Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

" A man?" Jenny rushed to the drawing room door and peeked through the crack. "Who is he?" Her mind was spinning with the turn of events.

"Simmons says his name is Harry Featherstone, the Duke of Dovegrove."

Jenny scrunched up her nose. "Never heard of him."

"I have. Nothing scandalous. He seems like the perfect gentleman, which, based on your most recent conquest, may sound dull to you. But give him a chance."

Jenny ignored Frannie's insinuation about her feelings for David. After all, her sister-in-law was right. David was nothing but a confusing headache. Maybe she should give this new man a chance.

"What do you suppose he wants?" she asked.

Frances scowled and tapped her on the shoulder. "What do you think he wants? To court you!"

Jenny straightened up. "What do you mean, to court me? I've never met the man, why would he just show up out of the blue? Maybe he wants something else?"

Frances snickered. "Sure. He wants advice on his latest needlepoint."

Jenny was not amused. This morning had been a whirlwind of emotions, and she was not in the mood to entertain anyone. She just wanted her bed to wallow in self-pity.

Frances nudged her. "Come on. You say there is nothing going on between you and the Duke of Marlow—by the way, you ended your conversation with him. I can attest to that. Why not give this man a chance?"

Jenny rested her head against the grain of the door. When did life get so complicated? When she said she wanted to experience life, this was not what she had envisioned.

"I guess there is no harm in finding out what he wants." She sounded resolute, but she felt a small piece of her heart shatter.

She placed her hand on the doorknob, and with a silent prayer for strength, she opened it.

The Duke of Dovegrove stood up from where he was sitting in front of the fireplace.

Frances entered first, gesturing to Jenny behind her. "Duke, may I introduce my sister-in-law, Miss Jane Bennett. Jenny, this is Harry Featherstone, the Duke of Dovegrove."

The Duke took Jenny's proffered hand and placed a chaste kiss on the back of it. Her mind conjured up images of David kissing her neck, and she withdrew her hand, cradling it to her chest with her other.

"I'm sorry, Miss Bennett. I didn't mean to startle you," the Duke muttered as he stepped back.

Jenny could feel the blush rise to her cheeks. She brought a hand up to her neck where she could still feel David's kisses. "No, please, it was me. I don't know what came over me."

"Oh." The Duke furrowed his brow in concern. "Come, sit down. The Duchess said that you were both out for a walk. Maybe you are just tired." He guided her to a chair next to where he was sitting.

"That must be it." Jenny threw a cautious glance at Frances, who was staring at her as if she completely lost her mind. She shrugged and sat in the chair.

"Jenny, I will send in some tea. Your maid Martha is here and will sit with you both. Duke, it is an honor to have you in our home. Please excuse my absence while I go attend to my child."

The Duke of Dovegrove stood back up. "That's right, I remember hearing that you and Pilton welcomed your first son. Congratulations to you both. Children are God's greatest blessing."

Frances dipped her head in agreement. "Yes, he would be a greater blessing if he would sleep through the night."

While they conversed, Jenny took the opportunity to gather her thoughts.

How was it just five minutes ago when she was joking with David, then having her heart ripped out, and now she was sitting in the parlor with a potential suitor?

She rubbed her temples. How did this become her life?

Frances saw herself out when Martha settled into the chair by the window.

The Duke sat back down and turned towards Jenny. "You'll have to forgive me for coming without prior notice. The truth is that I've been wanting to call on you for some time now."

"Have you?" Jenny tilted her head in his direction.

The Duke was a nice-looking man. He was not tall like David, but he had an agreeable height. His kind blue eyes sparkled when he smiled at her like he was doing now.

His smile took on a mischievous edge, as if he was caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "Oh yes. I saw you at Lady Staunton's ball last month, and then again at the garden party. Unfortunately, each time I tried to approach you, you were either indisposed or with the Duke of Marlow."

Jenny sat up at the mention of David's name.

The Duke of Dovegrove sat forward on his chair. "I must ask, Miss Bennett. Is there anything between you and the Duke of Marlow? I would not want to interfere in any arrangement."

Jenny's stomach churned at the word ‘arrangement.'

She shook her head most vehemently. "No, there is nothing between the Duke of Marlow and myself other than a friendly rapport."

She forced herself to smile and feel something at his obvious relief at her admission. But the numbness that settled over her when she was outside persisted.

"Friendly rapport?" The Duke of Dovegrove laughed. "I don't know many who would use those particular words when describing the Duke of Marlow."

Jenny's throat went dry. She took a sip of tea to help ease the tension building in her body. "You know the Duke of Marlow well?" Her voice was strained.

Every mention of David made more pieces of her heart shatter.

Dovegrove lifted his chin and sniffed. "I wouldn't say well. But stories of his dalliances do get around."

He made no apologies for the disdain he obviously felt towards David.

Jenny smoothed out her dress. "Well, we mustn't listen to every word that flies around the ton. Gossip cannot be trusted now, can it?"

"Men like Marlow can't be trusted," Dovegrove snipped.

Jenny was getting really tired of people speaking freely of David's character, especially when they had it all wrong.

"I admit he is a bit abrasive, but he is honest and isn't afraid to mince his words with anyone. If anything, there should be more people like him."

Dovegrove tugged at his lapels. "If I didn't know any better, I would think there was something going on between the two of you."

Jenny chewed on her inner cheek as the familiar sadness settled in her bones. "No, Your Grace. There is nothing between us. This is simply me standing up for a man who was nothing but respectful and kind to me."

Her words cut up the remaining pieces of her heart. David was kind to her in his own way—a way that tore her up inside.

Dovegrove was unimpressed. "You should consider yourself lucky, Miss Bennett. Many others were not shown such respect."

His ominous words sent a shiver down her spine.

What could David have possibly done to warrant such strong reactions from people?

Jenny dipped her head. "I assure you, Your Grace, I am as free as the robins that fly outside."

"I'm glad to hear it, Miss Bennett."

Simmons opened the door and ushered in Mary, one of the kitchen maids, who pushed in a tea cart.

"Thank you, Mary. Would you like some tea, Your Grace?" Jenny asked, thankful for the interruption.

The Duke of Dovegrove smiled and accepted the teacup and saucer from Mary. "Thank you."

Both sat in silence while they sipped their tea. It was unbearable .

"How are you enjoying your Season? I saw you had danced with Lord Banefield." He raised an eyebrow and looked her over. "You walked in here just fine, so you must have fared better than other ladies of the ton."

Jenny was not in the mood for banter, and after the way their conversation started, she definitely didn't want to talk about other suitors.

She forced a smile. If she was going to forget David, she would have to actively try to move on from him. She figured now was as good a time as any to use his tips.

She tried dropping her shoulders to give off a more casual appearance. She lightly chuckled at Dovegrove's mention of Lord Banefield while she let her finger trace the rim of her teacup. She watched as his eyes tracked the movement.

"Yes, I was very lucky where Lord Banefield is concerned." She kept her voice light and airy like David taught her. Her heart lurched at the thought of him.

Pushing her pain aside, she watched Dovegrove's cravat bob as he swallowed.

She tilted her head. "Tell me, Your Grace, do you enjoy… dancing."

She felt like a complete dolt spacing out her words. But believe it or not, the Duke was watching her lips form every word she spoke.

They really are simple fools.

Dovegrove put his cup down on the table next to him and rubbed the palms of his hands on his trousers—a sign that he was nervous. "If the occasion calls for it, I have been known to be an adequate dance partner."

Oh, adequate? How exciting.

Jenny had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from rolling her eyes. Maybe Frannie was onto something. Maybe she did enjoy the more scandalous side of life.

"Well then, I hope one day I will get the chance to have an adequate dance partner." She smiled and lowered her eyes.

After hearing the words leave her mouth, she crossed her fingers, hoping the gesture came across as inviting and not sarcastic.

Dovegrove's low chuckle had her looking back up.

"It would be my honor to dance with you, Miss Bennett. I will make sure that mine is the first name on your dance card at the next ball. Well before Lord Banefield's," he added with a wink.

Jenny smiled, knowing it didn't reach her eyes. However, Dovegrove didn't seem to notice.

David would have .

Jenny shook the intrusive thought away. She cleared her throat. "I would like that, Your Grace."

At that, the Duke stood up. "I fear I must get going, Miss Bennett. I have some business to attend to."

Jenny set her teacup down on the table to walk him to the door of the drawing room.

He took her hand and kissed the back of it once more. "Thank you for seeing me today. I look forward to calling on you again."

She could only offer a slight nod of acknowledgment before he turned and walked out of the house.

Jenny leaned against the doorframe, closing her eyes. Tears stung the back of her eyes, but she was determined to hold them back.

"He seems like a good man, Miss," Martha offered, her voice soft.

Jenny sighed. "He does."

She made her way to her room. After closing the door behind her, she expected the tears to fall, but none came.

She sat on her bed, looking out over the garden. Her mind replayed her times with David. The darkness of the library, the glow of the ballroom. She could still feel his touch lingering on her neck and the way his whisper sent shivers down her spine.

She only met the Duke of Dovegrove this one time, but she couldn't see him eliciting such reactions from her. The first time she met David in that darkened library, something changed within her, and she knew on some level that something was happening between them.

She looked down at her fingers, tracing the spot Dovegrove kissed. There was no visceral reaction to the kiss, nothing branded into her skin to remind her of his actions. Yet, all David had to do was look into her eyes and she would be completely and utterly lost to him.

She lay back on her bed and let out a small laugh. All she ever wanted was to find a good match and live a happy little life with a man who loved her. That future could be within her grasp, only it would most likely be with a man like Dovegrove. Not David.

Was that something she could live with?

She rubbed her eyes. It had to be. Right then and there, she became determined to finally put David behind her. She was moving on. She will find her match, and she will be happy.

So why did she feel as if she just signed away her life by agreeing to give the Duke of Dovegrove a chance?