The Scandalous Duke Takes a Bride (7 page)

“We don’t have to cause any havoc around Town, but you do need to at least show yourself at a few soirees. The gossips are already speculating about your absence.”

“I know. I’ve been reading the papers. The Mayfair Chronicler has been having a heyday with speculations about me, about you … us.”

His arms fell away, and she wanted them back. She felt safe with them wrapped around her. She didn’t say so, though, because it felt inappropriate, considering the topic at hand.

“You’ve never cared about what they thought before.”

“I’ve barely left the house. Of course I bought into all the hype the Chronicler has built around various tales regarding me.”

“If I knew who they were, I’d hang them out to dry.”

Jessica placed her hand over his forearm. “You and half the
ton,
I’m sure.”

*   *   *

Hayden put his fingers under her chin and turned her head to face him. Sitting so close, he could see the obvious signs of fatigue and her attempt to cover the evidence with maquillage.

He searched her eyes, trying to make out her feelings. He stood from the sofa and gave her his hand. Now that he’d stopped in to see her, he didn’t want to leave. The past week away from her had been pure torture.

“My appointment can wait. I think a stroll in the park is in order.”

She assessed him before taking his hand. “Warren sent a calling card. I have to meet with him in less than an hour.”

Hayden’s jaw clenched, his back teeth grinding in irritation. “Why is he even coming here? He has no right to trouble you.”

“He has every right. We both know the Fallon seat is his. And it could be sooner if he found out there is no hope of an heir from me.” She looked away as though embarrassed. “That is easily confirmed by a doctor.”

“And he’ll never be given the opportunity to bring a doctor around,” Hayden snapped unintentionally. Reining in his frustration, he said, “Warren can be kept waiting.”

Jessica’s expression looked defeated. “You’re right, of course. And I appreciate that you’ve come to cheer me up, but I won’t keep you from your appointments.”

“I hate seeing you in this state.” Hayden retrieved his hat and cane and pulled Jessica to her feet before she could protest any further. “Let’s walk in the park and arrive late for your meeting with Warren. I can’t wait to see his face when we stroll in together half an hour late.”

Jessica twisted her fingers together in a nervous fashion. Then abruptly she stopped and walked over to a writing desk. “Let me pen a note for him.”

“Why does he even deserve that courtesy? He hasn’t relented with any of your requests.”

“Because he holds my life precariously in his hands, Hayden. Don’t be a boor. It’ll take me but a moment; then you’ll have me all to yourself for the rest of the morning.”

He liked the ring of that:
all to himself.
He hoped he had enough time to cajole the old Jez out to play. He should have come by sooner, but she’d asked him to stay away and he could do no more than respect her wishes. They hadn’t discussed all that had transpired, nor did he intend to stir painful memories by mentioning it until she was ready to discuss it.

Jez went over to the bellpull and called for the butler to have a maid bring down her hat and shawl. Then she wrote her note to Warren.

“Warren will be livid when he finds that I’m not here and that I’m gallivanting around Town instead.”

“We are simply catching a breath of fresh air.” Hayden tapped his chin thoughtfully with the eagle tip of his cane. “That’s if you can call it fresh air in this heat.”

Jessica’s maid brought down a light shawl and assisted in tying the satin ribbon of her bonnet beneath her chin. He couldn’t believe she was willingly leaving her house. Was she humoring him, or was she happy to leave this godforsaken place for a few hours after weeks of self-imposed solitude?

“Around the Serpentine, darling?” she asked, her mood already lighter.

Hayden’s smile was slow and sure.

In the sunshine, Hayden saw the telltale signs that Jez was on the mend. Her hair was shinier, her skin not as wan, and her clothes were marginally tighter on her willowy frame. More important, her disposition was a great deal happier. Perhaps he was worrying too much. It was hard not to do so after everything she’d been through.

He tucked her arm firmly against his side and patted her hand. What he wanted more than anything was to thread his fingers though hers, raise her gloved hand to his mouth, and press his lips to the frilled edge at the back of her wrist.

Dangerous thoughts, those. But hadn’t he already determined that she would be his? Yes, soon enough. Right now, though, she needed to heal.

Jessica was taller than most women of his acquaintance, so she easily kept stride with him as they strolled toward the entrance gates of the park.

“So tell me why Warren is visiting.”

“He is having an inventory of the house completed. I suppose he’ll have to amalgamate both his residences here in Town.”

Hayden’s hand squeezed hers lightly with the news. “Why does he need to do this right now?”

She looked away from him, focusing on the picnicking families and small gatherings of friends who had found a nice patch of grass to sit on as they fed chunks of bread to the ducks.

“The house will be his in a matter of months, Hayden. Fighting him is nothing more than an exercise in futility. We both know there is nothing I can do to change that outcome.”

“He can at least show some decency and wait out the year before he takes charge of your household.”

She sighed heavily. “It’s not in his nature to wait for anything when it’s rightfully his to take.”

“And for how long have you known him?”

“Longer than I ever wanted to, I assure you. He is in a difficult position, too, Hayden.”

Hayden pulled Jessica to a stop and turned her so he could look her in the eye. “Why have you given up your fight?”

She shrugged away from his hold. “I don’t expect you to understand.”

“Help me to comprehend this colossal change in heart, Jessica. It was agreed that you could stay in the house for one year.”

She walked on, though he still had a light hold of one of her arms and didn’t release her till her fingers slipped completely from his grasp.

“You invited me for a walk.” She nodded her head toward their abandoned path. “Don’t make me finish on my own.”

She didn’t glance back at him again, just continued without him. He caught up to her before long, noticing the glances they were receiving from others strolling through the park.

“Explain to me why you think you are leaving sooner than the allotted year.”

“Your devotion means the world to me. It also means you keep me out of trouble,” she said with a sly wink.

His voice was low as he said, “I’m sorry. I’m the last person in the world who would judge you.”

She looked at him sidelong, her gaze disbelieving. “A bald lie coming from you. You’re always the first to criticize something you deem inappropriate.”

“Only when it’s to protect your reputation,” he said, tucking her arm against his side again.

Her laugh was throaty and had a few more heads turning in their direction. “You’re an ass, Hayden. And it’s too late to protect me from the scathing views society holds over me.”

Though her words were harsh, they both knew there was some truth in them.

“All the more reason for us to sojourn in the countryside.” That had been his first suggestion with the announcement of Fallon’s death. She had refused. Now Hayden wanted her alone and to himself, somewhere he could watch her without having to worry about the trouble she’d find.

“Again with this?” she said.

“Yes, and I’ll not let it rest until you are in complete agreement with me on the matter.”

“That would feel too much like running away with a tail tucked between my legs. I’ll face the
ton
head-on and show them that their hatred for me simply doesn’t affect me.”

He didn’t point out that she was the one lying now; they both knew that she did care about the
ton
’s opinions. Perhaps it was time to face facts: Only Jessica could help herself in this instance. And now that her husband was dead and his fortune no longer accessible to her, she would have to take better care to stop the wagging of gossips’ tongues.

But Hayden’s name could protect her.

That had the wheels turning in his head. Of course, it was so simple a solution.

“So what will you do now that you are free from the bonds of marriage?” he asked.

“I imagine everyone thinks I’ll remarry.”

He fell behind a step, the news hitting him like an unblocked punch to the face. What was she saying? Was she open to the idea? “Will you?”

She didn’t answer him for a few moments, and he nearly asked her to clarify what she meant, until she said, “I’ve had nothing but time to think about my circumstance over the past few weeks. Remarrying would probably be for the best. Though I’m not sure I can allow any man to rule my life as Fallon did.”

Was she honestly considering marriage? Was that why she wasn’t batting a lash at Warren for taking residence sooner than what was agreed upon?

“Not all men are cut from the same cloth.” Least of all him.

She rested her head on his shoulder; the action was brief enough to draw speculative looks, but she righted herself with a sigh, ignoring the censure in every direction.

“There aren’t a lot of options left open to me. And it doesn’t appear that I’ll be able to sway Warren to my favor.”

Hayden couldn’t believe they were discussing this at all. He could barely process the idea of Jez agreeing to remarry. If anyone was going to marry her …

It would be him.

He rubbed his hand over his face. She liked to keep him on his toes. You never knew when Jez was going to say “jump,” “stop,” or “fall.”

“Then you should marry me.”

She laughed, obviously not taking him seriously. “Don’t jest with me, Hayden.”

He could only look at her, perplexed. Of course she wouldn’t take his offer seriously. He’d gone about asking her all wrong.

Her chin lifted and a mischievous look lit her eyes. “Being out with you, I realize we should really make a night of it like we used to.”

“I didn’t want to press the matter, but I couldn’t agree more. You’re sure you are up for it?”

“I’ve long been ready. I just haven’t had any offers.” She bumped her shoulder against his arm, hinting that it was he who should have asked her for a night out. “You and Leo are walking on eggshells when you’re around me. In all honesty, I’m better than I have ever been.”

If she thought herself ready, then Hayden would oblige.

“Perhaps we should have a round of cards tonight? We can go to your favorite gaming hell and cause a stir with your appearance after weeks in seclusion.”

“Cards weren’t exactly what I had in mind.” She smiled at him, the tilt of her hat shading her from any passersby. “Will you be so bold as to allow me to choose the place?”

He raised one eyebrow, intrigued, though the offer shouldn’t completely surprise him. “Are you sure you are ready to be up to your old antics?”

Her smile was anything but innocent. “A few new tricks, too, I should think.”

“Then it’s settled. Should I send a note to Leo and Tristan?”

She tucked a loose curl back up under her bonnet. “No, just the two of us, Hayden. I have something very daring up my sleeve for tonight and the invitation stipulates a plus one.”

He gave her a long, assessing look. It was interesting that she’d extended a plus one to him. Well, perhaps not, since she hadn’t taken his offer for marriage seriously.

That would change after tonight.

“Consider me more than interested in your offer.”

“Perfect.” She pulled them to a stop and looked at the mute swans swimming lazily in the water. “We should head back to my townhouse. If Warren is still waiting for me he’s liable to be quite angry.”

“I’ll be sure to see him off if that’s the case.”

“I have stood him up, so he has every right to be cross with me.”

Jessica turned them around and tugged him in the direction of her home.

“I can’t say I agree with you on that. I’ve always disliked the cad.”

“Have some faith in me. I can handle Warren.”

“I have more faith in you than you can imagine. I know you can handle him, Jez; I just don’t like that you have to face him at all.”

He let her pull him in the direction of her house, wondering all the while what kind of trouble they’d find themselves in tonight. He was glad to have paid her a visit today; otherwise she might have continued to hide in the Fallon residence.

Chapter 6

The infamous dowager countess has finally shown herself to society. It’s no surprise she was around Town with one of her oldest friends. Do you know what this writer is starting to think where those two are concerned now that the old earl has kicked the bucket?
Mayfair Chronicles,
July 1846 What had possessed her to suggest a night out with Hayden? She must be mad to believe she could hold herself together for a whole evening. Had it not been for the fact that she enjoyed Hayden’s company as much as she did, she didn’t think she’d have offered more than a walk in the park. Even after everything that had happened over the past few weeks, she really was starting to feel like her old self. And what better way to test her refound bravado than to get up to some of her old tricks?