Page 59 of Redemption of a Marquess

Tomorrow morning, before Grey and Miss Stone arose, she would slip away. Tears pricked. Grey could find some respectable lady to marry. Maybe even Lady Claire. Lady Claire certainly would not want to marry a man who had a full-grown woman as his ward. Jeanine’s heart began to beat fast. This meant that when she’d bid Grey good night ten minutes ago, that would be the last time she would see him. Had she known that would be their final goodbye, she would have lingered a moment longer. Would have memorized his face a little better, the cool look in his eyes. She might even have squeezed his hand to feel the warmth of his touch one final time.

Jeanine jumped to her feet and began pacing. Could she really leave without seeing him at least once more? She shook her head. She was simply trying to talk herself out of leaving tomorrow. She had to leave before Lord Gordon had the opportunity to put another plan into action. She swiped at tears and crossed to the small secretary near the bay window. She sat down, pulled out a pen and paper, and penned a short note explaining to Grey that she had returned home and he need not worry.

She hesitated over the signature. Should she say ‘Yours, Jeanine?’ Or ‘Your Friend, Jeanine?’ Maybe that was too personal. Maybe she should sign, ‘Miss Matheson.’ She glanced at her salutation. Dear Grey. She couldn’t call him Grey then sign as ‘Miss Matheson.’ She had to sign her Christian name. She considered for another moment, then wrote, Your Friend, Jeanine. She folded the note, then stared at it. All that remained was for her to slip away tomorrow morning.

But tomorrow morning was hours away.

Jeanine jumped to her feet. She opened the door and stepped into the hallway, then came to an abrupt halt when Miss Stone rose from the chair on the opposite wall.

“Miss Stone, what are you doing here?”

“Forgive me, Miss Matheson, but I feared you would try to run away. You shouldn’t, you know. Lord Northington will deal with Lord Gordon.”

Tears pressed the backs of Jeanine’s eyes. Where would she ever find a truer friend? Never. But she couldn’t tell her good friend the truth.

Jeanine smiled. “I am still in my gown. I would never run away dressed in an evening gown.”

“I am not so certain.”

Jeanine laughed. “I cannot sleep. I am just going downstairs to see if Grey is still up. You go to bed and I will see you in the morning.” Jeanine started to turn.

“Miss Matheson.”

Jeanine stopped.

“I am sorry I deserted you at Lord Gordon’s.”

“What—you didn’t desert me.” Guilt assailed her.

Jeanine pulled her into a hug. She thought for an instant she detected a tremble in Miss Stone, but Miss Stone stepped back and stared with her usual composed expression.

“I will see you in the morning,” Jeanine said.

“Do you promise?”

She smiled. “I promise.”

Miss Stone nodded, and Jeanine went downstairs to Grey’s library. She couldn’t allow herself to think of Miss Stone, for Grey would guess in an instant that something was wrong. Soft light fanned out beneath the library door. Her pulse jumped. He hadn’t gone to bed yet.

She knocked. He called “enter,” and she opened the door.

The marquess looked up in surprise. Aside from the modest light from the hallway, the room was lit by only a single candelabra located on the desk where he sat. One of Lord Gordon’s letters lay open before him, the others in a stack to his right.

He folded the letter and rose. He had taken off his coat and cravat. The top buttons on his shirt were undone, revealing tanned skin and his sleeves were rolled up to his forearms. A strange tremor rippled through her.

“Is something wrong?” he asked.

Jeanine started to close the door, then remembered that he had told her she was never to close the door when they were in a room alone together.

She crossed to his desk and said, “I couldn’t sleep.”

He smiled gently. “So, I see. You’re still in your ballgown. It is past time we go to sleep, though, don’t you agree.”

Her heart fell.

He smiled. “Perhaps a sherry will relax us both.”

She smiled in return. “Yes, please.”