“Cressida, we are the only ones who know. And all we know for certain is that Rochester was in the library with a woman. That is hardly the scandal of the Season,” Lady Cotswalts interjected, moving towards her. “I would know. But we must keep our heads.”
She was right. Jane looked at her hysterical friend, trying to gather her thoughts. She tried to form words, fully intending to inject some semblance of reasonableness into the proceedings.
“While I admit it is rather improper behavior, what we need now is to be calm. I do not plan on spreading any rumors, nor does my mother, I expect,” Jane said as reasonably as she could manage.
“But what if people find out?” Cressida was breathing fast, her eyes darting about in panic.
“Find out what exactly? I assure you, Miss Minton, nothing untoward has happened. We did not even kiss.” The man smiled charmingly, his voice seeming to drip with reassurance.
Cressida began to wail, and Jane shot the man a look that said he was not helping.
Why did he have to bring up kissing?
“Not that we would have kissed,” the man said, though his words were difficult to hear over Cressida’s wailing. “It was a misunderstanding, that is all.”
“I do not know what I expected. After all, he is the Duke of Caden. Or rather ‘Blake the Rake’.” Cressida shook her head.
Jane moved closer towards her friend, wanting to console her and hopefully calm her down. Unfortunately, as she did so, the room spun, and her eyes lost focus once more. She stumbled and would have fallen had the Duke not stridden forward and caught her.
Their eyes met, and the smell of orange blossom and sandalwood washed over Jane. Everything came back into focus as the Duke carefully helped her to her feet, his eyes dancing in the firelight. He smiled at her.
“It seems your guest is rather overexcited. Perhaps we should calm down lest she faint again.” The Duke’s words swept over her, and she flushed.
Her cheeks turned red with embarrassment. “I am not overexcited. I just forgot to eat.”
“Then perhaps you should remedy that.” The Duke smiled, and Jane suspected it was intended to be charming.
But she only found it irritating.
“That was our intent. And it would have already been remedied had we not stumbled upon you in such a compromising position.”
“All you stumbled upon was a misunderstanding.” The Duke took a step back, running a hand through his hair and sighing.
“A rather close misunderstanding,” Jane pointed out, only too happy to let her embarrassment be replaced by irritation.
I did nothing wrong. Who is he to make sport of me?
“I only wanted some respite from the ball. I had thought to take some time to myself when the Earl’s widow followed me. I did nothing to invite such a pursuit.” The Duke gestured around him, the corners of his lips quirking up.
“I find that rather hard to believe, unless ‘Blake the Rake’ is some kind of ironic moniker rather than a nickname.” Jane raised her eyebrow at the Duke, a challenge that she was unafraid to make.
“Whether or not I deserve that title is neither here nor there. I am sorry that I have caused upset, but really, nothing happened. This is all just a silly misunderstanding.” The Duke waved a hand dismissively.
“A silly misunderstanding that has seriously upset one of my dearest friends,” Jane retorted, glancing at Cressida, who was still being consoled by her fiancé and Lady Cotswalts. Jane’s anger flared further. “Do not try and trivialize this just to assuage your guilt.”
“I am not trivializing anything. Simply contextualizing it. And I am not trying to assuage anyone’s guilt. But do not expect me to pander to someone else’s sensibilities when I have done nothing wrong.”
The arrogance of this man.
“Nothing wrong? I saw that woman’s hand on your chest. Saw how close you were standing to each other!”
“Is standing close to someone a crime now?” The Duke laughed softly.
“Not a crime, but hardly gentlemanly behavior.” Jane clenched her fists.How dare he laugh at me?“Just because something is not a crime, does not mean that your actions are somehow excusable or even justified. Do you have no shame?”
“What use have I for shame?” The Duke narrowed his eyes at her.
“Perhaps it would lend you a little humility or consideration. If you are capable of such a thing,” Jane replied hotly. “Or are you so selfish that you do not care about the hurt you have caused?”
