ChapterTwenty-One
Whatever Will Be
“And of course, my darling Cressida and I would like to thank all of you for joining us in our celebrations. In one week, we will be married.” Lord Glastonbury beamed at Cressida as he said this. “I am glad that you could all join us for this week of celebrations.”
Jane saw her friend look just as soppily back at her husband-to-be, and could not help but smile.
“And let us kick off the occasion by opening the garden party,” Cressida called out to everyone. “May you all be merry and well!”
Jane clapped along with the other guests. Their small, intimate party had grown significantly following the final reading of the banns. Cressida had decided to invite most of the wedding party to the estate in the week leading up to the event, and guests had been arriving all day.
As the estate had grown louder and more crowded, Jane had found it more and more unbearable. At least with a garden party, they would all be outside, and there would be things to do.
Emily looped her arm through Jane’s and asked, “Are you well, Sister mine?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Because I know how you hate crowds. And I confess, the estate feels rather overcrowded with all these people.”
“It does a little. Though the garden party will at least get us all out of each other’s hair.” Jane’s eyes drifted aimlessly across the party, landing on a woman who seemed familiar.
She was pretty, with green eyes and red hair, and something about her tickled a memory in Jane’s mind. As she watched the woman, she noticed the way she seemed to be looking at Blake, an almost hungry expression on her face.
Lady Waterburry.
“Jane? What is wrong?” Emily frowned as she followed her sister’s gaze. “You look as though you are about to be sick.”
“Oh… it is nothing.” Jane quickly looked away.
“It is hardly nothing.” Emily canted her head, staring at Lady Waterburry in confusion. “Who is that woman? You are practically glaring at her.”
“I am not. She… I… Well, if you must know, that is the woman we found the Duke with—the Dowager Countess of Waterburry.” Jane felt her cheeks redden as she remembered that night, the woman’s hand on Blake’s chest.
“That is her?” Emily peered around Jane. “She is not what I expected.”
“And what did you expect?” Jane arched an eyebrow at her sister.
“I am not sure. But she has the look of a hunter about her, do you not think?” Emily seemed thoughtful as she turned back to Jane.
“I could not say.” Jane cast about, not wanting to dwell on Lady Waterburry any more than she had to. “Oh, look, there is a game of bowls being set up. Shall we partake in a few rounds?”
“I suppose we could.” Emily glanced in the direction Jane was pointing. “After all, it might be fun to watch you and the Duke compete with each other.”
“Me and the Duke?” Jane properly looked at the group setting up the game, and sure enough, she spotted Blake standing with the Duke of Emberly and the Duke of Glassley.
Jane shook her head and made to change direction. “Oh, I had not even realized he was there. Perhaps we should do something else.”
“Do not be ridiculous. You have always been so good at bowls, and you were the one who suggested it.” Emily gave Jane a sidelong look. “Besides, I am sure the Duke and your good self will be able to behave in a suitably sporting way. And if you do not, at least the rest of us will be entertained.”
“Fine.” Jane let her sister guide her to the small group of people setting up the game.
“Ah, the Pembleton sisters. Would you care to join us for a game or two?” the Duke of Glassley asked, beaming at Jane and Emily.
Jane caught Blake’s eye briefly as he glanced up at them and quickly looked away.
“If there is room for us both. I had not anticipated how large your group already was.” Jane smiled at the Duke of Glassley.
“It is rather smaller than it looks, I assure you,” Blake piped up. “We were just trying to convince Lady Davenport and Lady Grey to join us, but they have said they would rather spectate than play.”
