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“You really are a devil, Blackburn.”
“You have no idea, Jennette.” He gave her an exaggerated bow and then walked to the back of the garden. He hopped the stone fence and headed for his crumbling home.
He’d thought this insane attraction to her would have ended after not seeing her for so long. Never had he imagined the draw would be stronger, deeper in an agonizing manner. His body never reacted in such an immediate way with any other woman.
Should he end up married to her, the attraction would make marriage so much more interesting. What was he thinking? He shouldn’t marry her after all they’d been through. The marriage idea was only a threat to get her to help him.
He could never marry her.
After all, she might even find him a suitable bride. Then he wouldn’t have to worry about his own guilt at finding John’s former fiancée the most attractive and desirable woman he’d ever met.
Chapter 4
“What is going on, Jennette?” Elizabeth asked as she sat down in the salon. “I have been hearing rumors all day that Lord Blackburn attended your party last night. Was he there? I never noticed him.”
“I have also heard the rumor,” Avis added, pouring tea for everyone. “I have a very good source who says he knows for certain Blackburn attended. And you danced with him.”
Jennette closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. “My brother doesn’t know everything, Avis.”
“As his wife, I realize that, Jennette. But I also know how much he cares for you. He would never want someone to hurt you again as Blackburn has in the past.”
Jennette looked around at her roomful of friends. Avis, her dearest friend and now sister-in-law, handed tea to Sophie, who sat on the sofa with a small grin on her face. Of course, Sophie most likely had concluded that Matthew had gray eyes. Victoria sat primly in the chair by the window, looking completely uncomfortable with the conversation. While Elizabeth’s green eyes took everything in with eagerness.
“Mat—Blackburn and I talked for a few minutes. I did dance with him only to get him away from Banning’s overbearing attitude.”
Elizabeth twisted her lips. “But why was he there in the first place? Surely, you didn’t invite him.”
“No. He sneaked inside af
ter we talked in the garden.” Jennette clamped her hand over her lips when she realized how scandalizing that sounded.
“Does Banning know about that?” Avis whispered as if he might appear at any moment.
“Of course not,” Jennette said. “It was completely innocent.” And frightening. And somewhat sensual, especially when he trapped her against the column with his body. Or that brief instance on the terrace when his head leaned in as if he were going to kiss her.
“Jennette, you know better—”
“Elizabeth, you are not my mother,” Jennette retorted, then sighed. “He needs a wife.”
“Blackburn?” Elizabeth asked. “But he’s an earl. How difficult is it for him to secure a bride?”
“With his reputation, ‘difficult’ would be easy.” Jennette sipped her tea in hopes the liquid would help her headache.
“But why would he come to you?” Victoria finally spoke up. “He didn’t think you would marry him, did he?”
Well, she couldn’t tell them that awful truth. And she still didn’t quite understand his threat of marriage. With all that was between them, marriage would be dreadful.
“No. He wants my help.”
“Why would you help him after what he did?” Avis demanded.
“It was an accident,” Jennette said softly, staring at the folds of her blue silk gown. “We had been friends. He never meant for that to happen. He’s still distraught over John’s death.”
“As he should be,” Victoria said, crossing her arms over her chest. “He took a man’s life, accident or not.”
Jennette pressed her lips together. They would never understand what happened that day, nor could she ever tell them. If no one could believe Matthew’s killing of John was accidental, who would believe her?
It would look even more sordid in the gossips’ minds—the way she let Matthew take the blame to protect her. Everyone would assume he did it out of love for her. It hadn’t been love. Lust, maybe, but not love. And while she never loved Matthew either, she certainly had felt something with him that she’d never felt with John.
