He laughed.“Quite the contrary, Jack. I’m a pragmatist. I suffer no delusions about the true nature of humans. But if people can be happy, I don’t see why they shouldn’t. So often, it is we, ourselves, that ruin our chances in this life.”
She considered those words and realized how true they were. “My brother is certainly denying himself at present. And poor Olivia, she doesn’t seem to see how wonderful she is. Her mother will always be correcting her, improving her. For all my difficulties, I am actually quite fortunate.”
His lips curved in a slow smile. “I think most of us would have dearly loved to have grown up with your mother and father as their own, even with the mistakes that have been made.”
Tears stung her eyes. How she missed her father. How kind he had been. He had taken such care with all of them. And now they were adrift, trying to make their way in a world that was not benign.
“You know,” he began,“it is easy to take umbrage with Mrs. Fairweather. But she has clawed her way up from the streets of London and the back halls of theaters to give her daughter a safe life. Everyone is judging Mrs. Fairweather, recalling she was not born a lady. And though she perhaps tries too hard, it is clear to me that all she wishes is for her daughter to have a better life than she did.”
Jack had never thought of it like that, and now she rather regretted the unkind thoughts she’d had for Olivia’s mother. But she saw the way that such pressures wore on her friend. Of course, she couldn’t know the reality of a life outside society, surviving day by day.
“You seem to understand people very well,” she finally replied.
He shrugged as if it was nothing. “I’ve spent a great deal of time studying them so that I might be of help. There should be more help in this world for those who need it.”
She wondered at that.
She wondered if being in the company of his mother and father, who had clearly caused him so much pain, had taught him to be observant. Too observant, always prepared, even. Prepared for suffering, and perhaps that was also why he wished to prevent suffering.
If he could prevent enough suffering, perhaps he would not have to know the misery he had known as a child. She swallowed at that thought and lifted her gaze to his, and she realized that they had walked quite far down the path and were in between the lanterns. They stood between the golden glow of circles cast on the ground.
He gazed down at her, too, tilting his head to allow for the great differences in their height.
Her breath hitched in her throat as he lifted a hand and, oh so gently, pushed a curl back from her face.
He smiled down at her. “What is your favorite thing in all the world?”
You.
That single word popped into her head, and it was all she could do not to blurt it aloud. As she took in the strong planes of his face, searching for a suitable answer, she could think of no other.
Before she could reply, a voice cut through the night. “Lady Jacqueline, your mother is looking for you. Surely you should return with me and dance before the gossip can start?”
She gasped and jumped back from the duke.
There he was. She did not need to fear gossips. Drexel was the source of her concerns. If anyone misspoke, no doubt it would be because of him.
She shivered.
Had Drexel followed them all this way, lurking in the shadows? It stole away all the joy that she had felt. Everything about their experience and walk together was now touched by his toxic presence.
The Duke of Stone tensed, his head still bowed. “I can tell him to go to the devil,” he said.
“You cannot,” she countered, her heart sinking. “If you do, we will cause a scandal. And then… And then…” She could not bring herself to say that he would be forced to marry her, because such a thing was beyond thinking.
She would not force any man to marry her.
“Please, at least accompany me back with him,” she asked, forcing her voice to be even, though she was quaking with anger at Drexel’s ability to all but command her presence. “I don’t wish to be alone with him.”
Stone did not move. He did not need to. His voice was low, and fierce, and just for her.“I will always protect you, Jack. Always.”
Chapter Fourteen
James strode over the groomed path, fury igniting inside him that he could not ignore.
Drexel was but a few steps ahead of him, and he could feel the tension coming from Jack. Her entire body, so close to his own, was a coiled spring, sensing danger, preparing for it.
There was no way in hell he was going to stand by and allow Jack to be forced into that man’s arms. Even for a dance.