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She didn’t hear the door open. She only knew that someone was standing there, watching them, when she heard a slight cough.
They jumped apart, both panting. Jane sprang to her feet, desperately smoothing down her hair. Dread settled like a stone within her stomach.
They had been caught.
And it was Lucy who had discovered them.
Her cousin was standing there looking astounded. No one said anything. Jane’s heart was racing so erratically she thought she might faint. Percy had turned white. He ran a shaking hand through his hair.
What was Lucy going to do?
Jane felt her heart drop to her feet. If it had been Marianne who had discovered them, it might have been different. Her sister might have been shocked, but she would have kept it quiet. There was no telling what Lucy would do. Jane wasn’t close to her, and there was always a thread of antagonism between them.
She couldn’t appeal to Lucy’s good nature, or even her loyalty, because her cousin didn’t really have either. Lucy was so self-centred that other people didn’t really exist for her. It was always about what she could gain from a situation. How that affected anyone else meant little to her cousin.
With dread, she watched Lucy’s face. The shock was lessening, and now her blue eyes were growing thoughtful. Jane could almost see the thoughts running through her cousin’s head. How was she going to play this?
“Oh, dear,” said her cousin eventually. “It seems I have entered the parlour at an inopportune moment.”
Jane was silent. Percy looked like he didn’t know what to say either. The moments dragged on. Jane felt like she was standing before a judge and jury, waiting for the sentence to be handed down. Was she about to walk free, or was she heading to the executioner’s block? The rest of her life was in her cousin’s flighty hands now.
“Please, Lucy,” she said eventually, her heart racing harder. “It is not what it seems....”
Lucy gave a short laugh. “Oh, Jane. It isexactlywhat it seems. Do you think I am a wide-eyed innocent? I know what it was I witnessed. You really do need to stop lying about everything. Especially the fact that you aresocommitted to remaining a spinster.”
“I do wish to remain unmarried,” cried Jane. “It is very important to me!”
Lucy stared at her. Her blue eyes were thoughtful again. Jane couldn’t read her at all.
“I have decided to believe you,” said Lucy, with a small, satisfied smile. “I think youdowish to remain a spinster, Jane, despite acting like such a wanton woman. You must besodisappointed in yourself.” She paused. “Lucky for you, I may have a solution to this situation. Something that might satisfy all parties.”
Chapter 33
Percy stared at the petite golden-haired lady. As always, Lady Lucy Metcalfe looked like butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth. She was plotting something. He could see her mind working furiously behind her innocent-looking big blue eyes.
His stomach churned with dismay. Lucy Metcalfe was no innocent. She might look like a dainty porcelain doll, with her ringlets and alabaster skin, but she was already a seasoned player. He should have known it from the moment he set eyes on her. Instead, he had not taken her seriously, thinking she would be easily put off. How wrong he had been.
He glanced at Jane. She looked truly devastated. He cursed beneath his breath. He had lost control of his desire for her again, and they had finally been discovered. Judging by Lucy’s thoughtful face, her cousin wasn’t going to let Jane off the hook. There was only one outcome now. He would propose again, and she must accept him this time, or else her reputation would be forever compromised.
He felt a surge of delight, despite the gravity of the situation. This had never been his intention, but he couldn’t help being pleased about it. Jane must accept she was going to become his wife. Despite her fierce resistance to the idea, he knew he could make her happy. She would come around to the idea. He would calm her fears and show her it was all for the best.
And then Lucy said something that made him stir uneasily. Something about having a solution to this. It wasn’t so much her words, as the triumphant look upon her face as she spoke them. As if she had won something.
“What do you mean?” Jane’s voice was ragged as she stared at her cousin.
He wanted to reach out, to take her hand, to pull her to him and whisper that everything would be fine. To comfort her. But he couldn’t do it. Not yet, at any rate.
“You truly wish to remain a spinster, just as you have always claimed?” asked Lucy.
Jane nodded slowly. “Yes. I have never lied.”
Percy gazed at her appealingly, but she wouldn’t look at him. She kept her gaze firmly fixed upon her cousin. He stirred uneasily again.
Lucy laughed. “You were always such an oddball, Jane. But I can see now how committed you are to your path.” She paused. “I, on the other hand, only desire marriage. A very good marriage. If the earl agrees to marry me, I shall keep silent about what I witnessed here today. No one shall ever know about it except the three of us. And we shall both get what we want. Now, is that not clever?”
Percy swore underneath his breath. “By Jove’s beard, I shall not marry you, you scheming minx! I will marry Jane as I always wanted to.” He turned to Jane. “Tell her, Jane. Tell her that you will marry me, and she can go to the devil.” He was so furious he was shaking.
But, to his horror, Jane still refused to look at him. Her green eyes were shining with tears. She looked devastated but strangely resolved.
