Page 31 of The Duke’s Scandal (Bluestocking Book Club #5)

“Because I do not feel the same urgency about the matter as my mother,” he stated firmly.

“When the time is right, I will find an excellent young lady who will fill my heart with such great affection that I will be unable to do anything but look into her eyes and find myself lost. Then I will know that she is the one I ought to wed. However, until that moment comes, I will continue on, just as I am at present.” For a moment he thought that his friend would laugh at him, but much to his surprise, Lord Yardley simply nodded in agreement.

There was not even a hint of a smile on his lips, but rather a gentle understanding in his eyes which spoke of acceptance of all that Jonathan had said.

“Let us talk of something other than my present situation.” Throwing back the rest of his brandy, and with a great and contented sigh, Jonathan set the glass back down on the table to his right.

“Your other guests have not arrived as yet, I see. Are you hoping for a jovial afternoon?”

“A cheerful afternoon, certainly, although we will not be overwhelmed by too many guests today.” Lord Yardley grinned.

“It is a little unfortunate that I shall soon have to return to my estate.” His smile faded a little.

“I do not like the idea of being away from my wife, but there are many improvements taking place at the estate which must be overseen.” His lips pulled to one side for a moment.

“Besides which, my wife has her cousin to chaperone this Season.”

“Her cousin?” Repeating this, Jonathan frowned as his friend nodded. “You did not mention this to me before.”

“Did I not?” Lord Yardley replied mildly, waving one hand as though it did not matter.

“Yes, my wife is to be chaperoning her cousin for the duration of the Season. The girl’s parents are both on the continent, you understand, and given that she would not have much of a coming out otherwise, my wife thought it best to offer. ”

Jonathan tried to ignore the frustration within him at the fact that his friend would not be present for the Season, choosing instead to nod.

“How very kind of her. And what is the name of this cousin?”

“Lady Cassandra Chilton.” Lord Yardley’s gaze flew towards the door. “No doubt you will meet her this afternoon. I do not know what is taking them so long but, then again, I have never been a young lady about to make her first appearance in Society.”

Jonathan blinked. Clearly this was more than just an afternoon tea.

This Lady Cassandra would be present this afternoon so that she might become acquainted with a few of those within society.

Why Lord Yardley had not told him about this before, Jonathan did not know – although it was very like his friend to forget about such details.

“Lady Cassandra is being presented this afternoon?”

His friend nodded.

“Yes, as we speak. I did offer to go with them, of course, but was informed she was already nervous enough, and would be quite contented with just my dear wife standing beside her.”

Jonathan nodded and was about to make some remark about how difficult a moment it must be for a young lady to be presented to the Queen, only for the door to open and Lady Yardley herself to step inside.

“Ah, Lord Sherbourne. How delighted I am to see you.”

With a genuine smile on her face, she waved at him to remain seated rather than attempt to get up to greet her.

“Good afternoon, Lady Yardley. I do hope the presentation went well?”

“Exceptionally well. Cassandra has just gone up to change out of her presentation gown – those gowns which the Queen requires are so outdated and uncomfortable! She will join us shortly.”

The lady threw a broad smile in the direction of her husband, who then rose immediately from his chair to go towards her.

Taking her hands, he pressed a kiss to the back of one and then to the back of the other.

It was a display of affection usually reserved only for private moments, but Jonathan was well used to such things between Lord and Lady Yardley.

In many ways, he found it rather endearing.

“I am sure that Cassandra did very well with you beside her.”

Lady Yardley smiled at her husband.

“She has a great deal of strength,” she replied, quietly. “I find her quite remarkable. Indeed, I was proud to be there beside her.”

“I have only just been hearing about your cousin, Lady Yardley. I do hope to be introduced to her very soon.” Shifting in his chair, Jonathan waved his empty glass at Lord Yardley, who laughed but went in search of the brandy regardless. “You are sponsoring her through the Season, I understand.”

His gaze now fixed itself on Lady Yardley, aware of that soft smile on her face.

“Yes, I am.” Settling herself in her chair, she let out a small sigh as she did so. “I have no doubt that she will be a delight to society. She is young and beautiful and very well-considered, albeit a little na?ve.”

A slight frown caught Jonathan’s forehead.

“Na?ve?”

Lady Yardley nodded.

“Yes, just as every young lady new to society has been, and will be for years to come. She is quite certain that she will find herself hopelessly in love with the very best of a gentleman and that he will seek to marry her by the end of the Season.”

“Such things do happen, my dear.”

Lady Yardley laughed softly at Lord Yardley’s remark, reaching across from her chair to grasp her husband’s hand.

“I am not saying that they do not, only that my dear cousin thinks that all will be marvelously well for her in society and that the ton is a welcoming creature rather than one to be most cautious of. I, however, am much more on my guard. Not every gentleman who seeks her out will be looking to marry her. Not every gentleman who seeks her out will believe in the concept of love.”

“Love?” Jonathan snorted, rolling his eyes to himself as both Lord and Lady Yardley turned their attention towards him. Flushing, he shrugged. “I suppose I would count myself as someone who does not believe such a thing to have any importance. I may not even believe in the concept!”

Lady Yardley’s eyes opened wide.

“You mean to say that what Lord Yardley and I share is something you do not believe in?”

Blinking rapidly, Jonathan tried to explain, his chest suddenly tight.

“No, it is not that I do not believe it a meaningful connection which can be found between two people such as yourselves. It is that I personally have no interest in it. I have no intention of marrying someone simply because I find myself in love with them. In truth, I do not know if I am even capable of such a feeling.”

“I can assure you that you are, whether or not you believe yourself to be.”

Lord Yardley muttered his remark rather quietly and Jonathan took in a slow breath, praying that his friend would not start instructing him on the matter of love.”

Lady Yardley smiled and gazed at Jonathan for some moments before taking a breath and continuing.

“All the same, I do want my cousin to be cautious, particularly during this evening’s ball. I want her to understand that not every gentleman will be as she expects.”

“I am sure such gentlemen will make that obvious all by themselves.”

This brought a frown to Lady Yardley’s features, but a chuckle came from Lord Yardley instead.

Jonathan grinned, just as the door opened and a young lady stepped into the room, beckoned by Lady Yardley.

A gentle smile softened her delicate features as she glanced around the room, her eyes finally lingering on Jonathan.

“I feel as though I have walked into something most mysterious since everyone stopped talking the moment I entered.” One eyebrow arching, she smiled at him. “I do hope that someone will tell me what it is all about!”

Jonathan rose, as was polite, but his lips seemed no longer able to deliver speech.

Even his breath seemed to have fixed itself inside his chest as he stared, his mouth ajar, at the beautiful young woman who had just walked in.

Her skin was like alabaster, her lips a gentle pink, pulled into a soft smile as blue eyes sparkled back at him.

He had nothing to say and everything to say at the very same time.

Could this delightful young woman be Lady Yardley’s cousin?

And if she was, then why was no one introducing him?

“Allow me to introduce you.” As though he had read his thoughts, Lord Yardley threw out one hand towards the young woman.

“Might I present Lady Cassandra, daughter to the Earl of Holford. And this, Lady Cassandra, is my dear friend, the Marquess of Sherbourne. He is an excellent sort. You need have no fears with him.”

Bowing quickly towards the young woman, Jonathan fought to find his breath.

“I certainly would not be so self-aggrandizing as to say that I was ‘an excellent sort’, Lady Cassandra.” he was somehow unable to draw his gaze away from her, and his heart leaped in his chest when she smiled all the more.

“But I shall be the most excellent companion to you, should you require it, just as I am with Lord and Lady Yardley.”

There was a breath of silence, and Jonathan cleared his throat, aware that he had just said more to her than he had ever said to any other young lady upon first making their acquaintance.

Even Lord Yardley appeared to be a little surprised, for there was a blink, a smile and, after another long pause, the conversation continued.

Lady Yardley gestured for her cousin to come and sit beside her, and the young lady obliged.

Jonathan finally managed to drag his eyes away to another part of the room, only just becoming aware of how frantically his heart was beating.

Everything he had just said to his friend regarding what would occur should he ever meet a young lady who stole his attention in an instant came back to him. Had he meant those words?

Giving himself a slight shake, Jonathan settled back into his chair, lost in thought as conversation flowed around the room.

This was nothing more than an instant attraction, the swift kick of desire which would be gone within a few hours.

There was nothing of any seriousness in such a swift response, he told himself.

He had nothing to concern himself with and thus, he tried to insert himself back into the conversation just as quickly as he could .