Jane felt as though all the air had been sucked out of the room. She only just managed to stop herself from gaping at the man. Instead, she glared at her sister, who was studiously avoiding looking at her whilst having a whispered conversation with their mother.
The three gentlemen who were surrounding Jane were sizing up Blake and were not happy with their conclusions.
Blake smiled at the men and said, “I am the Duke of Caden. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, gentlemen. Though I know some of you.”
Though Blake was the picture of polite civility, Jane could tell that he did not intend to let the suitors stay. She needed to make him leave, to stop him, but her mind seemed not to have recovered from the shock.
Pull yourself together.
But even as she tried to prevent it, Blake took control of the room with a charm that made her understand why the ton was obsessed with him.
“Did I catch mention of poetry? I must admit I am pleasantly surprised you are as enamored by the art, Lord Severn!” he said and then shot her a look.
She did not like the glimmer in his eyes but was powerless to cut the conversation short.
“Oh, quite the opposite, I cannot stand the stuff.”
“I am surprised you do not at least find the words beautiful.”
“Overly complicated nonsense pretending to be profound! Surely, Your Grace, you do not mean to tell me you enjoy it.”
“Oh, I do, as does Miss Pembleton! Why, we shared an enlightening conversation about Charlotte Smith just a week or so ago!”
“Did you really?” Lord Luckstone seemed interested.
Blake’s jaw clenched before he smiled a sharp smile. “Oh yes, I believe it was right after she won our fencing bout, and before she lost our horse race. Though really it was not for lack of skill—she rides better than most men I know.”
“Heavens! Is this true?”
Jane saw the familiar looks of disapproval on their faces, the ones she had been met with ever since she came out. But for once, she did not feel herself shrink.
“Yes, I rather enjoy being active and reading and learning new skills. And I also enjoy poetry, and I like making my own gowns, even if some consider it below my station.”
After that, the battle was lost. The suitors gradually made their excuses until only Blake was standing before her, looking triumphant.
“A pleasure meeting you too, Lord Severn, I am sure.” He slammed the door shut behind him, turning to face Jane. He took a breath and said, “I thought he would never leave.”
His familiarity broke whatever spell she had been under. She saw red. All of her shock and confusion turned into anger.
“What in Heaven’s name do you think you are doing here?” Jane hissed at him. “You come in here without an invitation, sauntering and distracting everyone, and now, like the arrogant cad you are, you have driven off all of my suitors.”
“Jane!” Lady Cotswalts reprimanded. “Your language!”
Jane did not bother to apologize as she continued to glare at Blake. “Heisa cad, and far worse.”
“I know that you are angry, and I deserve that anger, but—” Blake began, but Jane cut him off.
“I am not angry. I am furious. How dare you? How could you do this to me?” Jane’s voice shook with barely repressed emotion. “What, just because you do not want me, you are determined that no one else should? How can you be so selfish?”
“That is not it at all. I came here to talk to you, which I could not do with those men present.” Blake gestured to the door, his triumphant look fading and a more serious expression replacing it. “And if any of those men had been worth even a fraction of your time, they would not have been so easy to dismiss.”
“You poured tea on one of them and practically chased the other two out of the room!” Jane fumed.
“Ispilledtea, and the others needed very little encouragement from me to leave,” Blake replied.
“How much of a fool do you think I am? If that is an accident, then I am a man.” Jane gestured to the tea stain on the carpet.
“Fine, I did it on purpose. And I would do it again. And if the others had not left of their own accord, I would have figured out some way to drive them out of the room.” Blake moved towards her, seeming to fill the room with his presence.
