The Accidental Countess (Accidental #2)(88)
Her mother nodded vigorously. “Yes, but I find it highly suspect that I’ve yet to meet this woman and I—”
“And didn’t Lucy vouch for Mrs. Bunbury’s high moral character and excellent references?” Jane continued, completely nonplussed by her mother’s fretting.
The frown lines on her mother’s forehead deepened. “Yes, but I cannot allow my only child to—”
“And didn’t I tell you that I’m going directly to Lucy’s house from here where I shall meet with Mrs. Bunbury and travel with both her and Lucy to the house party where I shall be properly chaperoned the entire time?”
Her mother opened her mouth and shut it again, reminding Jane of a confused fish before saying, “You did, but I refuse to—”
“And won’t Eloise be with me the entire ride to Lucy’s house?” Jane nodded toward her maid, who stood a few paces away. Eloise bobbed a quick curtsy to Jane’s mother.
Her mother closed and opened her mouth a few more times. She’d apparently come to the end of her list of rebuttals. Jane knew this about her. She’d expected it. If one lobbed enough reasons at Hortense Lowndes without stopping to take a breath, one might overwhelm her with the sheer volume of logic and then … success was merely a matter of time. Jane could almost count the moments to her victory. One … two … three.
“I simply— I don’t think—” Her mother wrung her hands and glanced about as if she’d find the answers she needed lying about the marble floor in the foyer.
Jane watched her closely. Hmm. Apparently, this particular situation called for one more volley.
Jane pasted a pleasant smile on her face. “And won’t you and Father both be coming for the wedding next week, where you’ll be able to see for yourself how well I’ve behaved and meet all the new acquaintances I’ve made?”
This last bit was the most important. Jane’s mother liked nothing more than for Jane to meet new acquaintances, preferably of the single, titled, male variety. Of course Jane had absolutely no intention of doing anything of the sort, but her mother needn’t know that.
“I shall have the opportunity to meet Mrs. Bunbury next week?” A bit mollified, her mother’s face relaxed. Her shoulders had lowered and her face had taken on a bright, hopeful hue.
“Of course. Of course.” Not. Jane nodded, motioned to Eloise to follow her, and made her way out the door and down the steps to the waiting coach. A footman marched behind them. Jane breathed a sigh of relief. She lived by a steadfast rule: solve one problem at a time, preferably the one right in front of you. Worry about the others later. They could wait. She’d just done an admirable job of it.
The footman helped both her and Eloise into the coach where Jane settled into the forward-facing seat and turned to look out the window back at the house. “Good-bye, Mother. See you next week.” She waved a gloved hand and smiled brightly.
The coach pulled away with a jolt and Jane settled back into her seat and let out a long sigh. She was free. It would only be a matter of hours now before she’d be in the company of her closest friends, Lucy and Cass. And if that infuriating reprobate Garrett Upton just happened to be there, so be it. She’d enjoy setting him back on his heels a bit. She always did.
And with that, Jane Lowndes was off to spend a blissfully unchaperoned week in the Surrey countryside.