Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Jackie had thought the men’s argument to be quite strange, but then she had hardly ever been around gentlemen. It was not as though she had a good grasp on their behavior.

Even if she had wanted to think on it, it was not as though she had the time. There were preparations to make, pressing matters to tend to, and in spite of her pessimism around the matter of the duke that she once had, she was enjoying playing the part of duchess-in-training.

“It is remarkable how far the two of you have come,” the dowager smiled as Jackie poured tea. “I, of course, knew that it would happen, but it is nice to see it all the same.”

“I never would have seen it coming,” she confessed. “But I am glad that you were able to see something that I could not.”

“And I am glad that my sister shall marry before me,” Elizabeth chimed in, her smile wide. “As I would have felt terrible being the youngest and the first married. I believe it is more prudent that we take turns.”

“The duke has not proposed as yet,” Jackie reminded her. “So there is no way of knowing who shall marry first.”

“He will do so eventually, though. I am certain of it.”

“So, should the duke propose, would you be happy for the two of us to enjoy a very long engagement? Would three years be enough? Five?”

She giggled at how the color drained from her sister’s face.

“Well, a few months would be enough, do you not think?”

“I do not know. It has been such a quick few months, and I would appreciate taking some time before becoming a duchess.”

“In that case,” the dowager joined in, a glint in her eye. “Why not have both weddings at once? That way, you can both be married at the same time, or we could officiate Jackie’s first so that you are in order.”

Elizabeth seemed to hate that idea even more.

“Certainly not,” she huffed, her cheeks turning pink, “I have not waited all this time- I mean, my sister has not waited all this time to marry only to have to share her wedding!”

“I am not opposed to it,” Jackie teased.

“Well, I am.”

Fortunately, Elizabeth seemed to realize that it was all in jest, and she smiled at the two of them.

“As for this ball,” she continued, “will it be the last one we attend?”

“Perhaps, though when you have marriedLord Greene I do not see why you cannot host a ball of your own.”

“That will take some time. I must wait for him to receive his title, first. Not that I am wishing any morbidity on his father, even after his attitude toward us.

“I have a feeling that such attitudes shall change soon enough,” the dowager smiled.

Jackie hoped that it would be the case. She was no longer considering marrying the duke simply to please her sister, but she had to admit that it was important, nevertheless. Everything that she had ever done was for Elizabeth, and she hoped and prayed that at last, when it was all over with, Lord Greene’s parents would accept her.

“The sister of a duchess,” Elizabeth sighed gently. “I cannot believe it!”

The ladies then received a visitor, the butler allowing her to enter with an almost apologetic look on his face. It was, of course, none other than Lady Ophelia, basket in tow, smiling as if she had been invited to begin with.

“Do excuse my intrusion,” she greeted. “I have been in want of female companionship of late. Being an only child has always been rather lonely, and now that I am aware of other young ladies in my vicinity, well, it would be a shame not to take advantage of it!”

Jackie looked to Elizabeth, who seemed to simply shrug and look to the Dowager Duchess for a response. Jackie wondered if she wanted to say no, but was being a good hostess, or perhaps she pitied the girl. It was quite evident that her family was facing some struggle or other, and even though Jackie could not stand her, she had to admit that she felt for her. After all, she knew what it was like to be in such a position.

Perhaps that was why she allowed herself to be led out into the garden.

It was a warm day, and Jackie blamed that for the strange feeling inside of her. Then again, she had always loved the warmer days where she could sit in the sun and forget all of life’s trials and tribulations. She was not a fool; she knew that it was Lady Ophelia’s presence that was causing her troubles, but she did not know what else to do but play the part of the welcoming hostess.

She shook herself briefly. It was not her house, not yet at least.

They all sat on a blanket that the Dowager Duchess had told a maid to fetch, and Ophelia began serving them all, though Jackie picked gingerly at hers. There was an unease within her that made the thought of eating all too unpleasant.

Her sister, however, finished everything in minutes and accepted more with a smile. In truth, it did look good; jams, confectionery, breads and cheeses all arranged neatly, but that only made Jackie feel worse. Ophelia was good at such womanly duties, better than Jackie, and that was a simple fact.

“I used to love making picnics for the duke,” she sighed. “Even as children, we had them often. As a girl, I always looked up to him and wanted to please him, and this was the best way that I knew how.”

Jackie thought back to the picnic that the duke had prepared for her all that time ago and felt a chill. Had he simply been trying to recreate what he once had?

“You certainly have a talent for it,” the dowager smiled. “As does my son, who prepared a wonderful one for himself and Lady Jacqueline from what I have heard.”

“Truly, it was marvelous,” Jackie nodded, grateful for the change in focus. “He always knows exactly how to give me those little surprises.”

“He knows a lot,” Ophelia quipped, a smirk on her face. “He knows me better than anyone else in the world, and thanks to our fathers we shall always be tied to one another in a way. I, for one, am glad that of all men to be linked to for the rest of my life, it is one that is so wonderfully dedicated to those he cares about.”

“And he most certainly cares about my sister,” Elizabeth snapped. “I find that they complement each other very well.”

The dowager nodded in agreement, and Jackie could see the look of displeasure on Ophelia’s face, but she paid it no mind. She knew what her point was; that she was not going anywhere and would not be so easy to be rid of, but the duke had promised her that Ophelia was in the past. She had to trust him, and he had made it quite easy for her to do so.

“Oh!” Ophelia gasped suddenly. “There he is now!”

The ladies turned to see the duke and Lord Montague approaching them. Jackie had wondered why Lord Montague had been there so often of late, but she hadn’t thought much of it. After all, he was Philip’s friend and therefore had as much right to be there as she did. Before they could come too close, Ophelia was putting a plate of food together.

“I know precisely how he likes it, too,” she grinned, laying pieces of cheese, cold meat, and preserves together.

Jackie tried to ignore the sinking feeling in her chest. Whether she liked it or not, Ophelia was right. They had spent their lives together, knowing each other on a deeper level than Jackie ever could. It was no use trying to compete.

Then again, Philip had told her that there was nothing to worry about. She repeated his words over and over in her mind, hoping that it would ease her frustrations.

“I can take it to him,” Jackie offered. “As it would be good for you to sit a while. You have done more than enough for us.”

“Nonsense! I am nothing if not a good hostess, and it is important for me to use such skills, as my future shall require it.”

“Will you be fixing a plate for Lord Montague too, in that case?”

“Of course not! If you wish to help, perhaps you could do so yourself?”

Jackie shared a look with Elizabeth, and Ophelia jumped up with the plate and went running off.

“Does she truly think that the duke will take her back?” Elizabeth asked.

“I do not know,” Jackie sighed. “But I have the most terrible fear that it will work.”

“Nonsense. We have all seen how the duke looks at you. There is no comparison. If I were you, I would pay her no mind at all.”

“Then why do you?”

“Because I find her delusions most entertaining. Beyond that, I also get to eat cheese, and you and I both know how much I love cheese.”

“An excellent point,” Jackie laughed. “I suppose you are right. There is nothing for me to worry about.”

Just as she said that, however, there was a scream and the clattering of the plate. They turned to look at what had caused such a commotion only to see Ophelia fall into his arms.

“What terrible luck,” Elizabeth smirked, nudging Jackie. “Truly, such unfortunate circumstances that would lead to her falling perfectly into the duke’s arms like that.”

“Do you suppose that it was deliberate?” Jackie whispered.

“Does the sky tend to be cloudier in October than in June?” Elizabeth replied, rolling her eyes. “Of course it was.”

Suddenly, Jackie hushed her. They were close enough to them that they could hear their conversation and Jackie wished to know what was being said.

“What happened?” Philip asked.

“I was overly excited I suppose,” Ophelia replied gently. “You see, I prepared a picnic for us all, and you know how much I used to enjoy the ones we shared.”

“Ah, I see. Did you bring this for myself, or for Lord Montague?”

“For you,” she blushed. “I would have made one for Lord Montague too, but Lady Jacqueline said she would prepare one for him herself.”

She was a liar, and in that moment, Jackie decided that she couldn’t stand her.

“Very well,” Philip nodded, placing her down. “Now let’s get you back to—”

There was a scream—a wail even—as he set her onto her feet. Philip seemed to instinctively pick her up once more.

“I… I cannot walk,” she stammered. “I must have hurt my ankle when I fell.”

“I can help you over there.”

“Perhaps,” Lord Montague suggested. “It would be better if you take her inside and send for the physician?”

Jackie waited for Philip to hand Ophelia off to his friend while he sent for the physician. He remained still for a moment, and she wished that she knew what he was thinking. Surely, he remembered his promise to her? He had to remember that Ophelia was his past, and Jackie was his future. She waited for him to hand her over, and waited.

But he did not.

Instead, he turned toward the house, and carried her inside. She was in his arms as if she were his bride, and she watched as Ophelia buried her face in his chest, thanking him for what he had done.

Jackie felt her heart shatter.

It was the gentlemanly thing to do, she told herself, but there had been two gentlemen present. There were options besides him taking her away and making it so they would be alone together. She hated it, all of it.

“Are you all right?” Lord Montague asked. “You seem unwell.”

But she didn’t listen to him. That last thing that she wanted was to hear empty kindness from the man who had suggested that Philip take Ophelia away in the first place. She remained unmoved, focused only on the duke.

If only, she thought, The duke could have returned the favor.