The Unlikely Lady (Playful Brides #3)(42)

Jane watched Upton’s approach out of the corner of her eye. He stopped a few paces from her. He cleared his throat and she tilted her head to look at him. He gestured to the seat next to her. “May I?”

She opened her mouth to reply, just before Owen Monroe materialized directly behind Upton.

“Always getting to Miss Lowndes before I do, Upton,” Owen said, flashing a smile.

Upton turned his head and scowled at Owen. Jane raised her brows. Was it possible that Owen Monroe wanted to spend time in her company as well? What was in that perfume Lucy had allowed her to borrow? Jane had dabbed it beneath each ear tonight before she’d come to dinner. Apparently, it was attracting rakes hither and yon. Potent stuff, that.

Jane nodded her assent to Upton to sit and then said, “Lord Owen, please join us.”

Upton’s frown deepened. Jane’s grin widened.

“Don’t mind if I do,” Owen replied, pushing up his dark coattails and sitting on the opposite side of Jane.

She glanced from side to side. She was properly squeezed between the two large, handsome men. As if her blasted stays weren’t enough.

“What did you wish to speak to me about, Upton?” she asked without turning toward him.

He, too, kept his gaze focused on the wall across from them. “Why do you think I had something specific to say?”

She turned to him and was immediately aware of how close he was. Their thighs nearly touched. “You’ve sought out my company during two events now. I thought perhaps there was something you wanted to say to me. Otherwise, I’m certain Mrs. Langford is missing your company. Perhaps she might take a tumble from the settee and require your assistance helping her to her bedchamber.”

Owen snorted.

Upton’s confident smile fell just a bit. He glared at Owen. “No, I’m quite content here but perhaps you’d like to go spend time with Mrs. Langford, Monroe.” Upton jerked his head in the widow’s direction.

Owen calmly shook his head. “No, I’m content here as well.”

Upton took a deep breath and turned toward Jane finally. “Very well. Miss Lowndes, allow me to apologize for Mrs. Langford’s—for some of the things she said earlier.”

Jane fixed him with a stare over the top of her spectacles. “Only some of what she said?”

Owen’s gaze bounced between them, his handsome face full of amusement.

Upton cleared his throat. “Some of the things she said were…”

Jane arched a brow. “Rude? Ignorant? Wrong?”

“Inappropriate,” Upton finished.

“That too,” Jane allowed.

Upton shifted a bit closer to her. “I’m sorry she came with us in the boat. I’d hoped to—”

“Not to worry, Upton. I wouldn’t expect better behavior from a friend of yours.” She smiled at him sweetly. Neither of the gentlemen could possibly miss the emphasis she’d placed on the word “friend.”

Owen whistled. “Point one, Miss Lowndes.”

“She’s not a friend of mine,” Upton growled. “She’s just—”

Jane kept her smile pinned to her face. “I’m sorry. I was under the impression she was invited here expressly because she mentioned her friendship with you. Was I mistaken?”

Upton scrubbed a hand across his face. “That’s true, but—”

“Point two, Miss Lowndes,” Owen added.

Upton leaned forward and gave Owen a condemning glare.

Upton began again. “She’s more of a longtime acquaintance than a friend and—”

“So a lady you’ve known for over ten years, a lady with whose husband you served in the war, is only an acquaintance? My. I shudder to think how you’d describe me then. I’ve only known you for four years and that is because of my friendship with your cousin. What am I? A stranger?”

Owen winced. “Point three, Miss Lowndes.”

Upton clenched his jaw and turned sharply toward Owen. “Must you?”

“Yes, I must,” Owen replied with a laugh. “This is highly entertaining, watching Miss Lowndes hand you your arse. Please do continue.”

Despite his vulgarity, Jane smiled and nodded at Owen. In this particular instance, Owen was entirely correct. Nice chap, Owen Monroe.

Upton turned back to Jane. “I merely wanted to offer my apologies if anything Mrs. Langford said offended you.”

Jane folded her hands in her lap. Now he was apologizing on behalf of his mistress? Speaking of vulgar. “It did offend me, Upton, but then, her mere presence offends me. However, I’d prefer it if the apology came from the lady herself and something tells me that is not about to happen.” Jane glimpsed Mrs. Langford sauntering toward them. “Ah, look, here she comes. Right on cue. While it’s been a pleasure arguing with you as usual, Upton, I am not about to sit here and listen to any more of her ignorant vitriol. Nor am I inclined to watch her pretend to trip and fall into your arms again. Therefore, I am off to the library, where I can find much better company than Mrs. Langford in the inanimate objects.”

“Game, set, match to Miss Lowndes,” Owen said.

Jane nodded to him. “Good evening, Lord Owen.” She stood, smoothed her skirts, and marched away.

“Jane, don’t go.” Upton’s voice held a vulnerable quality she’d never heard before. The tone stopped her. The use of her Christian name stopped her. She turned slowly to face Upton again. Owen’s brows had shot up. Apparently, Upton’s use of her Christian name had surprised him too.