Page 16 of The Widow Wore Plaid

“I’m so sorry.” They both spoke at the same time, then looked at one another, startled.

“Why are you sorry, Kinellan?” Jane looked at him with dawning suspicion.

His lips puckered before spreading into a wide grin. “I’m sorry I went back on my word, my love. Lathbury and I walked in from the stands and I confess I told him we were finally betrothed. He was congratulating me when Lady Prudence overheard and demanded to know what I was being congratulated for.” He shrugged but continued to grin at her. “What was I to do?”

“Apparently nothing having to do with restraint, Kinellan.” Jane gave him a withering look, secretly relieved that he too had broken their pact.

“I have never had any restraint when it comes to you, love.”

“Flattery will not get you out of the suds, Kinellan. You asked me to refrain from telling anyone and then you go and tell the greatest gossip in the county.” She rarely got to ring a fine peal over Kinellan’s head, and she intended to savor the occasion. “I cannot believe you told Lathbury, much less Lady Prudence.”

He fixed her with a keen eye. “And what were you about to say you were sorry for just now, Jane?”

Drat. “Nothing of importance.” She’d forgotten to keep a stern countenance. “Don’t change the subject.”

“Somehow I think I’m not.” He cocked his head and she looked away. “Did you tell your friends about our betrothal?”

Faced with the direct question she couldn’t—or wouldn’t—lie to him. She blew out an impatient breath. “All right, yes, I did. I didn’t mean to, but they wheedled it out of me.”

Kinellan laughed long and hard, drawing stares from guests at the surrounding tables. “A thief knows a thief, eh? It’s all right, sweetheart. I was wrong to ask you not to tell your friends. I know they have been curious about our courtship, especially Fanny, as Lathbury has told me.”

“They have all been asking me almost daily if I had capitulated. Ever since I arrived at Kinellan they’ve expected an announcement.” She hung her head. “I’d have felt even worse had I not told them.”

“Well, come, love.” He took her hand. “We will sit a few minutes before we return to the stands and talk about the wedding. We need to affix a date so we can know how long to ask our friends to stay. I must also write to my sister, Caitriona, to see if she wishes to come up for the ceremony.”

“Your sister?” Jane jerked her head around, unable to mask the shock on her face. “You never told me you had a sister.”

“Do not be distressed, love.” He grasped her hand to entwine it through the crook of his elbow. “We have been estranged for over a year now, because her first Season out I refused to allow her to marry a perfect scoundrel. She’s never forgiven me and has since lived with our aunt in London. So I will wave the olive branch before her and ask her to the wedding, although I doubt she will elect to attend.”

“We will speak more of this later, Kinellan.” Jane peered at him, still shaken by the revelation. “What other secrets have you been hiding from me?”

“They wouldn’t be secrets if I told you, now, would they?” Chuckling, Kinellan led her to her friends.

“So can we officially wish you happy now, Jane?” Fanny, of course, was the first to speak up.

“Yes, Fanny, at least at this table you may.” Kinellan nodded at Lady Prudence, still chatting away to Rory and Kitty. “That one knows as well, although I suspect by the time I make the formal announcement at the bonfire, it will be news to no one.”

“Our very best wishes for your happiness, Jane.” Georgie spoke up, holding her husband’s hand. “I’m so pleased you’ve found it at last.”

“Have you decided when the wedding will take place?” Charlotte asked.

“If it is soon we will be able to stay for it,” her husband, Nash, added, “but we must return to Wrotham before the harvesting begins.”

“We do wish for all of you to remain with us until the ceremony, but we haven’t discussed when it should be.” Jane sent a questioning look to Kinellan who, now deep in conversation with Lathbury and the other gentlemen, did not respond. She sighed. “I will bring it up with him this evening and let everyone know tomorrow, hopefully.”

“Good,” Elizabeth said, raising her teacup to her lips. “We all wish to be here and share your happiness, my dear. You have attended all of ours, so it is only right we be here for yours.”

Suddenly, the idea that she would actually become Kinellan’s wife overwhelmed Jane. The world became hushed, all the chatter and birdsong vanished. As she stared at his rugged, handsome face, her heart filled to the brim with love for him followed quickly by a strange sense of foreboding. She should have agreed to marry him the first time he asked her, all those months ago. Why hadn’t she listened to her heart before now?

Shaking off the odd presentiment, Jane turned her attention back to Elizabeth and Charlotte. They were right. All of them deserved a happy ending after their previous sorrows. And at last she would join the ranks of the Happy Ever Afters.

* * *

Bella sat beside Maria trying hard not to yawn. She’d been up very late last night finishing volume three of the new novel The Heart of Mid-Lothian. A more gripping tale she’d never read and so had to read to the end of the volume to make certain all would be well with Effie, one of the book’s heroines. So far today there had been little to engage her save the unexpected appearance of Lord Harold who, she had to admit, had been very attentive to her. At least he had until he escorted her to their table, after which he’d carried himself off to talk to the other gentlemen who’d arrived just then from the shooting stands.

Still, she had to admit he was a most charming gentleman. One she’d perhaps like to get to know better. Lord knew he was head and shoulders above any of the other gentlemen she’d met during that disastrous Season. Thank goodness Maria had promised she could attend the Little Season in London this autumn. She might meet Lord Harold there, although why they hadn’t seen him at any entertainments this past Season was a mystery. They hadn’t received invitations to many, but wouldn’t she have seen him somewhere? On the street in Piccadilly or at one of the London sights, like the Tower or Gunter’s. Even though they hadn’t met, with his good looks, she’d have remembered him.

She finished her tea and pecked at a piece of cake, but the icing was too sweet and truth to tell, she wasn’t very hungry. Trying to stay awake seemed to take all of her energy. Of course, listening to Maria and her friends gossip about Lady John and Lord Kinellan or other people Bella didn’t know would put one to sleep. She sat up straight in her seat, but her eyes began to close.