She looked up at him then. "I do not know," she said steadily.
They were closer to the bank than either of them had realized. They both became suddenly aware of the bright colors of ladies' dresses reflected in the water.
"This is really not at all fair," Honor called gaily. "You have had a longer ride than any of us, Jane. Is this the reward you claim for arranging such delicious food with Cook? And I thought you had done it out of the goodness of your heart."
"I am sorry," Jane called. "Aunt Cynthia must be anxious to start back."
"May I have the honor of calling on you tomorrow?" Viscount Fairfax asked quietly as he pulled for the shore.
"No," Jane replied. "Please, nothing so public, my lord."
He nodded. "May I have your answer the next time I see you, then?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied.
There was no further opportunity to exchange a word. Honor took Fairfax's arm as soon as he stepped out of the boat and began to walk with him in the direction of the carriages. And a few minutes later, the servants having removed the baskets and the blankets from the lawn and some of the men having put the boat away, they were on their way home.
So he had done it, Fairfax thought. He had made his offer to Miss Matthews. It was irrevocable now. There was no withdrawing. And was he sorry? He had certainly spoken impulsively. He had intended to wait awhile before making a final decision.
But he did not believe he regretted his words. Miss Matthews was a sensible choice of bride. There would not, of course, be that aura of romance and excitement that had surrounded his first marriage.But there was much more likelihood that this marriage would bring him contentment.She would be an interesting companion. His home would be well run in her hand. Susan had been content to let the servants run the house. Miss Matthews would be good with the children. By her own account, she would not try to quench their high spirits, yet her quiet, sensible approach to life would surely have a stabilizing effect on them.
And he did not find her unattractive. Her figure did not have those tantalizing curves that could set a man's loins to aching, but it had a slender grace that was not unpleasing. He felt a certain interested curiosity to find out how that body would feel against his own. Was she capable of showing passion?Of enjoying the marriage act?He wanted a wife this time who would share his bed all night and every night. Would she be willing? She loved children. They would have some together. He would like several more. Well spaced out, of course. He would always live in terror of killing her as he had killed Susan.
Fairfax shook the thought from him. He would persuade her to marry him with as little delay as possible. He was very eager to be back at Templeton Hall. He wanted her to meet Amy and Claire. He wanted to see how well they would all like one another. Perhaps she would want a grand wedding. He hoped not, though he would comply with her wishes. Those matters were important to women, it seemed.
He would not tell anyone yet. Not even Sedge. He did not wish to be teased about the matter until he was quite free to divulge their plans. No, he was not sorry that he had spoken this soon. He no longer derived any great pleasure from the entertainments of the Season. He found it all somewhat tedious. And he did not really crave a woman merely for the sake of physical gratification. LadyShenley, a quite delectable widow, had signaled her availability to him only the night before. He knew he could enjoy himself with her for the rest of the Season if he wished. He had felt only a passing interest. And he supposed the same thing had happened on a lesser scale with Miss Jamieson. The pursuit of a kiss seemed almost too trivial to be worth the effort.
No, he would marry again. And this time he would be contented because he was making a sensible choice. Miss Matthews would be a good wife. Jane. He liked the name. No nonsense about it, just like her character. He was fortunate to have found her. It was unlikely that he would have singled her out for an invitation to dance if she had not been talking to his uncle the night of that ball.
Why had she not given him her answer immediately? He glanced at her now, seated in the second barouche beside her aunt, listening with a smile to something MissVyewas saying. Even a sensible, mature woman had her pride, he supposed. She would not wish him to think she was desperate for a husband. So she was making him wait. Well, let her have her moment of triumph. She was worth waiting for.
Yes, she really was.
Chapter Six
Jane was sitting up in bed, clasping her knees. She had blown out the candles, but she had pulled back the heavy curtains from her window first. Moonlight slanted into the room, making it almost as light as day.
Finally she was alone. All the while during the journey home from Richmond she had thrown herself into conversation with the ladies with whom she shared a barouche. And during dinner and in the drawing room afterward she had concentrated her mind on the chatter of Honor and her aunt. She had not wanted to think until she was alone.
Honor had been vastly excited at the success of her picnic. Viscount Fairfax had been most attentive. Had anyone noticed how much time he had spent with her? He had taken her rowing and walking, and he had complimented her on her appearance. A ray of sunshine, he had called her. She was very pleased that she had insisted on wearing her yellow. He had commented on herccomplexiontoo. Had he not looked marvelously handsome himself? And was he not strong? When he had rowed the boat, one would have sworn that he had to make no effort at all. Jane must have noticed. Did Mama think she could expect an offer soon?
Jane had said nothing. She worked at her needlepoint.
"I think Mr.Sedgeworthis developing an attachment to you, Jane," Honor said archly. "I saw you walking with him while I was in the boat with Lord Fairfax. What did you talk about?"
"About a large number of topics," Jane replied."Books.Music.The Congress atVienna."
"Oh, really, Jane," her cousin said, "you should not do so. It is no wonder you are three-and-twenty and still unmarried. No gentleman likes to believe that a lady might be a bluestocking."
Jane looked up. "Then what is one supposed to talk about?" she asked.
"Oh, fashions, gossip, the weather," Honor replied. "Anything,Jane, thatsuggests that we are just featherbrains. Gentlemen like that. And you should admire them. Flatter them. They cannot resist, you know."
"I would think gentlemen would be bored to have nothing more stimulating for conversation," Jane said.
"Well, there you are wrong," her cousin assured her. "Mark how successful I am, Jane. You see how gentlemen hang around me wherever I go. I have not accomplished that by talking about books, I assure you." She giggled. "I told Lord Fairfax this afternoon that I spend all my time talking fashions with Theresa Bell and dressing hair. He was charmed."
"You did not tell him about your water paintings, Honor?" Jane asked.
