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Chapter 11
When Luke lifted his hand to knock on Jemima’s door, he found the wood gave way before he a had chance to even tap. He stumbled on the step, off-balance for a second, coming face to face with not the butler of the house but Noah.
“Are you smiling? Or frowning? I can barely tell.”
“Maybe I can’t decide what expression to show,” Noah said as he pulled on Luke’s arm and tugged him through the doorway.
“Ah, and I thought Jemima was the one who sent the note to my house, insisting I come to see her this morning. Was I wrong?” Luke asked as he was frogmarched through the hall, with his brother-in-law keeping a firm hold of his shoulder, not once releasing him.
“It’s very much Jemima’s doing, but I’ve told you before, Luke, I can’t stand to see her sad, so I’ll do anything to see her happy. Including tipping you out of my house if it comes to it.”
“Ha! You wouldn’t.”
“Wouldn’t I?” Noah asked as they came to a stop outside the music room door. He held up a hand, urging Luke to listen. From the other side of the door, the harp was being strummed once again, much firmer than was necessary.
“I thought you said she was getting better at the harp?” Luke asked, struggling to hold back his laughter. He had always known Jemima was fond of the harp, but her skills had been somewhat lacking.
“She was. The problem is she puts her anger into playing. You seem to be the cause of that at present.”
“Ah….” Luke felt the guilt grow, just as Noah opened the door and tipped Luke in before him.
“Love, look who has come to see us,” Noah declared. The harp broke off at once in answer, and Jemima jumped to her feet.
“Luke!”
“Good lord, you can sound like our mother at times. Did you know that?” Luke asked, pretending to tap his ears as if deafened.
“Then it’s a good job I am here when she is absent to put you in your place.” Jemima stepped toward him, taking the lapel of his jacket and shaking it for good measure. “Have you completely forgotten what you promised me in this room just a couple of days ago? Do not jest in answer, please. I do not need jesting right now.”
Luke looked between his sister and brother-in-law. When he saw Noah offering a warning glance on the other side of the room as he took a seat, Luke decided it was not the best time to try his sister’s patience.
“I didn’t forget, Jemima,” Luke said slowly, “it just became a rather difficult promise to follow.”
“Oh? Did it? You could have talked with any other lady you liked last night, but you did not. You sought out the very one I asked you not to go to.” Jemima placed her hands on her hips, her face furious. “Luke, I know what it is like to have society whisper about you and believe things that are untrue. I will not see you do that to another woman.”
Silence descended in the room, one so strong that Luke felt he had been punched in the gut. He turned away from his sister and raised his hands to cover his face, needing that breather.
“I wouldneverdo that to anyone.” He slowly turned back round and lowered his hands, meeting his sister’s gaze. “You think I am that heartless?”
“That is not what I meant.”
“Jemima, I saw what that man did to you. He—”
“I will not hear his name spoken in this house.” Noah’s cool voice put an end to the matter.
Luke glanced his way, reminded again just why he respected Noah so much. Noah had never cared about what had happened to Jemima. He had never batted an eye that she had been seduced by a man that cared nothing for her, and then when they were discovered together,shewas the one whose reputation suffered in the eyes of theton.Noah loved Jemima for who she was, and he would protect her from the past, even from that man’s name.
“I will not speak it. I vow that to you, Noah,” Luke said solemnly, receiving a nod of thanks from Noah in response. “What I wish to say is that I would never do that to anyone, Jemima.”
“You are wayward. You have your own reputation,” Jemima pointed out, folding her arms across her body.
“Yes, but any dalliance I have ever been in is with a lady who knows whatdalliancemeans. I never allow any woman to believe I offer more than I do, and I have never pursued a young lady with a high reputation who has everything to lose.”
“Then why did you dance with Miss Storey again?” Jemima’s question left Luke silent and breathing heavily.
How can I explain it?
Struggling to do so, he turned his eyes down to the toes of his boots, searching for something to say.
