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Her mother smiled at her. “I know I would if I were in your position.”
“Thank you, Mother.”
“You know which decision I’m hoping for,” she commented with a smile. “Go tell this young man how much you love him.”
Matthew blew the dust off his father’s desk in the study of his London home. Someday this would be different. But not for a long while if he married Jennette. While the idea of marrying her after she was no longer an heiress should anger him, it didn’t. They would find a way to survive without her money.
After sorting through the letters he’d received from the creditors, he knew he had one more piece of nasty business to attend to before he could speak with Jennette. He glanced over at the clock on the mantel and decided noon was late enough for Vanessa to be out of bed. Pulling on his greatcoat, he planned the rest of his day. Vanessa first, then he would call on Jennette at her mother’s home.
Before he proposed, he had to know if she would ever be able to love him as she had John. If she thought there was the slightest chance, he would ask for her hand.
With his day planned, he left for Vanessa’s house. The air was brisk and a few snow flurries landed on his old beaver hat as he walked the eight blocks. The wind whipped around the buildings, making him wish he had taken his horse to make this trip shorter.
He walked up the steps to her house and raised the knocker. After banging loudly, he waited. Finally, Davis opened the door.
“Good afternoon, my lord,” Davis said with a frown. “Is she expecting you?”
“Not that I’m aware.”
“I see.” He opened the door and waved him in. “Please wait in the salon and I shall see if she is at home.”
“Tell her I insist she speak with me.”
“Yes, sir.”
Matthew waited in the salon, noting that nothing had changed in the eight weeks since he’d ended it with her. He wondered if she had secured another protector.
“Matthew,” Vanessa exclaimed as she strolled into the room. “What an unexpected surprise!”
“Indeed. Can I assume this means you haven’t spoken to Huntley in the past three days?” he asked gruffly. Every time he thought about what almost happened to Jennette anger filled him.
A small frown marred her face. “I—I don’t know what you are speaking of. Huntley is not my protector.”
“I never said he was, but we both know that is his desire,” Matthew retorted.
“Well, we knew that when I chose you,” she answered. Davis brought in a tea tray and placed it on the table in front of the sofa. “Tea, my lord?”
“No. I only came for answers, Vanessa.”
“I’ve missed you dreadfully.” She walked up to him and kissed him softly. “Have you missed me?”
“No.”
Her face lost its color. “Oh.”
She returned to the sofa and poured herself a cup of tea. “Why are you here, then?”
“I think you know why I am here, so just tell me why you put Huntley up to it.” Matthew leaned against the pianoforte and folded his arms over his chest. His patience had worn thin.
“I really do not know what you are talking about. What exactly did Huntley do and what does it have to do with me?” she asked in an innocent tone before sipping her tea.
“He told me you asked him to force himself on Lady Jennette.”
She laughed in a malicious tone and placed her teacup on the table. “I never told him to force himself on her.”
“Then what did you ask of him?” His voice grew louder.
“He told me
