The Unlikely Lady (Playful Brides #3)(4)

Her mother’s shoulders drew up and then just as quickly relaxed. She worried the handkerchief in her hands. “Oh, Jane, if you’d only try.”

Jane sighed. She’d tried. Oh, how she’d tried. How many times had she wished she was petite and beautiful with good eyesight, someone who loved nothing better than to attend parties? It just wasn’t her, and it never would be. The sooner Mama accepted that fact and let go of her dream of Jane making a splendid match, the better the two would get on.

Her mother had left her no choice. Today’s little episode notwithstanding, Hortense had shown few signs of giving in. Hence, Jane was about to employ her secret weapon: one Lady Lucy Hunt, Jane’s closest friend. Lucy had promised Jane she would use her considerable talent with words to convince Lady Lowndes that Jane should be left in peace. Jane wanted nothing more than to live out her days reading, studying, lobbying for the rights of women, and hosting the occasional intellectual salon. She wanted to be free, to no longer be forced to attend an endless round of social events that made her feel anything but social.

To that end, Jane had employed the second-best weapon in her arsenal, her new chaperone, Mrs. Bunbury. The idea had been inspired by Jane’s other friend Cassandra Monroe’s unfortunate incident last autumn when Cass had been obliged to pretend she was a nonexistent young lady named Patience Bunbury. It had been unfortunate only because in so doing, Cass had been forced to deceive the man she had desperately loved for the last seven years and … well, the entire charade had been a bit questionable after Captain Swift had discovered Cass’s duplicity. It had all ended well enough, however, hence Jane’s journey to their wedding festivities today and her subsequent need for a fictitious chaperone.

“I’m going to the house party, Mama. As for Mrs. Bunbury … didn’t Lucy write and tell you all about her?” Jane stepped closer to the door.

Jane’s father squinted up at her and arched a brow. He knew she was making her escape.

Her mother nodded vigorously. “Yes, but I find it highly suspect that I’ve yet to meet this woman and I—”

“Didn’t Lucy vouch for Mrs. Bunbury’s high moral character and excellent references?” Jane continued, with another step toward the door.

The frown lines on her mother’s forehead deepened. “Yes, but I cannot allow my only child to—”

“Didn’t I tell you I’m going directly to Lucy’s town house where I shall meet Mrs. Bunbury and travel with her and Lucy to the house party and I shall be properly chaperoned by them the entire time?”

Her mother opened her mouth and shut it again, reminding Jane of a confused frog. “You did, but I refuse to—”

“Won’t Eloise be with me the entire ride to Lucy’s house?”

Her mother closed and opened her mouth a few more times. She’d apparently come to the end of her list of rebuttals. 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 scanned about as if she’d find the answers she needed lying on the floor of the study. “Charles, what do you have to say about all of this?”

Jane’s father looked up and adjusted his own spectacles. “I think Mrs. Bunbury sounds quite capable, dear.”

Jane nodded, a bright smile on her face. She could always depend upon Papa.

Hortense, however, continued to wring her hands. Hmm. Apparently, this particular situation called for one more volley.

Jane folded her hands in front of her serenely. “Won’t you and Papa 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 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 lowered her shoulders and her face took on a bright, hopeful hue.

“Of course. Of course.” Jane nodded. Crossing her fingers behind her back, she made her way toward the door. “Now, I’m off to change my gown before Eloise and I go to meet that darling Mrs. Bunbury.”

*

Half an hour later, Jane and Eloise marched down the steps to the waiting coach. A footman trailed behind them carrying Jane’s trunk. Jane breathed a sigh of relief. Apparently, Mama was mollified for the time being. Jane lived by a steadfast rule: solve one problem at a time, preferably the one right in front of you. Worry about the others later.

The footman helped both her and Eloise into the coach, where Jane settled in the forward-facing seat and looked out the window toward the house. Her mother peered out the front door. “Good-bye, Mama. See you next week.” She waved a gloved hand and smiled brightly.

Jane leaned back in her seat and let out a long sigh. She grinned at Eloise. “We’re free.”

Eloise sighed, too. “It’ll be nice to see the country, miss.”

“I’m greatly looking forward to it.” Jane wiggled her shoulders and cracked open her book. It would only be a matter of hours before she’d be in the company of her closest friends, Lucy and Cass. She did so look forward to seeing them. No doubt Lucy’s cousin, Upton, would be there, too. So be it. She could handle him. She always enjoyed setting him back on his heels a bit.