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He didn’t reply. He just kept staring at her in bewilderment. But there was also something else stirring in his eyes. If she didn’t know any better, it was admiration.
Jane felt confused. She had just soundly told him off, and he wasadmiringher? She really didn’t understand this man at all.
But, to her intense relief, he got to his feet. “I do apologise, my lady. I shall leave you in peace. Good day.”
Marianne got to her feet, frowning. “Are you leaving so soon, Percy?”
He smiled slightly. “I must go, Marianne. I hope we talk soon.”
And then he was gone, as quickly as he had arrived.
Jane got to her feet, staring after him. She shook her head before slowly laughing. Marianne came up beside her, looking confused. “What is so funny, Jane? And what did you say to him to make him leave so suddenly?”
She turned to her sister, smiling at her wryly. “Oh, Marianne. You claimed your friend was charming. I am afraid I am yet to see much evidence of it.”
Chapter 6
Percy walked into the parlour of Mrs Holloway’s lodging house, throwing his hat and gloves on the hallstand in the corner. Freddie was seated in an overstuffed upholstered armchair in the corner of the large room, still with his head in a newspaper. He looked like the only place he had moved in Percy’s absence was rooms.
He sat down opposite him. Freddie tossed the paper aside. “Well, how did the big proposal go? Do you have any news?”
Percy flushed. He was still reeling from how dreadfully it had all gone. Lady Jane Metcalfe had laughed in his face, not having the decency to spare his feelings even a little. He was still smarting from it, and now he was embarrassed he had told Freddie at all.
“Ah, she wasn’t interested,” he mumbled, his flush deepening. “She told me that she did not wish to marry me, nor any other man.” He paused. “And also that my proposal didn’t take her breath away. I think she thought I spoke too plainly and was far too bold.”
Freddie gave a deep sigh. “I did warn you, Carlisle. It was far too presumptuous. You only met the lady yesterday and have barely spoken with her. Any lady worth her salt would be a bit taken aback and even insulted.”
Percy felt ridiculous. Of course, he should have listened to his friend. But no, he had acted like a bull at a gate, charging at her. No wonder she had rejected him outright. Freddie was right—Lady Jane had been insulted at his haste and thought him uncouth and arrogant. He groaned, feeling like he just wanted to sink into the chair and vanish entirely.
But the strange thing about it, even though he was dying from mortification, was she had managed to pique his interest in her even more. She had been so forthright and intelligent in her response, and he had been shocked by her candour. Lady Jane Metcalfe was a very intriguing woman indeed. Every time he spoke with her, he grew more intrigued.
He admired her. He truly did. It wasn’t just one thing about her—it was everything. Her quiet, understated beauty that she did not seem to care about at all. Her intelligence and wit. Her refusal to bow to convention. She was the whole package, and he cursed himself that he had acted like an impudent oaf and probably scared her off entirely. Whathadhe been thinking?
He had also spotted her sketchbook while they had been talking, lying abandoned on a chair. She was working on a quite intricate drawing of a shell, which was lying next to the book. It was superbly rendered with great detail. Marianne had spoken the truth—Janewasvery talented.
He recalled how scathing she had been about going to balls and the fervent light in her green eyes as she had spoken.
I would much rather walk by myself along the beach.
How forthright she was. How candid. He didn’t think he had ever met a lady like her, who didn’t care about society in the least, and just wanted to live her life the way she chose.
He groaned again. “I feel like such an oaf, Morland!” He put his head in his hands. “How could I have misjudged her and how she would react so badly? I thought she was probably just like all the other ladies and would jump at the chance to become a countess.”
Freddie rolled his eyes. “Your problem, my friend, is that you have had rather too many ladies throwing themselves at your feet because of your title.” He tapped the armchair.
“And while there are many ambitious ladies out there who would probably have accepted your hasty proposal with alacrity, there are also many who are not motivated by such things. They actually like to be wooed and feel like they are special. They might even like to believe you have fallen in love with them before they accept you.”
Percy frowned. “I did offer her a courtship before marriage. But she rejected that, as well.”
Freddie gave a bark of laughter. “Well, of course, she did! You shocked her. She is not feeling very predisposed to you at all, I would think.” He hesitated. “Carlisle, we have never talked about it, but why are you so determinednotto fall in love with a lady before proposing?”
Percy’s face tightened. “I have my reasons, Morland. Falling in love is not an option. Marriage should be a business contract, and that is all. Otherwise, everything is unstable, dependent on feelings, and all of it can go horribly wrong.”
Freddie sighed. “Have you ever been in love, my friend? Because if you had, I doubt you would talk so scathingly on the subject.”
Percy didn’t answer. The thought of falling in love with a woman and exposing himself like that was just too much. He had seen the result of love in marriage, and it hadn’t been pleasant.
He had protected himself from the possibility from an early age, shielding himself. He rather felt like he had grown a shell around his heart. An impenetrable shell that could never be breached by any lady.
