Page 40 of Always the Bridesmaid, Never the Duchess (Wallflower Season #3)

Chapter Three

“ N o matter how long I find myself away from the ton , it never seems changed when I return back to it.” Jonathan turned to address the woman on his arm.

While there were many in attendance who would presume that he would appear with a different woman on his arm for each ball that he attended, he much preferred to be the escort of his sister.

Returning to London had not been a particularly difficult choice for him to have made, but he knew that it meant he would not be able to come and go as he pleased any longer.

He knew that returning to the ton meant that there would be expectations and limits placed upon his shoulders whether he asked for them or not.

How could they not? He knew how appealing a young, eligible Duke was in the eyes of all the hopeful mothers and daughters inside. He also knew that his reputation was salacious enough that it gave some of the more high-brow mothers pause — which suited him just fine.

He was not here looking for a wife of his own.

Rather, he hoped that he would be able to spend the evening getting to know all of the new faces of those around him so that he could know which families he did and did not wish to invite over soon.

He wished to get to know the eligible men of the ton because the last match that Marina had set her heart on had gone so very poorly.

He vowed that he would never make such a careless mistake again.

Marina’s young, tender heart was not something that could be trifled with.

The very same young lady who was presently attempting to use his arm as some sort of barrier to hide behind.

Marina’s hesitant glance up in his direction told him everything that he needed to know.

No manner of small talk or pleasantries was going to be enough to coax her into joining them in conversation or much of anything else.

“What do you think, Marina? Surely there has been some rumor of excitement that I can use to pass the evening?” Jonathan attempted once more.

Marina was not the sort of woman to go out of her way to gossip, and she was not the sort of woman who betrayed the trust of those that she loved.

She would not repeat rumors or speak ill of those around her.

Even when they deserved it. She was simply too kind and gentle for this world.

“Now, now, you are not here solely for your own entertainment, Nephew, but to be a guide and protector to your younger sister. Tell me out loud that you understand that.” Frederick Reeves’ heavy hand clasped over his nephew’s shoulder as he spoke seriously, leaning into him for emphasis.

Jonathan’s gaze rolled down to the glass in his hand, and he could not help the smile that spread across his features. “How on earth have you managed to procure a glass of wine when we have but barely walked into the room!”

Frederick glanced at the glass in question with feigned surprise.

“Well, my, how did this little thing get here,” he teased with a wink.

He lifted the crystal in between them and turned the contents this way and that as if it was a magical liquid that he had summoned out of thin air.

“Waste not want not, I suppose.” He sniffed at the contents, and the very aroma seemed to redden his naturally rosy complexion further.

He had always been a jolly sort of fellow.

Nothing ever seemed to burden him; nothing seemed too difficult to accomplish.

It seemed perfect, practically expected, that Jonathan’s uncle would manage to do things that most others could not pull off. Effortlessly.

Stepping up to ensure that his brother’s family was well taken care of after his untimely death was only natural to him.

He did not think twice; he did not complain.

He had simply moved into the position and devoted his entire being to it.

It was a kindness that Jonathan hoped to achieve for himself someday.

That level of selflessness was a prime reason that he had wished to return here to London and see his sister married well.

It was off to a rather bumpy start if he was being honest with himself.

Frederick smacked his lips audibly in his nephew’s direction. “Well then, I shall leave you to it. Make me proud, boy.” He shook Jonathan’s shoulder before promptly turning and disappearing into the crowd.

“W…where is he going?” The small melodic voice came from beside him as Marina’s hand tightened around her brother's sleeve.

“I do not know—” Jonathan answered as he attempted to follow his uncle’s path through the bodies already in attendance.

Jonathan seemed to weave expertly through those seeking dance partners or the gaggle of ambitious mamas that he was personally going to have to avoid for the remainder of the evening.

“It certainly seems as if he has a specific goal in mind.” Jonathan turned his dark eyes down to Marina’s bright amber-colored eyes.

“He did not say anything to you about plans for this evening, did he?”

Marina pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and shook her head.

“I did not think so.”

“Well, I should think that neither of you will accomplish anything at all lingering in the entrance like this,” the louder, firmer female voice of the household chimed.

Marina’s spine straightened at the sound of her mother’s voice.

She softened her hold into something more delicate and lengthened her neck, lest their mother turn her scrutiny toward her.

Jonathan would not be swayed by his mother’s impatience.

“I think it will accomplish exactly what we need, Mother. Lingering will allow those in attendance to notice us, and then, they can come and approach us…which as I am sure you will agree will be far preferable to my attempting to hound every gentleman in attendance about whether or not they should like to dance with my sister.”

Beneath his calm, friendly tone was a deeper concern.

He understood better than most that Marina had no intention of dancing with anyone this evening or any other evening in fact.

He knew that it would be a good long while before she willingly put herself into the arms of another even for the span of a song’s length.

Forcing her would only make it harder. He would be damned before standing by and watching his beloved sister retreat deeper and deeper into herself simply because she wanted to please their mother.

“Dancing leads to conversation, and that will lead to courtships and marriage proposals! That is what you should be concerned with.” Phyllis Reeves folded her arms across her chest and spoke without looking at her son.

“I cannot help but remind you, again, Mother, that I am well aware of your desire to hit the ground running. You have applied great pressure since the moment I stepped off of the boat, but I will do things at my own pace. You will have to respect that.” Jonathan did not intend to wound his mother with his words, but he wanted her to understand that no amount of badgering was going to change his mind.

“Your slow pace could cost your sister prospects. I will speak my mind on this — no matter whether you have finally stepped into the position as head of this family or not. You ought to have done that months ago.”

Jonathan sighed. He knew where this conversation was going as it was the same conversation that they had had countless times since his return.

From sun up until well into the evening, she had followed him around.

His mother attempted to claim that it was to catch him up on everything that had happened, but really, he felt that it must have something more to do with her resentment for him having left her in the first place.

She liked her brother-in-law just fine, but she had been ready for Jonathan to step into his title.

She had wished for him to take up his position as Master of the Manor the moment he was of age…

but Jonathan had not thought himself ready for it just yet.

He might not have willingly taken it even now, but his uncle was ready to settle into his own life, perhaps find a wife of his own and step down from caring for his late brother’s family.

Jonathan certainly could not fault him for that.

He just wished to do things in his own way, and he needed the time and space to be able to do so. His mother had not been so happy to hear him claim that a duke should be allowed to do things on his own timetable either.

“Do you not agree that it is better to have waited until I was ready? Until I could do the position with passion and clarity?”

“You relied on the kindness and compassion of your uncle for far too long while you were raking your way across India. Time that could have been much better spent here with your family! If you devoted half of the time to furthering this family and your sister’s reputation as you did sowing your wild oats—”

Jonathan lifted a hand to stop his mother from speaking. Her rant was becoming poisonous in her tone. Did she not see how it caused Marina to shrink behind him when she got like that?

“I would be happy to discuss your opinions on my apparent shortcomings at another time, Mother, but as this is a ball…I should hope that you would like to relax…enjoy yourself a little.” Jonathan offered kindly, hoping that she would accept the truce.

“I shall not be able to relax until my daughter is wed, Jonathan, I assure you that.”

“Marina shall be married when she is ready. I will stand by her from now until she is ready to make that decision. I assure you that I have no intentions of marrying until her future is safely secured.” Jonathan wished that would be the end of the conversation, but he knew it would not be.

“That is no comfort at all!” Phyllis interjected with a shake of her head. “You should have started making the social rounds right away!”