Page 14 of Regency Whispers: Scandalous Matches

‘Go on.’

For a moment she hesitated, unsure as to how to continue now she had broached the subject.

‘I am not looking for a husband,’ she said, wanting to claw back the words when Mr Stewart’s eyes widened in horror.

‘And I am not looking for a wife,’ he said quickly.

‘Of course not,’ Jane snapped. ‘That is not what I meant. Be quiet and listen for a moment.’ Her embarrassment made her speak sharply, but it had the desired effect; Mr Stewart remained silent and motioned for her to go on. ‘I am not looking for a husband, but it is Lady Mountjoy’s greatest wish to pair me off with some suitor. She feels everyone is happier when matched with someone else.’

‘Yes, she does have a certain reputation for match-making.’

‘I respect Lady Mountjoy greatly, but I do not have the time or energy to fend off her match-making efforts. She started with five debutantes, and everyone else is married. All she has left is me.’

‘I can see why you would feel nervous,’ Mr Stewart murmured.

‘I have...things I need to be doing. Until now, I have enjoyed a modicum of freedom, but I can feel that slipping through my fingers.’

‘Things?’

‘Yes, things,’ she said, refusing to elaborate. He didn’t need to know about her dreams, that this was her one chance to make everything she had hoped for and worked for a reality. ‘I cannot spend every waking second of my day being paraded in front of an endless line of dull gentlemen who are never going to be interested in me anyway.’

‘What is it you think we can do for each other?’

‘If Lady Mountjoy believes there is a chance we are falling for each other, then she will leave me in peace when it comes to other suitors.’ She risked a glance up at Mr Stewart and saw that so far he wasn’t convinced by her plan. ‘You need help with your nephew and, whilst I am no nursemaid, I enjoy the company of children. I would be happy to visit a few times a week, to take Edward on trips to the park or read with him quietly in the library.’

Slowly Mr Stewart nodded. ‘You help me with Edward, and in doing so Lady Mountjoy assumes the reason you are so keen to spend time with me is because we are falling for one another.’

‘I am sure we can be civil to one another in company and perhaps even attend a few of the same events to build the illusion.’

‘What about at the end of the Season?’

‘At the end of the Season I will return to Somerset and you will have your nanny and will have settled into a routine with Edward.’ Jane risked another glance at the man beside her. He hadn’t dismissed the idea outright so she was hopeful he might see the merit in it.

‘I cannot see the harm in trying the idea, as long as we are both completely honest with one another. If an attachment begins to form...’

Jane laughed and then realised he was serious. ‘Do women fall for you that easily, Mr Stewart?’

He shrugged.

‘I promise I have no feelings for you except a mild gratitude that you might save me from the match-making machinations of Lady Mountjoy.’ She held up her hand so he didn’t interrupt. ‘And I promise that if I find your...charm...so irresistible I will immediately let you know and we can sever our arrangement.’

‘Then I cannot see a problem.’

‘I will inform Lady Mountjoy that I wish to help you and Edward, as was her suggestion, and we will take it from there.’

Jane held out her hand and waited for Mr Stewart to shake it.

‘I do have one condition, though,’ he said, holding her eye.

‘Name it.’

‘You tell me what it is that is so important that you were sneaking around Southwark yesterday morning, and why you are eager for Lady Mountjoy not to scrutinise your every move these next few weeks.’

Jane held his eye, wondering if it would be the final straw if she shook her head and refused to answer him. For so long, her writing and her ambition had been private, something she had held close to her and hadn’t let anyone see. She thought of Mr Stewart’s steely determination when he had followed her the morning before and, even though she didn’t know him well, she could tell he was a man used to getting what he wanted.

She paused, looking down and scuffing her shoe on the path.

‘I write,’ she said finally. ‘And draw—illustrations for the stories I write.’ Quickly she glanced up to see his reaction. It was unheard of for a woman of middling social status to have ambitions that stretched beyond marrying well and supporting her husband in his endeavours.