After a while, Emily said, “It just… just… It seems a shame to shut out love.”
“I have not shut out love. Not completely. You never know, perhaps I will love the man Father finds for me.” Jane thought for a moment. “Or at least come to love him.”
“Perhaps.” Emily shrugged. “It is good to know you have not shut the door on love entirely. That would be a rather sorry state of affairs.”
“I suppose it would.” Jane let out a yawn. “Emily, I love you dearly, but I am exhausted.”
“So I can imagine, what with all the verbal sparring you and the Duke were doing earlier,” Emily teased, lightly prodding Jane in the ribs as she did so.
“What?” Jane asked, confused.
“Nothing.” Emily gave her a mischievous grin.
Jane hit her with a pillow and rolled her eyes. “You are as bad as a mother. Honestly.”
“What? I am just saying that it must be exhausting being constantly at odds with him,” Emily said innocently.
“Well, if he stopped being so infuriating, I wouldn’t be trading verbal blows with him at every opportunity.” Jane crossed her arms over her chest, feeling oddly defensive.
It is not my fault he seems to get under my skin so much. He is the one who seeks me out most of the time!
“Of course, you would not,” Emily said lightly.
“I would not.” Jane frowned at her.
“I just agreed with you,” Emily replied, standing up and yawning.
“It did not sound like you meant it.” Jane knew she sounded sulky.
“You are being ridiculous.” Emily gave Jane a kiss on her forehead. “Go to sleep, Sister. Tomorrow is a brand new day.”
“Let us hope for better weather,” Jane murmured. “Good night.”
“Good night.” Emily shut the door behind her.
As Jane lay in her bed, listening to the sound of her sister’s fading footsteps, she found herself thinking of throwing trifle at the Duke. At the feel of his finger against her skin, the stickiness of the jelly not quite masking the heat that had spread through her body.
She thought of his shocked expression and the way his laughter seemed to echo around them.
What is wrong with me?
Groaning, she shook her head, trying to banish him from her thoughts.
She did not meet with much success.
ChapterSixteen
Shall We Dance?
“Iam tired of playing these songs, it makes me feel like I am at a funeral!” Emily exclaimed the next evening.
Blake glanced up at her, deliberately trying to avoid looking at Jane, who was standing beside her.
They were all gathered in one of the small halls, and Emily was playing the pianoforte. To her credit, Emily was an incredibly skilled player, and throughout the evening, various people had accompanied her as she played.
Both Nigel and Alexander had retired for the evening, so their group was rather small.
“You can always take a break,” Jane said, smiling at her sister.
