Chapter 25
Chapter 25
“I should never have agreed to any of this had I known what a tangle it would become,” Esther confided in Jane as they stood abandoned in the vestibule.
“Nor would I,” Jane said. Which, on reflection, was totally untrue. She had enjoyed every minute with her Boscastle male as Esther had enjoyed hers. “No one could have foreseen any of this.” That part was at least true.
“I hope Nigel stands up for himself,” Esther said with a worried frown.
Jane could only respond with a halfhearted nod. Against Grayson and Heath, what chance did Nigel have?
“The talk of you two is all over town,” Esther said, the governess in her evident as she shook her head. “At least Nigel and I were discreet.”
“Because I covered for you,” Jane pointed out.
“Yes. Yes, you did. And don’t think we’re not grateful. Of course Nigel’s father will cut him off without tuppence now that our marriage is public knowledge. But it’s you who are the immediate concern. When Nigel and I rushed to London to rescue you, your ruination was all everyone could talk about. What on earth possessed you to do this, my dear?”
“The same thing that possessed you and Nigel, I imagine.”
“Nigel and I were shocked to the teeth when we found that your parents had washed their hands of you and retreated to the country.”
“Well—”
“Never fear. We shall not abandon you in your hour of shame and notoriety as your family has,” Esther said consolingly.
“That’s very kind of you,” Jane replied, not quite ready to be taken into custody yet. “But I’m bearing up well, and I do have Uncle Giles.”
“You are not bearing up well at all,” Esther insisted. “You are deluded by your passion for Sedgecroft.”
“How can you tell?”
“Because I have battled similar temptations in the course of my career as a governess.” Esther’s light brown eyes misted over with memories. “There was a duke once . . . oh, never mind. The problem is, what to do with you.”
“I am perfectly capable of managing my own affairs.”
“The fact that you are in this house contradicts that statement.” Esther released a sigh. “Perhaps we shall think up a solution on the way back to London.”
“London?”
“Yes, Jane. Nigel and I must face his parents together and place you under our protection. Unless of course Nigel can persuade Sedgecroft to do right by you.”
Jane smiled. “Grayson has already asked for my hand.”
“Oh. Well, then. You must stay with us anyway, Jane, until the talk dies down.”
“For once, Esther, just for once, I really would like a say in my life. Just a word here and there, mind you. A chance to offer an opinion.”
Esther gave her a level look. “You should not have fallen in love with a Boscastle.”
“I hardly had a choice in that matter,” Jane replied, remembering her first encounter with Grayson, and how her life had taken so many intriguing turns after that. “In fact, I do not understand even now how I lost my heart to him.”
“None of us ever do, Jane. For all my wisdom and experience with handling wayward young males, even I could not resist my sweet Nigel, and every day I thank heaven that his cousins did not manage to corrupt him.”
Nigel had downed two glasses of port before scraping up the nerve to come to the point. The knowledge that Esther was probably listening at the door emboldened him. It also terrified him. He would rather face Grayson blindfolded in a duel than return to the wrath of his pregnant wife.
“There is only one solution, as I see it,” he announced, covertly fanning away the cloud of cigar smoke that Heath had blown toward him.
“Solution to what?” Grayson asked. He was stretched out on the sofa with his eyes half closed.
“To this . . . this mistress mess that Jane has fallen into.” There. He’d said it without actually accusing Grayson again of being the villain who had pushed her into the aforementioned fall.
“I think he ought to marry her,” Heath said.
Grayson sat up. “Really?”
“It would tie up a few loose threads,” Nigel said, hiding his relief.
“Then you think it is an acceptable answer?” Grayson asked, as if the idea had never entered his mind before this very moment. “I could count on you to convince Jane to accept the proposal? Being her best friend, and all.”
“Why, yes.” Nigel was so flattered at being in on a conspiracy with his two cousins he completely lost sight of his original objective. “I will do my utmost to persuade her, providing . . .”
“Providing what?” Heath said, his eyes narrowing.
“I shall have to ask Esther’s advice first, of course. As a mere courtesy to her condition.”
“Does she still wield that rod of hers?” Grayson asked, turning his head.
Nigel flushed; it still stung to remember all the times he had been excluded from the boisterous Boscastle clan. “I hardly know how to react to such a question,” he said in embarrassment.
“I think she still has it,” Grayson said.
Heath grinned devilishly. “I think you’re right.”