Her friend chuckled from the end of the bed. “All right, I promise to stop asking such embarrassing questions.”
Avis stood and pulled on Jennette’s hand. “Now get out of this bed. I’ll ring for Molly to help you get dressed but you are going to walk down those stairs with me for dinner.”
Jennette rose slowly and then hugged her new sister-in-law. “Thank you, Avis.”
As Molly helped her dress, Avis waited patiently on the bed. Jennette turned toward her with a rose-colored gown in her hands. “What do you think about this one?”
“Perfect, now hurry. You have been up here all day and people will start to assemble for dinner in the salon in thirty minutes.”
Jennette scrambled into her dress then sat while Molly put her hair up into an artful chignon. She had decided on her plan of attack for the evening. Ignoring him definitely seemed the best option. No one would blame her for cutting him. All she had to do was survive dinner, then stay for a short time once the men had rejoined the women in the salon.
Once her hair was set, she stood and turned toward Avis. “All right, I am ready.”
“Good,” Avis replied walking to the door. “Now, should we run into Blackburn, you will give him a polite nod. If he attempts to draw you into conversation, you will allow it but only topics that are general in nature. If he should try to get you alone, find me. Unless you would like to be alone with him again.”
“Avis!”
Her friend smirked. “Well, I certainly wanted more than just one time with—”
“Avis, we had an agreement. You wouldn’t discuss the intimate relationship you have with my brother.”
“Very well.”
Avis’s plan seemed far too easy. But she had no idea how intoxicating Matthew’s voice sounded to Jennette. His raspy voice sent shivers of pleasure throughout her body. Somehow, she had to resist him. All of him, from his sensual gray eyes to his molded lips, to his hard, lean chest to his—
She could not contemplate any other parts of his body.
Matthew watched as Jennette entered the salon with Lady Selby. Their arms linked together as if to form an impenetrable force to resist all the gossipy remarks. Or to stand firm against him. That thought gave him pause. While he assumed she would still be resistant to marriage, he hoped a public compromising would change her mind.
What if it didn’t?
What if she still refused him?
He pushed aside the negative thoughts. Her brother would insist on marriage, if only to save her from more gossip. As he watched her again, she moved toward the sofa with exquisite grace. Her long fingers grasped a small glass of sherry and brought it up to her full lips. Ancroft approached them with a smile.
Matthew’s heart constricted as Jennette smiled back at the future duke. Matthew still had no idea what was between them. They obviously hadn’t been lovers even though they looked at each other with tenderness in their eyes. He hated the idea of jealousy, but no other emotion would make him feel this way.
The short missive burned a hole in his coat pocket. There had to be a way to get it to her without everyone in the room realizing. Perhaps he could get Somerton to deliver it for him.
Glancing around the room, he noticed Somerton missing. Damn. How was Somerton going to bring the dowager Lady Selby to the greenhouse if he wasn’t in attendance? Based on her bearing tonight, he didn’t think she would speak to him much less take a note from him.
“Don’t even think of approaching her after last night.”
Matthew turned at the sound of Selby’s voice coming from behind him. “Why would I speak to her?”
“I know all about your plan to have her help you find a bride. That ends now. You will stay away from her.”
Matthew turned and faced Selby’s glittering blue eyes. “I don’t think you have any say in what I do.”
Selby smirked. “When it involves my sister, I most certainly do. You have caused her enough pain.”
“And yet, you do nothing about Ancroft hanging on to her like a pup.”
“Because I know Ancroft is harmless.”
Matthew chuckled scornfully. “Harmless? The man has a bastard. With a vengeance, he’ll chase after any woman he wants. As he is a future duke, women fall shamelessly at his feet.”
“And still, I know Jennette is far safer with him than with you.”