Unbidden, the image of the Duke’s face floated into her mind. Being cooped up for so long, she would have expected to see him more often, and yet the two had rarely exchanged more than a few barbs here and there.
An odd feeling stirred in her chest, and she began to fidget. She felt the need to move, to do something, but she could not think what.
If the weather is good, perhaps I shall go out for a ride again.
She thought once more of the Duke and frowned, shaking her head as if to clear it.
“It has been a long time since I last saw you so restless. It is quite nice,” Emily said, squeezing Jane’s hand.
“My being restless is nice?” Jane frowned at her sister.
“Yes,” Emily replied simply.
“Well, at least one of us is enjoying it,” Jane grumbled.
“You only get restless when there are things you want to do, and I meanreallywant to do. Like big hobbies or your little adventures,” Emily explained, gesturing around her animatedly.
“My little adventures?” Jane tilted her head towards her sister. “What do you mean?”
Emily sighed. “When we were little, you were always doing all sorts of things. I called them your little adventures. Like the time you attempted to learn the bagpipes and Father banned you from practicing in the house, so you went into a field to practice?—”
“—and the cows chased me! I had almost completely forgotten about that. How embarrassing!” Jane laughed, clapping her hands over her mouth.
The cows, much like her family, had not been appreciative of her musical stylings. Jane did not think she had ever run that fast in her life.
“You arrived absolutely covered in mud—Mother was furious.” Emily wiped a tear of laughter from her eye.
Jane giggled. “But Father thought it hilarious.”
“If I recall correctly, Rose laughed so hard that her drink came out of her nose,” Emily added.
“Not the first time that has happened to her.” Jane recalled the many other occasions.
“Nor the last, knowing Rose.” Emily laughed, and Jane joined in once more.
When their laughter eventually subsided, Jane wiped her cheeks, her sides aching from laughing so hard. She leaned against her younger sister, thinking of Rose and the life she was now living.
One she never even dreamed she would have.
Something stirred in her chest. Not quite jealousy, but something else. It felt akin to sadness. Jane frowned and tried to push the feeling away as she said, “I am glad she is so happy. I love seeing her with Alexander, and the children.”
“Me too. They seem so very in love.” Emily seemed to hesitate and then after a moment gave Jane a serious look and said, “Do you really not want to wait for a love match?”
“I do not see the point. It has been years, Emily. If I wait much longer, there won’t be even hope for a decent match. And I have no desire to remain a spinster for the rest of my days.” Jane shuddered at the thought.
The only spinsters I know are either completely mad or deeply, deeply sad women.
“But what if you met someone here?” Emily asked earnestly.
Jane laughed. “And who exactly am I likely to meet? Everyone here is married or about to get married.”
“The Duke of Caden is not married,” Emily pointed out.
“The Duke of Caden is a rake. Also, in case you have not noticed, there is rather a lot of animosity between us.” Jane gaped at her sister.
“Still, it is a shame that you are so set on a marriage of convenience. Do you not remember how we both used to dream of finding love? Of our perfect weddings?” Emily smiled, apparently lost in a childhood reverie.
Jane did remember their dreams. But she also knew she was no longer a child. She had seen much, much, more of the world, and she knew the truth of things now.
