She turned and said, “To a few, but, as I said before, there is no guarantee any of them will speak to Lady Monmouth.”
He frowned slightly, “You ask me to make amends, but you thwart my efforts to repair myself.”
“Oh, Wilcox, do not be so ridiculous. I have done what you asked. Now it is up to you.”
“But you act on my behalf half-heartedly. Do not blame me if Lady Monmouth fails to see my worth.”
Augusta looked at her son with a mixture of loathing and pity. “Oh, my dear, I am so sorry you lost your dear wife all those years ago. It has made you reckless and bitter.”
“Mother…”
“You used to be such a sweet boy. And even as a young man, you showed ambition and promise. What happened?
“Life happened,” he said with a sneer.
Thomas returned to the table but did not sit. Instead, he stood looking out over the ballroom, deciding what, if anything, he must do next as host. He was displeased his uncle had come, but he could not refuse him, as his Grandmamma had invited him.
He saw that George, Helena, and Miss Jenny were all at their table and appeared to be readying to leave. He went over.
“George, we will meet here tomorrow? We have a lot to go over before we leave for London. And, I have to say, I am most anxious to move forward as quickly as possible.”
“Yes, most certainly. I have been able to speak to a few of your guests, and I may have a few new leads for investors.”
“That is excellent. I have not been able to think about business this evening, as my Grandmamma has been forcing me to concentrate on eligible young heiresses.”
Thomas realized he was in Jenny’s presence and he regretted what he had just said, but he could not take it back. He glanced over to her and her head was bowed, and she looked devastated. Of course, she could not expect that he could consider her, but his words did seem to have wounded her, nevertheless. And to be honest… his heart was aching too. If only he could just throw caution to the wind and take the bride of his heart’s choice—but he could not.
“Gentlemen,” Helena spoke up, “enough about business. It is time for us to go. You can chat to your heart’s content tomorrow, but for this evening, I am fatigued and need to go home. Thank you, Thomas, for the most delightful evening.”
“Yes, thank you for inviting me,” Jenny said quietly, but not looking at Thomas. “It has been a great pleasure. I am only sorry I was unable to keep my commitment to you for the baking. I only hope you can forgive me.”
Thomas’s heart was rending. He looked at the great sorrow in her sweet face and wanted to pull her to him and hug her, but he could not.
“Miss Jenny, there is absolutely no need for forgiveness. And it was a delight having you here. And I thoroughly enjoyed dancing with you this evening. I shall never forget our time together,” he said, looking at her with the greatest sympathy and longing.
At that, Jenny gave a faint smile.
But he felt devastated. He backed away and ended by addressing George. “Until tomorrow, then. But not before ten o’clock. And then we get down to work.”
* * *
“I did not belong. I should never have come,” Jenny said very quietly with tears in her eyes, as the carriage headed back toward George’s house. George had nodded off and his head rested on the side of the carriage. But Helena had heard and put her hand on Jenny’s.
“I am so sorry you did not have a good time, my dear,” she said. “I am afraid I did not think it through. Of course, you felt out of place. But, you did look beautiful—a match for any of the fine ladies vying for the Duke’s attention.”
“And tomorrow I shall rise early, once again, and bake my pies, my cakes, and my tarts. And all will be as it should be. I have learned my place, and I shall accept it.”
Chapter 25
Phineas Hargrove welcomed Thomas and George into his office at the London bank.
“Your Grace, Mr. Edgerton, please make yourselves comfortable. And what can I do for you today?”
“Thank you for seeing us,” Thomas opened.
“Is this about your investment portfolio? Did you ever get that matter settled?”
“Not about that. However, I am working to rebuild the damage that was done. But it will take time.”
