Never a Mistress, No Longer a Maid (Kellington Book One) Page 7

  “I’m drawing a picture.”

  “May I see?”

  “Absolutely not.”

  Ned chuckled at the girl’s indignation. “Why would you tell me you’re drawing a picture if you won’t let me see it?”

  “Why would you want to see a picture that isn’t done?”

  “May I see it when it’s finished?”

  She took a moment to consider. “Maybe.”

  “Why maybe?”

  “Aren’t you supposed to be at the inn with your friends?”

  “How did you know I was at the inn?”

  “I pay attention. I saw you and Miss Merriman…” Vi said the name as if it were the moniker of a great villain in a melodrama. Ned half expected the girl to follow it up with a resounding hiss. “…and the others go into the inn. Then I saw you come out and wander around.”

  “Why don’t you like Miss Merriman?”

  “Why do you like her?”

  “Who says I do?”

  “Are you Edward the duke’s brother?”

  “How did you know that?”

  “I’m not a baby. Everyone’s talking about you and how you’re going to marry Miss Merriman. So you must like her at least a little.”

  “You can’t always believe what you hear.”

  “So you’re not going to marry her. Good!”

  The child was right, but it wouldn’t exactly be good form to announce to a little girl that he wasn’t going to marry Miss Merriman before telling the woman herself.

  “Where’s your mama?”

  “In the store. I was supposed to wait by the carriage.”

  “So why didn’t you?”

  “Because I’m sketching.”

  “Violet! I told you to wait by the carriage!”

  A woman across the lane was calling for Vi. By the sound of her voice, she was the same woman who’d come looking for the girl in the woods. She seemed a bit old to have a daughter so young, but maybe she’d simply had a hard life. Adversity aged a person, which was one reason Ned didn’t want to marry where he didn’t love.

  “Bye!”

  The girl curtsied, then ran off behind her mother.

  Ned realized he’d wasted as much time as he could possibly get away with. It was time to go back to the inn. He turned, only to run directly into Jane.

  She stumbled, falling into his arms. He held her there just a moment longer than absolutely necessary and was rewarded with a shiver that seemed to run from her silky hair down to her beautiful feet, even if they were encased in half-boots that had seen better days. She was wearing a brown gown today. The color was slightly better on her than the grey, but the material was just as threadbare. However, shabby gown or not, she still sent a healthy shot of lust through him. And the full-body contact had made him instantly hard.

  “What brings you to town?” he asked. “More lessons with the children? Or snipping hair from unsuspecting horses?”

  She smiled in spite of herself. “Just some shopping.”

  “To stock up on some more Scots whiskey? Or do you manufacture your own, an enterprise I suspect would be much better paying than surgery?”

  He was teasing her again. No one else teased her. She allowed herself a moment to enjoy the feeling before she grew nervous thinking about her nearby gig, loaded with supplies and the daughter he knew nothing about.

  Jane knew she should get away from him as quickly as possible, but it was hard to focus on anything but his lips and the way her body was still humming from their brief contact. She was just about to take her leave, when they were hailed by a familiar voice.

  “Lord Edward, we wondered where you’d gone,” said Madeleine, as she and her friends approached. She spoke to Edward, but glared venomously at Jane. “We thought you’d been overrun by urchins.”

  “Nothing so adventurous, I assure you,” said Ned. “However, poor Miss Wetherby cannot claim to be similarly unscathed. She had the misfortune of being the victim of an absent-minded charging bull. I, unfortunately, was the bull.”

  “Nonsense,” said Madeleine. “I’m sure you could never be anything other than the epitome of grace. And I’m sure poor Jane has had worse tumbles.”

  Ned narrowed his eyes at the chit. Could she know about his previous relationship with Jane?

  “I say,” said Rutherford, raking Jane with his eyes. “Is anyone going to introduce me?”

  “Nothing would give me greater pleasure,” said Madeleine. “Mr. Colin Rutherford, may I present Jane Wetherby. Jane this is Mr. Rutherford, nephew to a marquis.”

  “Our Jane here also has illustrious relatives,” said Wills Overton. “Her grandfather is the Earl of Huntington.”

  Ned couldn’t hide his surprise. Rutherford didn’t even bother to try. “It is my esteemed pleasure to meet you,” he said, taking the hand which was not proffered, before bringing it to his lips. Lips that Ned would like to smash into the dandy’s teeth. “Why have I never had the pleasure of seeing you in London?”

  “Jane retired to the country shortly after her debut year,” supplied Madeleine. “The reason escapes me. For now.” The sickly sweet smile that accompanied the words sent a clear message to Jane.

  “If you’ll excuse me, I’m needed at home,” said Jane.

  “Will you be joining us for dinner tomorrow?” asked Rutherford.

  “I’m afraid that won’t be possible,” said Madeleine quickly. “Mama is most particular about her dinners and the invitations have already been issued. And speaking of Mama, she will be quite worried if we don’t return soon.”

  “But surely she cannot be worried for your safety with all of us to protect you,” said Rutherford.

  “I’m afraid Mama’s imagination positively runs wild with all the ills that can befall a young lady. We should return.”

  The gentlemen took their leave of Jane, and Rutherford a final leer, before heading back toward their horses at the inn. Only Ned hung back.

  “May I escort you home?” asked Ned, wanting to know what exactly was behind the hostility Miss Merriman clearly felt for Jane, as well as why Jane had never mentioned her grandfather the earl.

  “I’ll be fine,” said Jane. “I can take care of myself.”

  “Only a fool would suggest otherwise, but it would be my pleasure to escort you and to continue our discussion from yesterday.”

  “I’m afraid my lord, that all has been said that should be said.”

  Reluctantly, Ned took his leave of her and rejoined the others. Jane hurried to her gig when he was safely away.

  “Mama, you were talking to Ned.”

  Jane looked at her daughter, stunned. “How do you know him?”

  “He helped when Titania was stuck in the tree. Then I talked to him when Mrs. Heldt was in the store. I told him I hoped he doesn’t marry Miss Merriman.”

  “Vi! Where are your manners? You’re not supposed to tell people who they should and shouldn’t marry.” Although she had to agree wholeheartedly with her daughter’s opinion on the matter. “And I’ve told you not to speak to people you don’t know.”

  “I’m sorry. Can I keep speaking to him now that I know him?”

  Jane thought of the disaster that could befall them all if her daughter continued talking to Ned. But she also knew the futility of forbidding her very determined daughter to do something she wanted to do. It was almost always counterproductive.

  “Let’s just say I would rather you didn’t, sweeting. I would rather you didn’t.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Jane stared at her wardrobe feeling more depressed than she’d allowed herself to be for quite some time. Most of her gowns were suitable for work, which was to say, stained, patched, mended and washed so many times she couldn’t recall their true color. Normally, she gave little thought to how she looked. She had much more practical concerns on her mind, such as how to keep Vi in clothes she seemed to outgrow on an almost weekly basis, as well as keeping the household fed with a roof over their heads, even if it was
rather leaky.

  She took one more look at the wardrobe, then closed the door and collapsed on her bed. She wasn’t sure why she was even considering going to the assembly. Except if she didn’t, she’d likely spend the entire evening thinking about Ned at Lady Barrington’s dinner, falling for the simpering Madeleine.

  There was a knock at her door, then Mrs. Heldt entered. “Miss Jane, I bring good news. The vicar’s wife Mrs. Keller has lent you one of her gowns to wear tonight.”

  Mrs. Heldt held the gown up. It was light blue with a modest neckline, short sleeves, and a silver gossamer silk overskirt. It was the most beautiful gown Jane had had the opportunity to wear in years.

  “I cannot possibly accept the loan of such a beautiful gown,” said Jane, wishing it weren’t true.

  “Of course you can. It’s only a loan and Mrs. Keller said it’s in payment for the posset you made up for the vicar. He’s recovered enough for his sermon tomorrow, which is blessed news, although I hope he doesn’t go on and on. Those pews can be so uncomfortable. You must wear the gown. You don’t want to insult the vicar’s wife, do you?”

  “I have no business going to the assembly at all,” said Jane wistfully as she ran her fingers over the beautiful garment. “And there’s no telling if I’ll be received even if I do attend.”

  “Hush now,” said Mrs. Heldt, as she turned Jane around to begin unlacing her dress. “Anyone unkind enough to be rude to you has been invited to dine at Lord Barrington’s tonight. That leaves naught but your true friends and those who have been the recipients of your care these many years. And I dare any of them to treat you as anything but the lady you are.”

  Jane turned to the woman, with tears in her eyes. “Thank you, Mrs. Heldt.”

  “Let’s get you bathed and dressed and see if I can remember how to do hair.”

  Later, when Jane sank into the hip tub for a much-needed soak, she was glad that the one thing she wouldn’t have to worry about that night was running into Ned. The man in country attire was hazardous enough. Just the thought of him in evening clothes was enough to fill Jane’s head with ideas she shouldn’t have. She definitely needed a distraction. Perhaps the assembly would turn out to be tolerable after all.

  * * *

  “What do you mean the dinner has been cancelled?” yelled Madeleine in one of her moods that frightened even the most stalwart of footmen.

  “My dear, lower your voice!” said Lord Barrington. “You don’t want Lord Edward to hear.”

  “But, papa, one of the imbecile servants caught the kitchen on fire. It’s hard to keep that a secret.”

  “It wasn’t the entire kitchen,” said Lady Barrington, thinking she was helping. “Just the portion with tonight’s dinner. I can assure you that the servant has been dismissed without a character.”

  “I should hope so! We’ll be the laughingstock of the village. What are we to do?”

  “Cook said she can create a much smaller supper en famille, but we certainly can’t entertain all our guests that way,” said Lady Barrington. “We’ll send word to the others telling them to meet us at the assembly, as if that had been our real destination all along. They’ll think it quite clever of us.”

  “The assembly?” asked an incredulous Madeleine. “I cannot attend a gathering where simply everyone was invited. It’d make me feel positively common.”

  “My dear,” said her doting papa, “you could never be common. Indeed, by comparison you’ll shine all the brighter.”

  “In that case,” said Madeleine, never one to pass up a chance to outshine anyone, “I shall attend.”

  * * *

  “We’ve arrived, Miss Jane,” said Farrell quite unnecessarily since she sat beside him on the gig.

  “I’m not feeling quite the thing,” said Jane as she looked at the many people entering the assembly hall. “Perhaps I should return home.”

  “I’m afraid I can’t let you do that, Miss Jane,” said the kindly groom. “Mrs. Heldt told me you might try something like this and that I was not to pay attention. You must go in there, Miss Jane. It’s high time you enjoyed yourself again.”

  Jane knew the man was right, so she climbed down from the gig, took a deep breath and followed the others into the hall, hoping to blend into the surroundings.

  But it was not to be.

  “Miss Jane! How pretty you look tonight,” said Mary Williams, who managed the pub with her husband Ken. “My dear, come say hello to our Miss Jane.”

  Her husband paid his respects, followed by several tenants, dressed in their finest. Even Mr. and Mrs. Birch were there, so soon after the birth of their son. They told Jane they meant to make an early night of it, but didn’t want to miss the opportunity to see their neighbors and friends on such a festive occasion.

  As Jane looked around the room, she definitely noticed some disapproving glances and a few whispers behind fans. But they made her all the more determined to enjoy herself. She was even persuaded to dance the opening reel, partnered with the blushing 19-year-old son of her favorite tenants, Betsy and Carl Smythe.

  She was midway through the number and thoroughly enjoying dancing with the shy young man, when a sudden chill went through the room. Dancing came to a halt and all eyes turned to the doors as the Merriman family entered, accompanied by Wills Overton. But Jane had eyes for only one person in their party. If she were absolutely, hideously honest with herself, she had eyes for only one person in the entire room. The immaculately dressed Ned Kellington.

  Jane tried to hide from the new arrivals, a task made infinitely harder by her partner, who was staring rather slack-jawed at the youngest Merriman sister. Why were they here? Unless it was to announce Madeleine’s betrothal to Ned.

  Jane’s heart plummeted at the very notion.

  * * *

  Almost as soon as Ned entered the room, his eyes were drawn to a vision in a pretty blue dress. Jane was dancing with some young pup who had difficulty telling the floor from her slippers. Despite her partner’s lack of proficiency, she had a smile that lit up her face. A smile Ned wanted aimed in his direction.

  “I so wish Papa would take me to London,” said Madeleine with a sniff. “I’m sure if we were to host a ball, it’d be a crush. And I would never, ever be forced to socialize with country bumpkins ever again.”

  “Good evening.” Ned bowed to a couple near their party with a daughter who’d spent the preceding moments tugging at her dress, obviously self-conscious when compared to the Barrington crowd. “Please allow me to introduce myself. I’m Edward Kellington.”

  The couple introduced themselves, along with their daughter, Mary. The girl blushed bright red as Ned asked her to dance. Miss Merriman also turned a shade of red, but somehow Ned knew it had nothing to do with being shy.

  Once again, the room seemed to stand still as Ned led the girl onto the dance floor. It was a country dance, with an almost constant rotation of partners. It was in the third movement that Ned came face to face with Jane. As they joined hands briefly, it was as if an electric spark had been set off between them. Jane stumbled, only to have Ned make things worse when he put a hand on her waist to steady her.

  “I thought you were going to dine at Lord Barrington’s,” said Jane breathlessly, as she stepped back into the dance.

  “The dinner was cancelled. Apparently there was a mishap in the kitchens.”

  “So that would explain it,” said Jane with a scowl.

  “Explain what?”

  She couldn’t answer him because the dance separated them once again. Ned’s eyes followed her as she danced with each new partner. One fellow even had the cheek to briefly touch her waist. Ned wanted to flatten the bastard. But all he could do was wait until the dance brought them together again.

  * * *

  It was most unfair, thought Jane, that even in the most beautiful gown she’d worn these many years, she could still feel like such a dowd next to Ned. The man moved with an effortless grace and certainly captured admiring glances fro
m every lady he partnered. Actually, that wasn’t true. He gathered admiring glances from every lady in the room, not just the ones he danced with. His appeal probably extended across the county. It was indeed possible that if a census could be taken in all of England on the question of Lord Edward Kellington’s appeal, he’d be more popular than Byron, Shakespeare and the fictional Mr. Darcy combined. Most unfair, that.

  The cadence of the dance brought them together again, both too soon and not soon enough for Jane.

  “Explain what?” asked Ned again.

  Jane tried to piece together their conversation from earlier, but her mind only wanted to focus on the breadth of his shoulders and not on the words coming out of his mouth.

  She pulled herself together.

  “One of the kitchen maids at Barrington came to me earlier seeking aid for burns on her hands.”

  “I hope she wasn’t badly injured.”

  “The burns should heal well enough, although she was in a great deal of pain. But I believe she was even more upset about being sacked.”

  Ned furrowed his brows. “Was there a reason for her dismissal?”

  “None other than the fact she ruined tonight’s supper.”

  “What will become of the girl?”

  “In the long run, I’m not sure. I’ve offered her a position in my home until she can find another job.”

  “That was kind of you, Jane.”

  And with that, they were separated once again and she was left to ponder his compliment. He thought her kind. He wouldn’t think that if he knew the direction her thoughts were taking regarding Madeleine Merriman. When she’d seen Madeleine entering the room on his arm, it had been like a mule kick to the stomach.

  With that lowering thought, the song ended. Jane curtsied to her partner, who was craning his neck to get a better look at the Merriman girls. Jane started to make her way toward the exit, but was stopped by several people on the way complimenting her appearance and seeking medical advice. If she’d been paying closer attention to where she was going, she wouldn’t have run into the last person she wanted to see.