“Why? I can barely stand the man. He is arrogant, too cocky, and thinks so highly of himself that it is a wonder he can tear himself away from a mirror long enough to be a nuisance to the rest of us.” Jane scowled at the thought of having to spend three weeks with the dratted man.
Oh Cressida, you are lucky I love you so dearly.
“You know, Jane, I do not think I have ever heard you talk with such passion about anyone before. Perhaps youshouldpursue him,” Emily teased.
Jane threw a cushion at her. “I would sooner pursue a feral cat. At least the cat would have some manners.”
“Exactly.” Lady Cotswalts glared at Emily. “I still do not understand why the man will be there at all.”
“He is Lord Glastonbury’s best man.” Jane sighed. “He and Cressida have decided that they must have us both at their side, so they insisted that we spend time together to prevent us from fighting throughout their wedding.”
“Well, he cannot be that bad if Lord Glastonbury considers him such a friend that he would want him to be his best man. I have always thought he had rather good taste.” Emily looked thoughtful as she spoke.
“Believe me, in this instance, Lord Glastonbury’s judgment is severely impaired. I cannot think of one reason the man would choose to be the Duke’s friend.”
“Not even one?” Emily asked, grinning. “Surely there must be one thing. I have heard that the Duke of Caden is quite handsome.”
“He may be handsome, but what good are looks when that is all you have to offer?” Jane scoffed.
“Looks will only carry you so far in life, dearest Emily. Jane has the measure of the man far better than you.” Lady Cotswalts pulled a blue dress out of the pile Jane had chosen, putting it back in the wardrobe.
Emily strode towards her mother, took the dress from her hands, and put it back in the pile as she said, “I know that looks aren’t everything. But they are something. And, as I said, I find it hard to believe that the man can be as irredeemable as you both seem to think.”
Jane watched her mother narrow her eyes at her sister and did her best not to smile. Instead, she used the distraction to put yet another book in her bag.
“You know they call him ‘Blake the Rake’, and for good reason,” Jane said, timing her words to distract her mother and sister even more. “At Cressida’s engagement ball, we found him in a most compromising position. He was alone, in the library, with the Countess of Waterburry.”
“A married woman?” Emily clapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide.
Jane waved a dismissive hand, peering at a green riding outfit that had somehow snuck its way into her pile of clothes. “She is a widow. I think her husband died last year.”
“Oh, then that is not so bad.” Emily sounded relieved. “Were they in some kind of embrace? Or kissing?”
“Emily!” The reprimand was equal parts frustration and shock.
“I did not see them kiss, and the Duke claims that no such thing occurred. But…” Jane trailed off, her cheeks coloring as she remembered the way the Dowager Countess had trailed her hand down the Duke’s chest. “Anyway, she was rather too familiar with him.”
“Jane, your sister does not need all the sordid details,” Lady Cotswalts chided as she continued to rifle through Jane’s clothes.
“She should be aware of his character. After all, she is going to Kenton with me, and I would hate for her to fall under his spell.” Jane watched as Emily went to stand beside their mother, carefully pulling dresses out of the pile she had selected.
“Oh, do not worry, Sister mine, there is little chance of that.” Emily removed a pale pink dress her mother had just added to the pile and hung it back in the wardrobe. “You know, I think I heard that he has kissedallthe women in the Stafford family.”
“But Lady Stafford must be at least nine-and-forty!” Unbidden, the image of the Duke and the matronly Lady Stafford flashed through Jane’s mind, making her giggle.
“And a widow too,” Emily pointed out.
“Perhaps that is his type.” Jane shook her head. “In which case, it would seem I am quite without hope.”
“Ah, so you admit youdohope to be his wife,” Emily teased, her eyes full of playful mischief.
“That isnotwhat I said,” Jane replied.
“You are both being utterly ridiculous! I do not want either of my daughters to fall under that rake’s spell. Especially with a reputation like that!” Lady Cotswalts frowned, noticing the pink dress had been returned to the wardrobe and placing it back in the pile to be packed.
“But those were just rumors. And think what fun it would be if Jane were to catch the Duke’s interest. Our Christmases would be quite the fiery occasions.” Emily grinned as she pulled two more dresses from the wardrobe, added them to the pile to be packed, and then slipped the pink one beneath the cushion of a nearby chair.
“I hate to rain on your parade, dear sister, but Father is finding me a match.” Jane glanced at the growing mountain of clothes with some trepidation.
