William Pembleton, the Viscount Cotswalts, was standing at his desk, frowning at a small mountain of paperwork. Like Jane, he had reddish brown hair, though his was considerably tidier than his daughter’s at that moment, and it was flecked with streaks of grey.
Her father was not an especially tall man, though he always seemed tall to her. In many ways, Jane took after him. She shared his kind brown eyes, his distractibility, and his penchant for life.
Perhaps that is why few men want to pursue me.
As the door opened, he looked up and smiled at her. His smile faltered as he caught sight of Lady Cotswalts’ sad and exasperated expression.
“Jane, to what do I owe the unexpected pleasure of your company?” Lord Cotswalts asked as he gestured for Jane and her mother to enter the room.
“Father, I need your help,” Jane said as she strode into the room, clenching her fists and studiously ignoring her mother.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the window. Her reddish-brown hair cascaded around her shoulders, her brown eyes were narrowed with an unusual determination, and her mouth was set in a firm line.
Carefully, she softened her expression—not quite smiling, but trying to seem determined and approachable. She unclenched her fist and forced herself to take a deep, steadying breath, feeling her shoulders relax infinitesimally.
“Of course, my dear. Anything you ask of me, I—” began Lord Cotswalts, but Jane’s mother interrupted him.
“William, make your daughter see reason. She cannot be allowed to throw away years of effort for this ridiculous plan of hers. She cannot!” Lady Cotswalts pleaded.
“What ridiculous plan?” Lord Cotswalts raised an eyebrow at his daughter, concern clear on his face.
“I have decided that it is high time I married. I have considered my options, evaluated my current success rate, and come to the conclusion that the best course of action will be for you to arrange a match for me.” Jane attempted to sound nonchalant, as though she were talking about nothing more serious than the weather.
“Your mother is the matchmaker, not me, dear daughter.” Lord Cotswalts inclined his head towards his wife, his eyes twinkling good-naturedly.
“I know this. And if I were looking for a love match, then I would have deferred to her wisdom of course. But as I start my fourth Season, I have little hope that such an eventuality will happen.”
Jane bit her lip, determined to keep her voice level.
This is the right decision, I need a husband, but I do not need love.
“Therefore, I am coming to you, Father, to find me a suitable match. And if it helps your business or connections, so much the better.”
“Is this truly what you desire?” Lord Cotswalts inclined his head towards her, his eyes seeming to search her face for some hidden meaning. “A marriage based on practicality rather than love?”
“William, you cannot really be considering this. The Season has not even begun—we still have time to find her a love match!” Lady Cotswalts’ eyes were wide with anger and fear.
Lord Cotswalts ignored his wife. Instead, he held Jane’s gaze. “Jane, I ask once more, is thistrulywhat you desire?”
“My mind is made up. I wish to get married, and if I wait too long, I will be stuck with the absolute dregs of the ton. If I cannot have love, I must at the very least have a decent husband.” Jane nodded, using the words to bolster her conviction. “This is what I want.”
She forced herself to meet her father’s gaze, willing him to see her conviction if nothing else.
I will do this. I will make him understand even if Mother does not.
“I shall do as you ask, but it will take some time.” Lord Cotswalts exchanged a look with his wife that Jane could not quite read. “I must ensure that any man is worthy of you and that he will treat you right.”
“Of course. Thank you, Father.” Jane ran to her father and embraced him. “I cannot tell you how happy this makes me.”
“If it makes you happy, that is all that matters to me.” Lord Cotswalts squeezed her tightly before releasing her.
“And what if Jane happens to find a match before you have found a suitable man for her?” Lady Cotswalts asked, and Jane could hear the thinly veiled hope in her voice. “If Jane finds someone she loves and who in turn loves her, what happens then?”
It took all of Jane’s self-control not to roll her eyes at her mother.
It will do no good. If anything, it may make Father reconsider his promise.
“I would not want to stand in the way of true love.” Lord Cotswalts smiled. “If you do find a love match, I would have you pursue it.”
