Lord Despair by Sydney Jane Baily & Dragonblade Publishing

Author:Sydney Jane Baily & Dragonblade Publishing [Baily, Sydney Jane & Publishing, Dragonblade]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fiction, Romance, Medieval
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2018-11-22T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Considering how she felt about this impressive man, Jenny found the answer came easily.

“Yes, I will!”

His face appropriately expressed the same happiness she felt inside. What a strange and wondrous turn of events to her otherwise ordinary day.

“I will call upon your mother this evening. Naturally, I should have asked her first. Yet, due to your age and independent manner, I rather let myself get carried away. I hope she will not take offense and hold it against me.”

“I’m sure she will be thrilled for us.”

Then her gloved hands encircled his neck and pulled his head down to kiss her. She certainly liked the Belton gardens and their benches!

*

Simon thought it had been a bang-up day. He could feel nothing but pleasure at the idea of Jenny becoming his wife. Intelligent, soft-spoken, beautiful, passionate, and even compliant in his arms, she was everything he’d ever hoped for. Yes, he’d done well. And now that he’d kissed her again and seen her off in her carriage with the promise of calling on her mother that evening, he had the far less pleasant task of hunting down Maude Devere.

When he could find her in none of the common rooms, he told Binkley to announce him at her private chambers. Feeling like David bearding the lion in his den, Simon entered behind Binkley while Maude was still deciding whether to see the earl or not, or more likely, she was thinking up another prevarication to keep him away. No one could have that many headaches!

He had a right to see her. After all, now that he had returned, she was living in his home by his inclination. Granting him an audience, or rather not granting one, was not a choice Simon felt like giving her. He wanted some answers.

She sat on a small salmon-colored settee with a newspaper on her lap. Her children, he noted, thinking of what Jenny had said, were nowhere to be seen. It seemed as good a time as any to talk.

“Thank you, Binkley. That will be all.” Simon sent the butler on his way. If Maude was squeamish about being alone with him, then she could ring for her maid.

“What is the meaning of this?” Maude asked. She didn’t stand but gave an indication of towering indignation nevertheless. Her French accent thickened with her unease.

“I didn’t intend to alarm you, Lady Devere. I simply wish to speak with you regarding some affairs of my estate, and of course, the sale of Jonling Hall.”

She paled, and Simon knew it was not going to be an easy discussion.

“I didn’t know I shouldn’t sell it, I swear to you. I thought it was entirely mine to do with as I pleased.”

“Yet it was not.”

She reared back as if he’d slapped her. “There is nothing that can be done now. Tobias should have told me that we held the hall only by your father’s pleasure, and now yours.”

“Yes, I suppose he should have. I have only your word that he didn’t.”

Now, he had brought forth her ire as her skin flushed.

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