Page 31 of Regency Whispers: Scandalous Matches

‘No one could have seen us. Perhaps Lady Framlingham caught the other couple you heard in the glasshouse.’

‘Why would Lady Mountjoy want to talk to me so urgently if that was the case?’

‘You must hold your composure.’

‘So must you,’ Jane shot back, irritated he thought she would be the one to let something slip she shouldn’t.

‘You do not need to worry about me.’

‘Nor you me.’

He gave her a long, hard stare.

‘Don’t look at me like that. I will have you know I can lie very well.’

‘Hmm.’

‘I would wager I am a much more believable liar than you.’

‘I doubt it,’ he said, the easy smile returning to his lips. ‘I’ve had a lot of practice.’

‘We should talk about...’ Jane trailed off, knowing she should not even mention the kiss they had shared in the glasshouse.

‘Yes,’ Mr Stewart said, his eyes searching her face. ‘A moment of madness?’ He phrased it as a question and Jane felt a mild pang of disappointment in amongst the relief.

‘A moment of madness,’ she agreed.

There was no time to discuss it further as the dance ended and the couples thanked each other, but she promised herself she would revisit the subject later, once Lady Mountjoy had been dealt with.

‘Have you heard?’ Lady Mountjoy said with no preamble as Mr Stewart escorted Jane from the dance floor.

‘Heard what?’ Jane tried to make her voice nonchalant, her whole demeanour relaxed.

‘Lady Framlingham was giving a tour of her famous glasshouse to some of her friends and they disturbed a couple in there.’

‘No!’ Jane gasped and felt Mr Stewart exert a little pressure on her arm. Perhaps she was overdoing the enthusiasm. Normally she would say she didn’t have any interest in gossip or something similar. ‘Who was it?’

There was a long pause whilst Lady Mountjoy scrutinised Jane and Mr Stewart. ‘No one knows,’ she said eventually. ‘Yet.’

‘What a thrilling mystery,’ Mr Stewart said quietly.

‘Indeed. You were out on the terrace, were you not?’

‘A while ago,’ Mr Stewart said, ‘But we were back before the quadrille was called and didn’t see anyone heading into the glasshouse.’

Lady Mountjoy was silent again, searching them both with her eyes for some weakness.

‘What’s this?’ she asked, leaning forward and looking at a tiny mark on Jane’s dress. It was from where some pollen had rubbed against the fabric, a miniscule brown mark on the bodice, something anyone less observant would have easily missed.

‘I don’t know,’ Jane said, trying to feign lack of interest. ‘I am sure Mary will be able to get it out. She managed to make my dress look as good as new when I threw lemonade all over it at the Osbornes’ dinner a few weeks ago.’

‘Did you hear?’ A woman bustled up to them, grasping Lady Mountjoy by the arm. ‘They found a woman’s glove in the glasshouse. It is only a matter of time before it is matched to the owner.’

In unison Lady Mountjoy and Mr Stewart looked down at Jane’s hands where they rested by her side. Feeling some of the panic leave her, Jane smiled serenely as she lifted her arm to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Both her hands were encased in delicate satin gloves, the fabric covering her forearms and buttoned at the elbow.

Lady Mountjoy gave a suspicious tut.

She leaned in towards Jane and Mr Stewart. ‘Best behaviour,’ she said firmly. ‘Everyone will be watching everyone else. It will be like a chapter in one of those awful crime stories Lord Mountjoy likes to read.’