AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I was hoping to find my fiancée alone,” Nicholas replied and Jenny cringed at the word he used.
Ernest leaned back in his seat, looking very comfortable. “I would like to offer my service as your chaperone.”
Nicholas did not deign to respond. “How are you, Jenny?”
“I am well,” she replied.
“You had all of us worried last night.”
“Iwould be less worried if everyone stopped talking about it.”
“Of course.”
An awkward silence fell over them. This had never happened before and there was no telling the cause.
Ernest broke the silence. “My, is this place tense?”
Jenny looked at Nicholas. He was giving his cousin an irritated look. Then he said. “I would like to speak to Jenny in private.”
“Oh, Iwillgive you as much privacy as you require but I must eat first. I have not eaten anything today.”
“You can eat somewhere else,” Nicholas suggested.
“I could.” Ernest grinned. “Doesn’t mean I would.”
Nicholas groaned, turning to look at her. “This is what I have to put up with every day. Did you know that my grandmother insisted I come with her this morning?”
“She mentioned it. Said you were taking too long to get ready,” Jenny replied.
“And for good reason.” A devilish grin split across his face and she smiled.
“There,” came Ernest’s drawl, “that is much better.”
“Perhaps we should talk about the attention you gave Miss Bexley last night. Two dances, I heard.” Nicholas stretched one of his arms over the back of the sofa and placed his ankle atop the knee of his other leg.
Ernest sat up, frowning and pointing a finger at Nicholas. “I was running from the triplets and you know it. We shall speak no further about this.”
This piqued Jenny’s interest and she joined in. “If you were permitted, would you have asked her for a third dance?”
He rolled his eyes. “I know what the two of you are doing. You are using me to divert your attention from each other. I shan’t be used in such manner.”
He made no effort to remove himself from there. Jenny liked having a shield against Nicholas and Ernest provided that. He had kissed her last night and she had allowed him. She was not sure he wouldn’t try to take the same liberty again, and she didn’t know if could stop him.
The refreshments arrived: tea with small sandwiches that Ernest was all too eager to begin to eat. She poured tea and handed a cup to Ernest before offering Nicholas. “I will not have any, thank you,” he declined politely.
“Cook might have some biscuits. Would you like some?” she asked.
He still hesitated but he finally gave her a nod with, “I cannot decline something sweet.”
Ernest laughed. “I thought you would decline that, too.”
“Tell me, what prevented you from eating in your own home this morning?” Nicholas asked as Jenny made arrangements for his biscuits to be brought.
Ernest grinned and stuffed a sandwich into his mouth.
Nicholas stood and walked over to a small table, then picked up a rock that Jenny had left there earlier.
Jenny glanced in his direction. When she was certain he was not looking at Ernest, she turned to Earnest and shook her head. Seeking to understand, he said. “What is in these sandwiches, Jenny? They are delectable and I wouldn’t mind having more.”
