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“I shall never be this silly again in believing this nonsense about love.”
The harsh disappointment in her friend’s tone startled Charity. Jenna was only two and twenty, far too young to be jaded by tender sentiments. Tossing the remainder of the letters into the flames, she hurried to her friend’s side and sat on the sofa beside her.
“Oh, Jenna, Lord Sallis was a blackguard. He does not represent all gentlemen. Your heart might be bruised now, but I assure you it will pass.”
Jenna’s mouth trembled, and it was clear she fought back tears.
“I was so silly, Charity. I really…I enjoyed his company so very much. I wanted to marry him, and I was so blinded by infatuation I did not see he was a damn libertine!”
Recalling how happy and in love Jenna had seemed several weeks ago, Charity scowled. It was clear her friend had been deceived in such a terrible manner she no longer trusted her judgment when it came to matters of the heart. “The damn blackguard indeed. We should find a way to get revenge.”
“That would give me great satisfaction. I should resent the viscount, but even now, my heart agitates whenever I see him.”
Having never been in love or close to it, Charity could only say, “It sounds rather unpleasant to me.”
“It is,” Jenna said sadly. “I am a poor judge of character. This is the second time I have been misled by a gentleman’s character, whom I thought would make a fine husband. I think poor Ethan has given up on me finding a match.”
Charity leaned forward. “Do you wish to marry, or are you amenable to the idea because it is your brother’s wish?”
A faraway look entered Jenna’s eyes. “I cherish living with Ethan, but I dearly desire to be the mistress of my own home. I just do not want to marry anyone. If that was the truth of the matter, I would have been married when I first came out. I received many offers, but my brother has allowed me to refuse whomever I wished.”
That did not sound like the proud and arrogant earl she heard about. “He did?”
“Yes, albeit with the dreadful condition that if I did not find my heart’s match by my three and twenty birthday, he would choose for me. My birth date is seven weeks away!”
“Do you think he recalls that stipulation?”
“Yes,” Jenna said with a sniff. “He reminded me only a few weeks ago.”
“Drat,” Charity muttered. “Surely with everyone at Berkeley Square, we can come up with a way to thwart him.”
Jenna giggled. “We should be mindful. Should Ethan hear us, he would be most displeased.”
“I daresay your brother is not all as proper as you’ve led us to believe.”
Jenna’s eyes glittered with inquisitiveness. “You say this because of last night. He told me of your encounter.”
Charity’s heart stuttered. “I…yes…it was a surprise to encounter him in the dark. He frightened half my wits from my body.”
“Only half?” her friend teased. “Charity, you are blushing!”
“What?” she lifted gloved hands to her cheeks. “Nothing of the sort, I assure you.”
Jenna’s eyes widened. “Did something happen between you and Ethan?”
Oh, God. Memory of the very wicked dream wafted through her. “Of course not! Why ever would you think something so outrageous?”
