He stood, pushing his chair back with his legs. “I can be.”
She rose and strode for the door. “Excellent! I’ll retrieve my pelisse and meet you in the foyer in a quarter of an hour.”
Mr. Quillsby stood and bowed. “Very well, my lady.”
She smiled as she strode up the stairs, confidence and productivity were a potent pairing.
“Lady Jane?”
Jane whipped around at the deep voice. “Mr. Dour. Good morning.”
He leaned against the wall, his legs crossed at the ankle, one foot tapping. He was a good-looking enough fellow, a decade or so older than her with gray at the temples of his dull brown, but nicely thick, hair. Nice symmetrical features. The lanky body of a thinker not a doer. She could be attracted to him if she tried.
He nodded at her. “I am glad to have run into you. We have not spent much time together, and I hoped we might remedy that.”
“A wonderful idea, Mr. Dour.” Now she would not have to seek him out. Should she mention her outing with Mr. Quillsby this morning? No. If they wished to keep up the façade of sincere courtship, let them.
“Do you enjoy music? I am particularly fascinated by the mathematical aspects of it.”
She should tell the truth. Or a version of it, anyway. “I enjoy a melody created by a competent musician.” And she was not one.
“Very good. Will you join me in the music room at—”
“This afternoon. I have unavoidable obligations until then.”
He nodded and pushed off the wall. “I look forward to it, Lady Jane.” He bowed and left her alone in the hall.
Should she seek out Mr. Newburton to make her day complete? It would be the most expedient way to do things. Instead of having a decision in three days, she’d have it in one. Very well. Quillsby in the morning. Mr. Dour at noon. And Mr. Newburton before dinner. She’d know who to marry before she crept into bed that very night.
* * *
Jane had no idea which man she should marry. She strolled through the hedge maze beside Mr. Newburton as the sun rolled toward the horizon, and they strolled in complete silence. And though she knew exactly where she was in the maze, she felt completely and utterly lost.
Mr. Quillsby had been entirely nice. Perhaps the nicest man she’d ever met. He’d ambled at her side, commenting on the nice blue of the sky (it was white), the lovely music of the songbirds (Jane heard only the cawing of crows), and Jane’s own beauty.Hmph. She’d looked in the mirror that morning. Brown hair, brown eyes, plain features. No beauty. She did not mind. And she did not wish to be showered with false flattery. Though his compliments came from a nice sort of place, he had the nicest of faces if a bit forgettable. What color were his eyes again?
And Mr. Dour had certainly taught her much. A Cambridge mathematics professor, he was. What on earth had George been thinking, pairing her with such a genius fellow? But he spoke to her like she understood his every word, like he completely trusted her intellect. Naïve man. But lovely, anyway, to be thought intelligent for once.
And Mr. Newburton, well, she liked him best. She gave him a tour of the house, and he’d kept up with her. He’d had a joke or two up his sleeve, and despite his receding hairline, he had an impish grin she found rather charming. She could be comfortable with such a man. Yet, he went on at length about his soap business. A thriving financial interest… that bored her to tears.
A comfortable soapmaker, an intelligent don, or a nice barrister.
Jane smiled her goodbye to Mr. Newburton, assured him she’d had a lovely time, and threw herself into her bedroom. She slammed the door closed and laid her forehead against the cool wood, groaning, “Impossible decision to make.”
“Did it not go well?”
Jane turned with a yelp. “Lillian! Whatareyou doing inmybedroom?”
Lillian sat curled in a chair by the fire, a book dangling between her fingers. “I knew you were out with your suitors all day, so I determined to gain the first news upon your return.” She lifted her book. “I’ve been reading. Do you mind?”
Jane slumped against the door. “Not at all. It’s good to see a friendly face.”
“Were the suitors not friendly?”
“Perfectly so.”
“Then why do you look so ragged?” She grinned. “Did you happen to meet a fairy king?”
“A fairy king?”
