Chapter Three
When Sherbourne sentround a note asking Julian to join him, Miss Marks, Jane, and his father, the formidable Earl of Warren, for dinner to celebrate his engagement, Julian hastily agreed. Michael had a terrible relationship with his father, and Julian knew his friend wanted him to be there for moral support.
He arrived before the women, and Sherbourne’s look of relief was palpable. “Thanks for coming,” his friend told him, pulling him into a swift embrace that was completely unlike him.
Realizing that Sherbourne was truly nervous about the coming evening, Julian patted him comfortingly on the back before stepping away. “It will be all right.”
Michael laughed bitterly and turned to pour them both a drink. “My father is furious that I’ve gone ahead with this. He acts as though he’s given me any choice. As though there were a dozen other heiresses beating down my door.”
Julian accepted the drink and lifted it toward his friend in a sympathetic salute. “You did the right thing in refusing to marry Lady Natalia. She loves Dylan, and both of you would have been miserable if you’d made her give him up. You’ll be much happier with Miss Marks.” The woman the earl had chosen for Michael—Lady Natalia Sinclair, the daughter of a duke and also a great heiress—had run off a few weeks ago with Michael’s younger brother, Dylan, who was estranged from the family and wouldn’t contribute a farthing to their cause.
“Happy?” Sherbourne scoffed as if he’d never heard of such a thing. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be happy as long as my father lives.”
Before Julian could respond, the butler announced the women. Julian didn’t even hear the man’s words because the moment he caught sight of Jane, his heart squeezed in his chest. Her honey-blond hair was piled atop her head in a loose chignon, and her teal gown hugged her lush curves like a second skin, leaving little to the imagination. The creamy swells of her breasts took his breath away, and he forced himself to move his gaze to her warm blue eyes.
She seemed to be just as stricken as he, a faint flush on her lovely face as she stared at him with a longing she couldn’t hide. Memories of the past, of the kisses and confidences they’d shared and the love and support she’d given him during the hardest part of his life nearly overwhelmed him.What have I done? How could I have been so stupid?
He moved toward her, as though pulled by a thread, hoping she could see the sincerity in his eyes as he bent over her hand. “Good evening, Lady Jane. You’re looking lovely tonight.”
Her face flamed even brighter. “Thank you, Lord Basingstoke. You’re looking very well yourself.”
For the next ten or fifteen minutes, the four of them engaged in polite small talk, but although Julian couldn’t take his eyes off Jane, he gradually became aware of Michael’s growing unease.
“I don’t know what could be keeping my father,” Michael finally said, snapping his pocket watch closed. “I’ll go see what’s keeping him.”
The moment Michael left the room, Emma’s face fell. “The earl is refusing to come to dinner, isn’t he? He objects to our marriage so thoroughly he can’t even pretend to be polite.”
“I’m sure that’s not the case,” Julian tried to assure her but knowing the old bastard as he did, he very much feared her words to be true.
Jane tried to distract her protégé with a tidbit of gossip as Julian paced the room, casting occasional covert looks at Jane while trying to think of a way to get her alone this evening. Though she was Emma’s chaperone, surely it would be all right for her to leave the engaged couple alone for a few minutes? He glanced at the clock with a frown. Given Emma’s rising agitation, he began to wonder if she’d call the whole thing off.
Nearly half an hour passed before Michael finally returned with his obviously disgruntled father in tow. Dinner was unbearable. Even though Julian had been warned, he couldn’t believe the way Warren behaved. The earl was terribly rude to Emma, then stormed out halfway through the meal, claiming he had another engagement.
Silence reigned in the dining room for several moments after the earl took his leave, and Jane exchanged a shocked look with Julian, both of them stunned by the way Michael’s father had treated his future daughter-in-law.
Recovering herself, Miss Marks drained her glass of wine and got to her feet. “I just remembered that I also have another pressing engagement.” Her words were carefully precise, but the pain in her voice gave her away. “Shall we go, Jane?”
Jane gave an uncertain nod.
Michael cast a pleading glance in Julian’s direction, obviously hoping he would take pity on him. “Julian, would you escort Lady Jane down to the conservatory and show her the orchids? I’d like a few moments alone with Miss Marks.”
Julian frowned even though he wanted nothing more than to escape to the conservatory with Jane. Miss Marks had done well under the earl’s insults, holding her own and refusing to cower as he’d wanted, but she looked on the verge of tears. He met her dark gaze, finding himself on her side in this matter. If she wanted to leave, he wasn’t going to impede her. “Is that all right with you, Miss Marks? I can call for your coachman, if you prefer.”
Michael threw Julian a glare, then got to his feet and came to stand behind his fiancée, touching her shoulder tentatively. “Please. I need to talk to you.”
Miss Marks cleared her throat then nodded jerkily. “As a matter of fact, there are some things I want to say to you, too.”
Julian shook his head. Poor Michael. Miss Marks was no wilting flower and seemed rightfully upset that Michael hadn’t stood up to his father on her behalf. She’d probably give him an earful once they were alone. Michael would be lucky if she let the engagement stand.
He turned his gaze on Jane, wondering if he’d fare any better than Michael. Jane had years’ worth of anger to share with him, he was sure. But ever since she’d reentered his life the other day, she’d been haunting his thoughts. He had to at least try to mend things between them.
He stood and went to her side, taking her hand and drawing her to her feet. Her scent, a lovely combination of lavender and vanilla, filled his senses. “Shall we?” he asked softly.
“We’ll be back shortly,” Jane promised, a worried look on her face as he steered her toward the door.
***
