He placed a copper coin in her hand, took out another, and laid it on one of the topstones. For a moment, he closed his eyes, his lips moving silently. “Go on,” he said. “Your turn.”
“But I’ve no idea what to wish for,” Jenny said. “There are so many things I want. How were you able to make yours so quickly?”
A smile lifted his lips. “I’ve considered my request for several days now, so I already knew what I wanted. Take however long you need.”
Jenny nodded and considered all she wanted in life. The ability to be seen as a woman rather than a schoolgirl had already come to pass. She could wish all her friends to remain happy and healthy. Or there was the romance she hoped would grow between her and Lord Dowding.
No, one did not waste wishes on what she was certain would come to pass. And although the idea of them becoming closer pleased her, another matter tickled the back of her mind. One that, in her estimation, was far more important.
The earl was hiding something troublesome, and whatever it was, her wish was that he would overcome it. If she found some way to help him succeed, more the better. That in itself could draw them closer.
Taking the coin between her fingers, she placed it next to his. “I’ve made my wish,” she said.
“I’m glad.” He paused. “Before we return to the carriage, I would like to share something with you. Your willingness to act as my fiancée is appreciated. And I must admit, the fact I’ve found it easy to trust you is odd to me.” He laughed and shook his head. “No, that did not come out as I planned. It’s not that you’re not deserving of trust…”
Jenny smiled. “My lord, I know precisely what you meant. There have been times—many, if I’m honest—when I doubted my confidence in you. After all, you admitted to seeking me out to use me.”
He frowned. “Then, why have faith in me at all?”
A warmth filled her insides and spread through her extremities. “Because you admitted the truth. Because I feel as if we’ve known each other for years rather than for the short time we have. And…” she grinned at him, “because you’re my friend.”
He placed his hands on her arms and caressed them. “Miss Clifton… may I call you Miss Jenny?”
She was speechless. His desire to be so familiar felt right. Felt true.
But he wanted to use you,she reminded herself.
And anyone willing to admit to his wrongdoing is worthy of another chance,she argued back.
His voice softened. “I worried that you were too naive, but perhaps we both are.”
Without a second thought, she fell against his chest. The sound of his heartbeat warmed her far better than any coat could have. When he wrapped his arms around her, she relished in the protection she felt.
“What makes you say that you’re naïve?” she asked.
It was quiet for a moment before he replied, “Perhaps not as much now, but far more in the past. I cannot help but worry I’ll repeat the same mistakes I made back then.”
She was tempted to ask him to elaborate but decided against it. He would reveal his past to her when he was ready. It was not for her to insist that he share with her. Instead, she considered what she could do to help him.
“My lord,” she said, looking up into his brown eyes. “If both of us possess a certain naivety, I say we carry that burden together. I can only speak for myself, of course, but bearing an innocence to the ways of the world carries its own weight of sorts. If we divvy up that incumbency, if we share what we’ve learned from the mistakes we have made, I believe we can face the world better prepared.”
His smile warmed her heart. “You are quite wise, Miss Jenny,” he said. “Perhaps I should listen to you more often.” He tightened his hold on her for a moment and sighed. Then, as with all wonderful things, the embrace came to an end.
“We should return to the carriage before Tibbons and Miss Dunston start whispering about us.”
Jenny laughed as she placed a hand on his proffered arm, and they began the trek back to the vehicle. “Thank you for this outing,” she said. “I enjoyed it more than you can know.”
“You’re the first woman I’ve brought here,” he said, smiling down at her. “Or anyone, for that matter.”
Never had Jenny felt so special!
Later, as she lay in bed, Jenny considered his words once more. Taking her to the well had been a beautiful gesture, not only of trust but also a glimmer of the possibility of romance. She was sure they had a future together, but what it entailed exactly remained to be seen. But whether it was a simple friendship or something more, she would accept whatever he had to offer.
That did not mean she would not leap for joy if it was the “something more”!
Chapter Eighteen
The night of the masquerade party had finally arrived, and with the help of their other Sisters, Jenny and Louisa had spent the last three hours preparing. The room smelled of burning hair mixed with a variety of perfumes—Louisa could not decide which to use and had sprayed every one of them at least twice!—and every dress Louisa owned had been tossed across both beds during her frantic search for the right one.