The Ungrateful Governness

clearly grateful for the opportunity to offer to take you to see them.'

Jessica smiled. 'He had talked of them earlier in the evening,' she said. 'Though he did warn me that it is not considered quite the thing for ladies to go.'

'Pooh,' Lady Hope said. 'We are not such poor-spirited creatures, are we? Why, Grandmama has been to see them and professed herself quite impressed.'

'Gentlemen like to see us as poor wilting females, who do not even realize the fact that they possess more flesh than what we see on their hands and faces,' the dowager said. 'If you wish to impress when you make this visit, Hope and Jessica, you must appear suitably shocked to discover that indeed there is considerably more.'

'I shall be sure to engage Lord Graves in constant conversation,' Lady Hope said. 'You will enjoy having Sir Godfrey explain everthing to you, Miss Moore. He is very clearly taken with you, you know.'

Jessica laughed. 'And yet it was to you he first issued the invitation, Lady Hope,' she pointed out.

'But of course, dear.' Her companion patted her hand again. 'He had to make sure that you would be properly chaperoned before he could invite you. And we are old friends, you know. He would feel that he must invite me.'

Jessica smiled and said no more. Gentlemen could be left in an unenviable predicament, she felt, if they must always ask a chaperone first. What if the real object of their invitation then said no?

'Ah,' the dowager said as the door opened to admit her butler. 'Who is having the audacity to call on me this afternoon? Everyone knows this is not my day for visitors.'

'The Earl of Rutherford, ma'am,' that austere individual said, bowing woodenly before standing aside to admit the guest.

'Ah, Charles, m'boy,' the dowager said, offering her cheek as he strode across the room. 'What a surprise. To what do we owe this pleasure?'

'Hope. Miss Moore.' Lord Rutherford did not feel one whit the less nervous now that he was there. And he would have felt far more comfortable if his grandmother had not chosen to put on this great pretence. 'I trust you are both well?'

'Oh, perfectly, Charles,' his sister said. 'I must tell you that Faith was most gratified that you came to her soiree last night and stayed the whole evening. I do believe Lady Sarah was not displeased either.'

'Lady Sarah?' Rutherford frowned his incomprehension as he seated himself.

'You were in conversation with her for all of an hour, I dare wager, after supper,' his sister said archly. 'I do believe she has been angling for you since last Season, Charles.'

'Lady Sarah!' he said with a frown. 'The chit was in her first Season last year, for God's sake, Hope. She is a mere babe. She talked to me for the whole hour last evening about her lapdogs, I do believe. At least, that is what she was talking about every time I brought my attention back to her.'

'Charles!' Lady Hope admonished him. 'I am quite sure you cannot be as indifferent to the charms of all ladies as you pretend to be. It would be most unfair when all the young ladies are far from indifferent to you.'

'Cut line, Hope, will you?' Rutherford said. 'Or I shall start making insinuations about you and Graves. You seemed to be together for much of last evening.'

'Don't be absurd, Charles,' she said. 'What would Lord Graves see in an aging spinster like me? I was merely trying to keep him out of Sir Godfrey's way, you see, so that he would be free to speak with Miss Moore. But you had to come along and assume that she wished to listen to the music.'

'My apologies!' Rutherford said, his eyes straying for the first time to Jessica, who sat with her eyes downcast. She was pleating the wool of her dress between her fingers.

'Hope, my love.' The dowager duchess rose to her feet, a determined look on her face. 'Every year I face the same problems as Christmas approaches. Which of my clothes should I have my maid pack away to take with me? And what gifts will be suitable for each member of the family? It must be advancing age. I never used to give a thought to either matter. Come to my sitting room and help me.'

'Me, Grandmama?' Lady Hope viewed her grandmother in some amazement. 'You know you will never take advice from anyone.'

'Age, my dear,' the dowager insisted. 'I begin to think I will have to change my habits. My brain is not as firm as it used to be.'

A moment later she was ushering Lady Hope out of the drawing room. 'We will not be long, dear,' she said to Jessica. 'Entertain Charles for me until we return, will you?'

Jessica stared at the closed door in some dismay. Then she turned suspicious eyes on the man sitting quietly across the room from her.

'Why have we been left alone?' she asked. 'That was quite deliberate, was it not? Is there something going on that I do not know of?'

'It seems so,' he said. He was sitting perfectly relaxed. He was even half smiling at her. 'I wondered if Grandmama would prepare you. It seems that she has not.'

'Prepare me?' Jessica was on her feet. She felt instant alarm.

'I am here to make you an offer,' Lord Rutherford said.

'An offer?' Jessica stared at him, her hands clenched at her sides.

He held up a hand as she drew breath to speak again. 'Of marriage, of course,' he said. 'Did you think it was carte blanche again, Jess? I would not repeat that suggestion again, my dear. And you must know that Grandmama would not conspire with me in such a case. It must be marriage between you and me.' He got to his feet to face her. He smiled full at her. 'Will you do me the honor?'

Jessica was staring at him incredulously. 'Marry you?' she said. 'You wish me to marry you? How positively absurd! Of course I will not marry you.'

He raised his eyebrows and strolled toward her. 'Is your answer a considered one?' he asked. 'Did I not express myself well enough, Jess? Was it an arrogant proposal? Do you wish me to go down on my knees? I will, you know. And I am very serious.'

'Why?' she asked. He could see that her knuckles were white, her hands balled into fists at her sides. 'Why do you wish to marry me, my lord?'

'I told you last night that I am obsessed with you, Jess,' he said. 'We are meant for each other. I do not believe I can do without you any longer.'

Jessica laughed, though there was no amusement on her face. 'It must be a poweful obsession indeed, my lord,' she said, 'if you are willing to marry me in order to get me into your bed.'

'But you feel it too, Jess.' He reached out a hand and took one of hers. He held it palm up, uncurling the suddenly nerveless fingers with his other hand. 'We want each other. I believe we need each other. We must marry. There is no other choice.'

'Despite the fact that my mother was a scullery maid?' she asked. Her head was thrown back, her expression scornful.

He smiled, trying to keep the uncertainty out of his expression. 'I do not believe that story,' he said. 'But yes, even despite that fact, Jess.'

'Then finally we have one thing in common,' Jessica said. 'We are each willing to ignore the social credentials of the other. I reject your offer, my lord, despite the fact that your father is a duke.'

'Why, Jess?' He was holding her hand firmly sandwiched between his own.

'I will not be anyone's whore,' she said. She was staring straight into his eyes so that he could not look away. 'Even with the respectability of a wedding ring. I am a person, Lord Rutherford, a whole person. I am not just a body to be used for a gentleman's bedtime pleasure. Thank you, but no.'

He searched her eyes, her hand still clasped between his. Then he stood back abruptly, dropping her hand, and bowed stiffly.

'I shall wish you good day, then, ma'am,' he said. 'Please accept my apologies for taking your time.'

And he was gone.

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