The Unlikely Lady (Playful Brides #3)(38)
He arched a dark brow. “Truly? That’s your plan?”
“Yes. For now.” Why did Upton have to smell so good?
“Seriously?”
Jane trained her gaze over his shoulder. Why did Upton have to have such heavenly hazel eyes? Or more specifically, why had she had to notice that Upton had such heavenly hazel eyes? She’d been quite satisfied with barely noticing them before, thank you very kindly. Though now he was questioning her plan, much more Upton-like of him. Good heavens. Perhaps Lucy had been mistaken about his being in love with her and now Jane was stuck thinking about the blasted color of his eyes.
“Yes,” she answered with a nod. “Between Lucy, Cass, and myself, we believe we can make it work. At least for the day or two of the wedding until we leave for London again.”
Upton’s mouth curved into a smile that made her want to kiss him. Blast it.
“How will you explain that Mrs. Bunbury isn’t traveling back to London with you?” he asked.
Why did Upton insist upon asking a lot of questions about Mrs. Bunbury? Jane could barely concentrate on his words. Instead, she’d been staring at the sensual curve of his lips. Confound Lucy for telling her anything. “Because Mrs. Bunbury is going to become horribly ill the night of the wedding and leave before Mama has a chance to check on her.”
“Poor Mrs. Bunbury.” Upton shook his head.
Jane wanted to thread her fingers through his thick, dark, curly hair. “Don’t worry. Mrs. Bunbury shall recover.” Though Jane might not.
Upton smiled again, flashing his perfect white teeth at her. Since when did she notice that Upton’s teeth were either perfect or white?
“It’s ludicrous, of course,” he said. “But you and Lucy are so confident about it. That is her secret, isn’t it? Lucy makes things work because of her supreme confidence in their working.”
Jane returned his smile. Was he thinking her teeth were perfect and white? She didn’t know about the perfect part, one of the teeth on the bottom was a bit crooked, but they were white. Weren’t they? “I’m not certain what Lucy’s secret is, but she does have confidence. To spare.”
Upton sighed. “I suppose it will give even more credence to the story if I mention to your mother that I’ve met Mrs. Bunbury and she’s a lovely woman and an apt chaperone.”
Jane blinked at him. “You’d do that for me?”
A resigned smile tugged at his lips. “I’ve learned that going against Lucy when her mind is made up is a losing battle. Being a former soldier, I like to have the field in my favor.”
Jane spun around and around in the dance, barely hearing his words. Garrett Upton was going to do her a favor? Without being asked? Without being begged? Oh, heavens. The man was indeed madly, madly in love with her.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
There was nothing, absolutely nothing, redeemable about Isabella Langford. Perhaps her beauty, but beauty was fleeting. Awfulness lasted forever.
Jane eyed the woman the next day as the houseguests took a walk to the lake. Lady Moreland had promised there would be rowboats available. Finally, the one enjoyable outing since the house party began. Enough of picnics and balls. Jane could truly enjoy herself relaxing in a rowboat under the shady willow trees, reading her book. She’d tucked a novel in her reticule and marched down here with the rest of them. She wore a serviceable yellow morning dress. No more low-cut ball gowns for her. A white bonnet completed her ensemble and she felt quite returned to her natural element, that of a bluestocking spinster.
Mrs. Langford, however, was dressed like a doxy. Jane watched the woman laugh and smile at every word Upton said. Quite nauseating. Mrs. Langford’s hair was swept up in a set of black curls, held in place by the tiniest hat Jane had ever seen, and a small gown to match her tiny hat. The gown was small in that it had very little fabric covering her chest. It would be more in place at a demimonde banquet than a friendly little rowboating venture at a country house. I hope she gets a sunburn. Not to mention it was a garish shade of red. Though Jane had to admit it brought out the rosy color of Mrs. Langford’s full lips.
By the time their party made its way to the lake, Upton had managed to extricate himself from Mrs. Langford’s clutches. When Jane peeked up from the book she’d been attempting to read while simultaneously attempting not to trip, Upton was strolling alongside her, his hands in his pockets.
They all stopped at the line of newly painted white rowboats that sat in front of the calm, green lake like fat little ducks. “Would you do me the honor of accompanying me?” Upton asked.
Jane snapped her astonished mouth shut, then opened it to ask, “Me?”
“Yes.” He smiled and made a sweeping gesture toward the rowboats.
Jane glanced around. There was no doubt. He was talking to her. The man was so in love with her, poor sop. She might as well take pity on him and do him the honor of accompanying him about the lake.
Jane closed her book and made her way toward an available rowboat with Upton leading the way.
“Mr. Upton, wait for me!” That harlot Isabella Langford’s voice rang out at the last possible moment. She waved her hand as she came scurrying up to them. “Do you have room for one more?” The shameless widow batted her eyelashes at Upton.
Over Mrs. Langford’s head, Upton gave Jane a long-suffering look. “Yes. Of course we can fit one more.” Jane returned his chagrined expression. He’d had to say it. He would hardly be a gentleman if he refused. But Jane wasn’t about to get stuck in a rowboat with Upton and Mrs. Langford, of all odious partners.