Page 36 of The Defiant Governess (Intrepid Heroines #6)
Without waiting for reply she turned and made her way through the crowd. Reaching the corridor, she hurried past the ladies’ withdrawing room, praying that no prying tabby would note her strange behavior.
The music room was empty, lit only by moonlight. As she flung open the french doors and stepped outside, a wave of cool air washed over her. It felt soothing on her flushed cheeks, and she stood still, hitching in her breath to calm her emotions.
To her chagrin, Jane felt tears trickling down her cheeks. She scolded herself for being ridiculous. Why, she seemed to have turned into a veritable watering pot these days. With a loud sniff, she reached to wipe them away.
“Allow me.”
Saybrook came around to face her and dabbed gently at her face with a white silk handkerchief. Returning it to his pocket, he slipped off his coat and settled it around her shoulders.
She turned away in confusion. “I … I was too warm and just came out for a breath of air. I ought to be getting back.”
He placed a hand on her arm. “A moment longer.” He turned her round to face him. “Why are you crying?”
“Why did you come here?” she countered, her jaw thrusting out defiantly. “And I’m not crying. The cold air has merely brought a few tears to my eyes.”
For the first time in ages, Saybrook gave a hearty chuckle. “It seems you are right—my dear, defiant, prickly Miss Langley is still here.”
“I’m not prickly,” she retorted. “It’s just that you bring out …” She stopped as he traced his fingers along the contour of her jaw.
“No,” he whispered. “On that I am very wrong.”
Suddenly she felt hot all over again.
“Why did you come here?” she repeated.
He was silent for a number of moments. “To see Miss Langley. To ask her for forgiveness.”
“Sir! The past is done with. There is nothing for which you need forgiveness. You are a good man, a kind, compassionate, honorable man. The past is over. It is time to move on with your life.”
“Yes,” he mused. “Yes, I have come to that decision as well. And so I came to do properly what I made a terrible mull of the first time I tried it.”
Jane’s mouth went dry. “What is that?”
His sea-green eyes flickered in the pale moonlight. “I was afraid to say what I truly felt,” he went on. “Afraid of—that doesn’t matter now. For I have come to realize it is infinitely harder to bear hiding one’s feelings than it is to risk being hurt.”
“And perhaps I was afraid to hear what you wanted to say, for all the same reasons.” Jane met his gaze. “But …” She hesitated. “These past few days you have remained silent. Has something changed?”
“Yes, it has.”
Jane felt a rush of sadness, regret. The tears welled up again and she dropped her head. “I see.”
“The governess is now a lady of great rank and wealth.”
“And that matters because I lied to you,” she mumbled.
Saybrook lifted her chin. “For such an intelligent person, you have come up with a most nonsensical notion. It matters because I fear you may think me no better than a fortune-hunter or?—”
“Now it is you who have windmills in your head. As if I could think such a thing! You forget that I already know all your faults.”
Saybrook’s hands moved to her shoulders. The coat slid to the ground. “Lord, what fools we both have been,” he whispered as he pulled her close. “Jane, my dearest Jane, I love you beyond reason. Will you marry me?”
“Yes.”
“Truly?”
“Most truly. Surely any man less modest would have known I’ve been head over heels in love with you for an age.” Her head was resting on his shoulder and she turned it to look up at him.
His lips came down on hers, tender but full of need. It took but a moment to ignite the smoldering passion in both of them.
Their kiss deepened and went on for a lengthy interlude. When finally he released her mouth, it was only to trail his lips along the curve of her neck.
“My darling,” he murmured.
“Edward,” she said, her fingers twining in his silky, breeze-ruffled hir
“Say it again, my love,” he urged. “Let me hear my name on your lips once more.”
Jane repeated his name over and over again as she slid her hands down to his shoulders and pulled him tight
With another groan, he gently undid her arms and held her away.
“Love, we must wait till our wedding night—and in another moment that will be damnably difficult,” he whispered raggedly.
The disappointment and desire in her eyes made him smile crookedly as he straightened the front of her gown.
“Damnation that your father is a duke and we cannot be married tomorrow by special license. But promise me it will be a short engagement.” He bent to kiss her once more.
“I’m not sure I can survive much longer in this state. ”
“As short as can be allowed,” she agreed. “You know how a governess must keep furthering her education—and I am quite curious to see what happens from here.”.
“Hoyden,” he said with a rueful smile. And then he claimed another kiss.
“Just remember, milord, there is always a horsewhip to keep you in line.”
Their muffled laughter floated through the air as Saybrook bent to pick up his coat. “I suppose we had better return,” he sighed.
As they reentered the music room, a lone figure seated in one of the brocade armchairs was silhouetted by the moonlight. The duke had his legs stretched out comfortably in front of him, a glass of cognac held in one hand as he contemplated the thick cigar in the other.
“Ah, Saybrook,” he drawled. “I believe you were looking for me?”
“As a matter of fact, Your Grace?—”
“The answer is yes.”
Both Jane and Saybrook looked startled.
“Any man with the fortitude to ask for my daughter’s hand in marriage has my wholehearted blessings. So, yes. Yes!” A pause. “Before you change your mind!”
“Father!” cried Jane indignantly.
The duke let out a chuckle. Jane opened her mouth to retort but found herself laughing as well as her father rose and gave her a hug.
“You have chosen much better than I,” he murmured in her ear.
“I am confident that you will be very happy.” He extended his hand to Saybrook and added, “I believe that an announcement of our own is in order. However, before we enter the ballroom, you may wish to retie your cravat. The, er, wind seems to have caused some disarray.”
“But Papa, Aunt Bella will have a fit of vapors if we take the attention from Cousin Annabelle!”
“Quite.” A rather satisfied smile spread over the duke’s face. “She vastly deserves it, too, for all of her meddling.”
“I, for one, would like to embrace the dear lady,” interrupted Saybrook.
Jane and her father looked at him as if he were mad. “But Edward, you can’t imagine the trouble she—” began Jane.
“Without her, I would not have met you,” he grinned.
“You have a point,” conceded the duke. “We shall wait until the end of the evening, and let her bask in all the attention until then.”
“Papa, before we return to the ballroom Edward and I must visit the nursery.”
He nodded, smiling broadly. “Of course, the lad must know. I shall wait for you here and savor my good fortune.” He lit his cigar. “You know, I look forward to seeing Peter here at Avanlea often—along with his brothers and sisters,” he added as the two of them left the room.
“Mmmm,” said Saybrook, nuzzling close to her ear as they climbed the stairs. “Lots of brothers and sisters.”
“Edward—” Her words were cut off by yet another kiss.
“And my dear governess will have no trouble keeping our household in perfect order.”