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Jenny sat frozen in her chair. David was here.

“Jenny?” Frances’s voice took on the matronly tone that irked her. “Why is the Duke of Marlow being escorted to our drawing room?”

Jenny bit her bottom lip and shrugged. Unfortunately for her, it was still too early in the morning for her brain to be awake enough to come up with a believable excuse.

Frances gasped. “Jenny, don’t tell me the man you made a fool of yourself for was the Duke of Marlow?” She sounded positively scandalized.

Jenny felt a blush spread across her face.

Frances covered her face and groaned. Apparently, Jenny didn’t need to verbally admit it. Her expression gave her secret away.

“I knew something was going on at the opera, but you told me it was nothing.” Frances threw her hands up in the air. “Jane Bennett, have you not heard the stories about him?” Frances pinched the bridge of her nose. “Why must you drift towards scandals? What will Thomas think when he finds out?” The color drained from her face. “Oh goodness, you’re going to make me tell him, aren’t you?”

Jenny rushed to her side. “Why does he need to find out? I told you, I showed my interest, he said no, and that was that.”

Frances pointed to the doorway. “Then why is he here?”

Good point.

“Well, I guess we’re going to have to go down there and find out.”

Jenny was surprised at how nonchalant she sounded, considering that her insides were shaking to the point of liquefaction.

Frances narrowed her eyes at her but ultimately stalked out of the room. Jenny hurriedly followed after her. Her mind was racing with possibilities. Why was the Duke here? Was it in response to her letter? She had one of Thomas’s footmen deliver it last night after she finished writing it.

She couldn’t remember exactly what she wrote, but the main theme revolved around her being her own woman and needing to be treated as such. She was old enough to make her own choices and live with the consequences.

Jenny rubbed her eyes. At least she hoped that’s all she said. Her nervous ramblings weren’t isolated to just talking. Her written word could be just as loquacious as her speech.

Frances and Jenny stood in front of the door to the drawing room. With a nod of acceptance, Frances opened the door. They found the Duke of Marlow leaning against the mantel, looking at his timepiece.

“Duke, to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?”

Frances was ever the immaculate hostess. She breezed over to him as if she had expected him to show up this morning.

The Duke straightened, tucking his timepiece back into his coat. “I was hoping Miss Bennett would walk with me this morning.”

Frances looked at Jenny, who was still standing in the doorway, completely dumbfounded.

Jenny’s eyes met the Duke’s as he stood straighter. He folded his hands behind his back, seemingly unaffected. She had a moment of confusion. Had she dreamed their last encounter? Was it all an elaborate nightmare?

No, it happened. He called her a child and basically dismissed her as if she were a servant. Now, he had the audacity to stand in their drawing room, asking her to promenade with him as if they were courting?

Jenny took a deep breath and fixed him with a glare. He responded by looking bored. Frances stood between them, her eyes darting back and forth.

“I got your letter,” the Duke offered.

Jenny’s eyebrow rose in derision. “And yet you’re here.”

The two resumed their standoff.

Frances clapped her hands together, hoping to break the tension. “Well, it does seem like a nice day for a walk, doesn’t it, Jenny?”

Jenny stood still, her eyes boring holes into the Duke, who was completely unfazed by her hostile stance.

“Yes, well, I think that’s a yes,” Frances replied.

Jenny gasped at the same time the Duke said, “Splendid.”