the rumor,” Avis added, pouring tea for everyone. “I have a very good source who says he knows for certain Blackburn attended. And you danced with him.”

Jennette closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. “My brother doesn’t know everything, Avis.”

“As his wife, I realize that, Jennette. But I also know how much he cares for you. He would never want someone to hurt you again as Blackburn has in the past.”

Jennette looked around at her roomful of friends. Avis, her dearest friend and now sister-in-law, handed tea to Sophie, who sat on the sofa with a small grin on her face. Of course, Sophie most likely had concluded that Matthew had gray eyes. Victoria sat primly in the chair by the window, looking completely uncomfortable with the conversation. While Elizabeth’s green eyes took everything in with eagerness.

“Mat—Blackburn and I talked for a few minutes. I did dance with him only to get him away from Banning’s overbearing attitude.”

Elizabeth twisted her lips. “But why was he there in the first place? Surely, you didn’t invite him.”

“No. He sneaked inside after we talked in the garden.” Jennette clamped her hand over her lips when she realized how scandalizing that sounded.

“Does Banning know about that?” Avis whispered as if he might appear at any moment.

“Of course not,” Jennette said. “It was completely innocent.” And frightening. And somewhat sensual, especially when he trapped her against the column with his body. Or that brief instance on the terrace when his head leaned in as if he were going to kiss her.

“Jennette, you know better—”

“Elizabeth, you are not my mother,” Jennette retorted, then sighed. “He needs a wife.”

“Blackburn?” Elizabeth asked. “But he’s an earl. How difficult is it for him to secure a bride?”

“With his reputation, ‘difficult’ would be easy.” Jennette sipped her tea in hopes the liquid would help her headache.

“But why would he come to you?” Victoria finally spoke up. “He didn’t think you would marry him, did he?”

Well, she couldn’t tell them that awful truth. And she still didn’t quite understand his threat of marriage. With all that was between them, marriage would be dreadful.

“No. He wants my help.”

“Why would you help him after what he did?” Avis demanded.

“It was an accident,” Jennette said softly, staring at the folds of her blue silk gown. “We had been friends. He never meant for that to happen. He’s still distraught over John’s death.”

“As he should be,” Victoria said, crossing her arms over her chest. “He took a man’s life, accident or not.”

Jennette pressed her lips together. They would never understand what happened that day, nor could she ever tell them. If no one could believe Matthew’s killing of John was accidental, who would believe her?

It would look even more sordid in the gossips’ minds—the way she let Matthew take the blame to protect her. Everyone would assume he did it out of love for her. It hadn’t been love. Lust, maybe, but not love. And while she never loved Matthew either, she certainly had felt something with him that she’d never felt with John.

“Jennette, why did he come to you?” Sophie asked softly.

“He thought if I showed support for him then perhaps others might see him for who he really is and not just his reputation.”

“And did you agree to help him?” Sophie said with a knowing look in her eyes.

“Yes. I offered to help him find a bride.”

“Then maybe we can all assist you.” Sophie looked around at the women in the room. “There must be some woman among the quality who would marry Blackburn, reputation and all.”

“She must have money,” Jennette added. “His father and brother gambled their way into a huge debt. And she must have a sterling reputation. Anything less will not help him.”

“Very well,” Sophie said with a smile. “We need a wealthy woman with an impeccable reputation.”

“And not hard on the eyes for him,” Jennette said softly. He did deserve a pretty woman.

“That goes without saying.” Sophie looked at them. “Well? Any ideas?”

“Not Lucinda Bartlett,” Elizabeth said with a small giggle. “She is still causing such a fuss because she unknowingly danced with him last night.”

“Yes, she wasn’t my best idea.” Jennette leaned back against the chair feeling a little better now that her friends were helping her.

“You know,” Elizabeth said with a big grin. “My sister is having a fall country party commencing this weekend. I will get her to invite him. There will be plenty of unmarried women and a week to find him someone perfect.”

Avis laughed. “You must have something you’re holding over her head if you can get her to invite him.”

“I am her sister,” Elizabeth said with a big smile. “Of course I have information she would never want her husband to learn.”

“Excellent,” Jennette said. “I believe we should compile a list of names as there will be some who will reject him outright because of his reputation. Any other thoughts?”

“What about Susan Whitmore?” Sophie asked. “Her mother insists her daughter get a title since Mrs. Whitmore did not.”

Jennette pondered that idea. “She does have a large dowry. She is quite pretty.”

“But how will she feel about his reputation?” Victoria asked.

“I suppose we could inquire.” Elizabeth leaned forward. “Jennette, how well do you know her?”

“Not well at all.”

“I say we should call on her tomorrow afternoon. But first, I think we should get him invited to Lady Sheldon’s musicale. She has five daughters to marry off.”

Jennette smirked. “And how do we do that?”

Elizabeth shook her head. “Leave that all to me.”

“Very well. So tomorrow night Lady Sheldon’s musicale and what do we do about Miss Whitmore?”

Elizabeth smiled brightly and said, “Avis could host a literary…” Her voice trailed away as she looked at Avis.

Jennette shook her head. While Avis loved hosting literary salons and talking about her own book, which hopefully would be published soon, she was now married to Banning. That would never work.

“No, Avis can’t do it. Well, I haven’t hosted a literary salon since before my father died.” Elizabeth turned toward Avis and said, “Surely you can assist me with this?”

Jennette turned toward Avis. “You cannot tell Banning about this. If he knew how involved I was in Blackburn’s life, he’d kill me.”

She felt dreadful asking Avis to keep something from her new husband. But Jennette knew her brother far better than Avis did. Banning would lock Jennette in her room to keep Matthew away from her.

“Of course, I shall help you, Elizabeth. And Jennette, it’s our secret,” Avis said, making a cross over her heart. “Banning will not hear about this from me. Although I still wonder why you are helping Blackburn.”

Jennette looked away, knowing she couldn’t keep the guilt from sweeping over her face. Since marrying Matthew was out of the question, assisting him might be the only way to help her forgive herself.

A few hours later, Elizabeth and Jennette sat in the salon of Miss Susan Whitmore, waiting for the younger woman to join them. Nervous energy filled Jennette as the time dragged. She tapped her foot on the floor, keeping time with the clock.

“What is the matter?” Elizabeth asked. “You’re as jumpy as a toad.”

“You haven’t told me how we will get them together.”

Elizabeth waved a hand at her. “At the literary salon. It won’t be a large gathering so we shall introduce them and hopefully they will sit next to each other.”

“But what if she doesn’t agree?”

“Then we will find someone else. Why are you so concerned?”

Jennette looked away from her friend’s prying eyes. “I feel rather sorry for him.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “Why would you feel anything save contempt for the man?”

“What happened that day was a complete accident.”

Before Elizabeth could meddle any further, Mrs. Whitmore sailed into the room with Susan following directly behind her.

“Lady Elizabeth, I’m honored to have you here.” Mrs. Whitmore glanced over at Jennette and smiled tightly. “Good afternoon, Lady Jennette.”

Damn. She hadn’t counted on Mrs. Whitmore to be with them. Elizabeth flashed Jennette a cautious look.

Mrs. Whitmore and her daughter sat together on the sofa. Susan graciously poured tea into delicate china cups, then handed them to everyone. At twenty-one, Susan had a refined beauty. How was it that she had not married yet? She’d been out for three Seasons and was quite well-liked.

“Susan, we came on a delicate matter,” Elizabeth, the more decorous of them, spoke first.

“Oh?” both Susan and her mother said and then looked at each other.

“It’s nothing dreadful.”

Both Susan and her mother sighed and leaned back in the sofa. Jennette watched every move they made while Elizabeth talked. Susan’s hands trembled as she lifted her teacup to her mouth. Perhaps she was shy and that was the reason for her lack of a husband.

“I know a man whose reputation isn’t the best but he would like an introduction,” Elizabeth said. “He is an earl and looking for a wife. Preferably, one with an excellent reputation.”

Susan’s eyes grew large as she glanced over at her mother. Her mother patted her daughter’s hand.

“Exactly whom are we discussing?” Mrs. Whitmore asked before taking a bite of her biscuit.

“Lord Blackburn.”

The silence in the room almost made Jennette laugh. It wasn’t as if they were trying to introduce Susan to the devil. The Whitmores exchanged odd looks as if having a private conversation without words.

Finally, Mrs. Whitmore smiled and said, “I think my daughter would be most pleased to be introduced to such a fine gentleman.”

Jennette almost dropped her teacup. What the bloody hell was going on? No one had that reaction to him. Even Elizabeth sent her a curious look.

“Very well,” Elizabeth said, still looking puzzled. “I will be hosting a literary salon Thursday evening. He will be in attendance.”

“Then so shall we,” Mrs. Whitmore replied with a very satisfied look on her face.

A sudden chill crossed Jennette’s arm, raising gooseflesh. She had the singular feeling that this meeting was a very bad idea.

“Come along, Jennette,” Elizabeth said as she stood.

“Good day,” Mrs. Whitmore said with a positively evil grin.

What had she gotten Matthew into? She walked with Elizabeth in silence through the hallway. But as soon as the door shut behind them, she put her hand on Elizabeth’s arm.

“What were they about?”

Elizabeth frowned. “I am not certain. Their reaction to the introduction was not what I expected.”

“Something is very wrong.” Jennette walked down the steps and then into their carriage. Once Elizabeth had settled herself inside, Jennette gasped.

“What?”

“Have you heard any rumors about Susan lately?” Jennette whispered. “Scandalous rumors?”

“None whatsoever.”

“I have the oddest sensation that they plan to trap him,” Jennette remarked as her indignation rose.

“Why would they need to do that?” Elizabeth asked, pulling at her white gloves. “She is wealthy, and beautiful, and…”

“And what if she’s with child?”

This time, Elizabeth gasped. “Jennette, what a dreadful thing to say about her.”

“But what if it’s the truth?”

Elizabeth tapped her finger against her lip. “Then Blackburn must be warned so he can be on guard. If you are right, Susan will try to get him into a compromising position to force the issue as quickly as possible. Maybe even at the salon.”

Jennette sat back against the velvet squabs and crossed her arms over her chest. “I shall make certain that doesn’t happen.”

Matthew entered Lady Sheldon’s impressive home on George Street at exactly seven in the evening. When he’d agreed to Jennette’s plan, he had doubted she would be able to secure him invitations to any functions. But now he had the musicale tonight and Lady Elizabeth’s literary salon Thursday. He knew Lady Elizabeth and Jennette were good friends so Jennette had, no doubt, coerced her friend into inviting him.

Nevertheless, it mattered not how he came about the invitations as long as they continued to appear at his house every day. He looked forward to starting his new life. Respectability had been too far out of his reach for so long. Now, it was there, just a little beyond his grasp, not such an impossible feat.

While he followed the footman down the hall, he smiled. As soon as he entered the music room, his smile disappeared. The audible gasp of at least five women sounded when he crossed the threshold, followed quickly by the lifting of fans over their lips.

Not a single friendly face greeted him. Lady Sheldon’s granite expression told him without words that she was only allowing his appearance because of Jennette. Glancing around the room, he noticed she hadn’t attended tonight, leaving him stranded in a sea of frowns. He walked toward the seats in the back and sat down, hoping the chair would swallow him completely.

A commotion at the door forced him to look over just in time to see Jennette enter the room with a swish of violet silk. Several women formed a circle around her, whispering to her.

“I really don’t see why it is a problem,” she answered loud enough for him to hear.

After a few more vehement protests from the ladies surrounding her, Jennette broke from the group and walked directly toward him. “Good evening, Lord Blackburn.”

Damn, she had pluck to greet him in front of everyone. “Good evening, Lady Jennette.”

“I do hope you enjoy the musicale this evening. Lady Sheldon’s daughters have quite the talent for both singing and the pianoforte.”

He couldn’t stop the pleased smile from forming. “I am certain I shall enjoy myself immensely.”

She nodded and then gave the ladies a sardonic look. “I think you shall at that.” She glanced about the room as if looking for someone in particular. After blowing out a delicate breath, she said, “But you do need someone to sit beside you, my lord. You shouldn’t be alone.”

“You could do me the honor,” he said just loud enough for her to hear.

Her black eyebrows rose and her lips twitched as if she found the idea perfectly amusing. “I have just the person.”

She walked away before he could stop her. His preference would have been Jennette, not someone who would sit quaking in the chair next to him. Nonetheless, he couldn’t stop himself from watching her work her magic on some poor young girl whose face suddenly blanched as Jennette spoke with her. After a quick nod, Jennette led her toward him.

“Miss Amelia Sheldon, may I introduce Lord Blackburn,” Jennette said with a smile to them both.

Matthew stood and bowed over Miss Sheldon’s quivering hand. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Sheldon.”

“Th—Thank you, my lord.”

“I would be truly honored if you joined me.” He had to keep from rolling his eyes back into his head. The girl couldn’t be more than eighteen and appeared scared even to let him bow over her hand. Perhaps he should set an age limit with Jennette. No women under twenty-one. He had no idea why she chose the youngest of the Sheldon women, unless Jennette assumed Amelia would be the easiest to manipulate.

Miss Sheldon sat in the seat next to him and pulled out her fan. Staring straight ahead, she made no attempt to draw him into conversation. Matthew’s attention skipped to Jennette. She’d taken a chair three rows in front of him but to the right. He could just make out her profile and delicate, long neck.

After a quick shake of his head to clear his errant thoughts, he tried to get Miss Sheldon to speak to him.

“Are you looking forward to the Season?” he asked gently.

Her eyes widened with either fear or surprise that he had the audacity to speak with her.

“Yes,” she said in such a soft voice that he had to strain to hear her. She glanced around the room as people turned to stare at them.

“Will this be your first Season?”

She shook her head. “No, my second.”

Well, at least he received a three-word answer instead of one. “Did you enjoy your last Season?”

“No.”

“No?” he queried.

“With four older sisters out, my mother would prefer I don’t draw too much attention to myself.”

And it appeared Amelia had done a fine job of that until tonight. By sitting next to him, she’d gained the attention of the entire room. Every few moments, someone looked back at her as if to make certain she was still alive. As people continued to watch, he noticed a gleam of pleasure enter her eyes.

“I see,” he finally said. Well, he didn’t really but he couldn’t say that to her. “Will you be performing tonight?”

“No, again too much attention with aging sisters,” she said.

Lady Sheldon stood and walked to the front of the room. She introduced her eldest daughter, Beatrice, to start the night off with a sonata. As Beatrice took her seat at the pianoforte, Matthew let his gaze settle on Jennette again.

He’d noticed her glancing back at them before the music started, but now her head faced the pianoforte. What was it about her? Was it the way a few hairs had escaped her pins only to fall against the soft skin of her neck? A neck so perfect his lips wanted to touch that sensitive place where her shoulder met her neck.

Dear God, he was insane!

He should not feel attracted to Jennette. This was madness. There had to be something he didn’t like about her.

Her shopping habits, he decided. The woman was known for her fashion sense and style. And he didn’t like it. She was most likely driving her brother into huge debt over clothing.

Although, the violet silk gown she wore tonight deserved applause. The color suited her perfectly. And then there was that curving neckline framed with a hint of fine lace, drawing attention to the gentle outline of her breasts.

Before he knew it, the sound of clapping alerted him to the fact that the eldest Miss Sheldon had completed her music for the evening. Lady Sheldon next introduced her two middle daughters, who would sing a selection of songs for them.

Matthew forced his concentration on the two young women. It was then that he realized they must be twins. He couldn’t tell the two apart. Both had light brown hair, dull hazel eyes, and freckles over the bridge of their noses. His gaze slid to the woman next to him. He now understood why Lady Sheldon insisted Amelia do nothing to call notice to herself. Amelia Sheldon was the only beautiful lady of the Sheldon family.

She was exactly what he’d told Jennette he was looking for in a woman: petite, blond, quite pretty, and from a fine family. With no sons to inherit, Lord Sheldon had been quite vocal about the small fortune he would give in dowry for the women.

So why didn’t he feel drawn to her? After her initial nervousness, he’d noticed that she relaxed when the music started. She’d even glanced over at him a few times with a shy smile.

He should court her. Put all his efforts into making her want to marry him. After all, he only had a few weeks before he either married or faced selling off his properties. Amelia Sheldon would do.

When the musicale finally finished with a violin solo by the fourth Miss Sheldon, he turned toward Amelia. “May I get you some lemonade?”

Her thin pink lips turned upward. “I would like that.”

The refreshments were in the dining room and this could be his opportunity to converse with her. “Would you accompany me?”

“Thank you, my lord.” She rose with the grace of a swan then hooked her arm with his.

He watched her as she looked around the room with a smug smile on her face. Blowing out a small breath, he understood exactly what she was doing.

“Are you enjoying the attention?” he whispered.

“Yes, I am,” she replied just as quietly. “I do hope you don’t mind. It is very rare that anyone notices me when my mother is constantly pushing her older daughters on any man she can.”

“I see.”

She glanced up at him with sympathy. “I know what you are about, my lord.”

“Oh?”

“You think to marry a wealthy woman. The gossips have spoken of nothing else for days.” She looked forward but continued in a hushed tone, “But it won’t be me, my lord. I have my sights set on another.”

“Indeed?”

“Yes.”

While he should have been disappointed, it was relief that washed over him. For some inexplicable reason, he had no desire to have her as his wife. So as they walked into the dining room, she using him to draw attention to her, and he using her to help gain some respectability, he smiled.