“But—” Lady Waterburry protested, making to grab his arm. He deftly stepped out of her reach.
He strode towards his friends.
Jane’s father is looking for a match. Some loveless marriage of convenience.It cannot be true.
As he approached the group, Jane was still nowhere to be seen.
“You will not believe what Lady Waterburry just told me,” Blake said without preamble. “Apparently, Miss Pembleton is to be married at the end of the Season.”
“I thought everyone knew that. Her father is arranging the match, though I am not sure who the groom will be,” Alexander replied, looking surprised.
“So, it is true?” Blake felt as though his heart had sunk to the bottom of his stomach.
“Yes, it is. She asked Father to arrange the match before we left—it caused a rather big falling out between her and our mother.” Emily shook her head, a sad look on her face.
“It is odd to think of Jane married in such a way,” Alexander murmured. “I always thought she would marry for love. Rose often told me how she would wax lyrical about finding her love match.”
“I suppose things change,” Nigel said.
“In truth, I had hoped she might find someone before the end of the Season, but…” Emily trailed off.
Blake was barely paying attention. He shook his head as if this could banish what he had just heard. He found himself stepping away from the group and walking into the gardens. His mind felt impossibly loud, full of chaos and conflicting demands.
What does it matter if she is to be married? Why should I care?
He frowned, trying to untangle whatever was going on within him. He felt lied to, and that made him angry. The scent of cinnamon and vanilla wafted to him, and he turned to see Jane disappearing into the maze.
It is time to get some answers.
He strode after her, grabbing her arm as she rounded the corner. Her eyes widened in surprise as she looked at him.
“Is it true?” he asked, letting go of her abruptly.
“Is there a reason you have followed me here and grabbed me?” Jane folded her arms across her chest.
“Is it true?” he asked again, panting.
“Is what true?” Jane asked, taking a step back from him, her eyes widening.
Blake shook his head. They were standing just inside the maze, almost hidden from view. He knew he should leave, that if they were discovered, it could mean disaster. He opened his mouth to explain—though he wasn’t sure what, exactly—but could not find the words.
“If you are not going to speak sense, then I would kindly ask that you cease following me. I am sure you can find more congenial company…” Her voice took on an unwontedly cool edge as she took another step away from him and began to walk into the maze.
He followed her. “You are to be married at the end of the Season.”
“I do not see what that has to do with you.” Jane stopped walking and turned to look at him.
“Just answer the question.” Blake’s eyes met hers, that strange panic surging through him. “Is it true that you will be married at the end of the Season?”
“Yes, it is.”
“To whom?” Blake asked, feeling as though a knife were twisting in his chest.
“I do not know. My father is finding me a match.” Jane shrugged.
“So it will be a marriage of convenience.” Blake felt his frustration turn into anger.
“Yes.”
