‘Miss Verey, do you care to walk back or would you prefer to drive?’

Before Jane could reply, Lady Dennery made a rude and derisive noise and stormed off in the direction of the house.

‘Shocking ton!’ Lady Eleanor was trying not to smile at Lady Dennery’s downfall. ‘I fear it is about to rain, Alex-perhaps you should go to her aid?’

The Duke raised one eyebrow. ‘I am persuaded that Lady Dennery will find her own way home,’ he said easily. ‘No doubt she prefers to be alone!’ He turned back to Jane and his smile was dazzling in its warmth. ‘Miss Verey?’

‘I will drive, I thank you, sir,’ Jane said hastily, although she would indeed have enjoyed the walk through the parkland. She allowed him to help her up into the second gig and squeezed in next to Sophia.

‘Oh, Jane,’ her friend whispered, ‘did you see the look that the Duke gave you? I do believe…and Lady Dennery clearly thinks you a rival! Oh Jane, I do believe that the Duke of Delahaye is developing a tendre for you!’

‘Poor Lady Dennery,’ Sophia said the following morning, as the summer dust settled on the drive behind her ladyship’s coach, ‘she had such high hopes and finds them all dashed! It must be very hard for her-’

‘To be a rich widow?’ Jane asked, a little waspishly. ‘She may not have managed to attach the Duke, but there will be plenty of other suitors!’

She came away from the bedroom window and moved rather restlessly across to the portmanteaux that her maid had already packed. They were all returning to Town that morning, but Lady Dennery would not be accompanying them, for she had been invited to stay with friends in Buckinghamshire and had high hopes of a certain elderly Marquis who would be of the company. Jane felt that the journey back would be rather more comfortable without her ladyship, but it was only a small relief amongst the other matters that preoccupied her.

Sophia was looking at her friend with concern. ‘Are you quite well, Jane? You seem sadly out of sorts today!’

Jane sighed, unpacking half of the clothes that Cassie had already put away as she rummaged for a favourite pair of gloves. ‘I’m sorry, Sophy! You are right in thinking me like a bear with a sore head! It is just all so difficult…’

She sat down and Sophia came to sit beside her on the bed.

‘Tell me what is troubling you,’ she urged. ‘Is it that Lady Verey plans the betrothal announcement for as soon as we return to Town? I’ll allow that it is a little difficult…’

Jane made a sound that was halfway between a sob and a laugh. ‘Oh, Sophy, you have such a talent for understatement! The truth is that my mother wishes to promote my engagement to a man who should by rights be marrying you! I have come up with no plan to solve Lord Philip’s financial difficulties and can see no solution to the whole problem other than that you elope with him!’

Sophia had paled a little. ‘Oh, Jane, I do not think that a very comfortable solution! Why, the Duke would cut Philip off altogether and then everyone would be unhappy!’

Jane got to her feet and moved restlessly across the window. ‘The Duke knows that my apparent affection for Lord Philip is all assumed!’ she said over her shoulder. ‘That is the worst part of the situation! He challenged me about it only yesterday and warned me to make no more plans! There is nothing to be gained by further deception!’

‘He is a most perceptive man,’ Sophia said with a shiver. ‘All the time that I was smiling on Blakeney, I was convinced that he knew the truth!’

‘A guilty conscience!’ Jane said bluntly. ‘The Duke had no notion until he took Blakeney’s place and brought me the parasol yesterday. Then, when he saw that you and Lord Philip had walked on together-then he knew the truth! I tried to persuade him to look upon the two of you with kindness, but-’ She broke off, not wishing to raise Sophia’s hopes unnecessarily. After all, Alex had told her that he had a plan, but it might not be one that would make everyone happy.

‘But perhaps-’ Sophia avoided Jane’s eye ‘-the whole matter may be solved if the Duke has feelings for you, Jane-’ She broke off and looked hopeful, bursting out, ‘Oh, if he were to love you then he would no longer wish you to marry Philip and his heart might be softened towards us-’

But Jane was shaking her head. ‘No, Sophy, I fear you have it all wrong! I know that you thought yesterday that the Duke had developed something of a tendre for me, but I am certain that you are mistaken!’

Sophia looked stubborn. Jane realised that this was because she so desperately wanted it to be true. It would solve the whole problem of the projected marriage to Lord Philip and they might all live happily ever after…Jane made a wry grimace.

‘I am sorry, Sophy, but it really isn’t true.’

‘But I saw the way that he was looking at you, Jane! And when Lady Dennery made her ill-bred remarks he gave her the set-down she deserved for slighting you! Surely-’

Jane took a deep breath. There was only one way to convince Sophia.

‘I know it cannot be true for the Duke kissed me yesterday and thought so little of it that he had forgotten it the next second!’

Sophia gave a little squeak. ‘I beg your pardon, Jane?’

‘He kissed me,’ Jane repeated, with a hint of irritation.

‘Oh, Jane!’ Sophia’s eyes were huge. ‘Was it truly dreadful?’

‘No,’ Jane said slowly, ‘it was not. I am obliged to admit that it was rather nice!’ She smiled suddenly, against her will. ‘Which is very confusing, but progresses our situation not at all!’

‘Oh, Jane!’ Sophia said again, breathlessly. ‘But if he kissed you-’

‘It was only part of the game!’ Jane said, the light dying out of her face. ‘I told you-he was completely unmoved by it! It is all a game to him!’

Sophia was looking at her with blank incomprehension. ‘A game?’

Jane decided that she could not begin to explain the complicated steps in the encounter between herself and Alexander Delahaye. Pitting her wits against his had been amusing at first, a challenge that had had an underlying current of excitement. She had never dreamed that it would ever have the power to hurt her. Yet now…

She decided to opt for the easier explanation.

‘I believe that the Duke of Delahaye is still in love with his wife,’ she said, ‘and that is why no other lady would have the chance of engaging his affections. He showed me a picture of her, Sophia-she was very beautiful and the picture is displayed so prominently that I think it must be a sign of the regard he still has for her.’ She turned away, closing the portmanteau lid and struggling with the straps in order to hide her confusion. Her feelings were currently too raw to allow her to confide.

‘Oh, Jane,’ Sophia said, and there was pity in her voice, as though she has guessed Jane’s state, ‘what are you going to do?’

‘Avoid him, I should think,’ Jane said bleakly. ‘I will not marry Lord Philip, but nor shall I have any further dealings with his brother!’

Chapter Ten

Alex’s opposition to this plan became apparent almost immediately. Whilst Jane was intending to avoid him, he seemed to seek her out deliberately. When they met in the entrance hall for the journey home that afternoon, he expressed the aim of taking Jane up in his phaeton whilst Philip drove Sophia and the ladies of more mature years travelled in the carriage. This was sufficiently improper for Lady Eleanor to raise an eyebrow, but no one contradicted him. Lady Verey was too much in awe of him, whilst Jane saw no point in arguing only to be overruled. Sophia and Philip both looked a little stunned by this public sign of approval and as Sophia went out onto the carriage sweep she gave Jane a look of mingled doubt and pleasure. Interpreting this correctly, Jane thought that Sophia was now convinced of Alex’s partiality and would quiz her mercilessly about it later.

They bowled down the drive and out on to the road in the wake of the carriage. It was very pleasant to be driven so expertly. The phaeton was very well sprung, the view enjoyable and day fair. Jane was relieved to discover that they could chat inconsequentially on various topics as wide-ranging as her childhood at Ambergate, her interest in botany and many other subjects of mutual interest.

‘I hope that you have enjoyed your stay, Miss Verey,’ Alex said a little formally, after an hour or so and for some reason it felt as though they had moved from impartial to more personal subjects.

‘Yes, thank you,’ Jane said cautiously. ‘It has been pleasant to be in the country again and Malladon is a fine house.’

Alex laughed softly. He cast her a sideways glance. ‘No mention of the entertainments or the company, Miss Verey?’

Jane shifted a little uncomfortably. ‘I find it difficult to spend any length of time in the same company,’ she admitted. ‘Everyone seems to live in each other’s pocket! I believe that there must be some fault in me that makes me intolerant of the society of others!’

‘Why do you suppose I spend so much time at Hayenham?’ Alex said, with a crooked smile. ‘I am the least sociable of creatures, Miss Verey, and find the demands of the Season or the houseparty a severe trial! Perhaps we are kindred spirits, you and I!’

Jane did not trust herself to answer directly. ‘I certainly find the country preferable to London. I fear I must be a sad trial to my mother, for all that she tried to turn me into a perfect young lady!’

‘Well, don’t change!’ Alex said abruptly. ‘Independence of mind is a quality seldom found in a young lady, let alone valued as it ought to be! I lose count of the number of vapid, feather-brained girls one meets every Season and it appals me that they are encouraged to act so!’