The Last Duchess (The Lennox Series)(109)
He sang loudly during services and she was astonished. He’d not sung at all when they attended previously, but now, he sang as though he thought to call Abraham down from Heaven. That his rich baritone was truly lovely only served to increase her anger. She didn’t want to admire anything about him. He was a cad, a bounder, a terrible betrayer. A selfish autocrat.
As the day progressed and they traveled back to London, he didn’t change his demeanor. She and Lucy rode in Lucy’s traveling coach while Blix and Sherbourne rode alongside, her husband astride Pendragon and her father riding the brown bay gelding, Morpheous, with William perched just in front of him. His own and Blixford’s traveling coaches came behind, carrying her and Lucy’s maids, Blix and Sherbourne’s valets, and William’s nurse, along with their trunks and bags. And young Harry, who’d decided to go up to London and begin his instruction in carpentry, under the tutelage of one of the best known cabinetmakers in all England. Blixford was to pay his way.
How could he be so kind and generous, so warm and wonderful, yet be a bounder? It was grossly unfair, that’s what it was.
The Osgoods remembered them well, and hovered about them as they dined right in front, in the public room because Blixford insisted it was such a lovely place, and he liked rubbing shoulders with the common man. Sure enough, he struck up a sheep conversation with a man seated at their long table, and before long, at least six men had gravitated into the lively discussion. Sherbourne was in the thick of it, as well, and by the time they were done with luncheon, he’d exacted a promise from one of the men to travel to Hornsby Grange and demonstrate his sheep shear invention. Blixford insisted he be allowed to observe and said he’d back the man if his claims proved true. Sherbourne declared they would be partners. Then Blix did something most unusual. He turned and indicated her, his wife. “You’d best be diligent in your demonstration, sir, for the duchess is difficult to impress. Quite the expert when it comes to sheep.”
The man grinned at her and bobbed his head. “Reckon you’ll be impressed enough, Yer Grace. Ain’t nobody wot can shear ‘em sheep quick as ol’ Bob, and that’s a fact.”
He was clearly very proud. She smiled and said easily, “I’ll look forward to it, sir. Your invention sounds most intriguing.”
He beamed his pleasure and she’d swear he blushed.
Then they were on their way again. While William napped in the seat opposite them, she and Lucy discussed the wedding, although it was to be a very small affair, as hers had been. They gossiped a bit and Jane caught up on the comings and goings of old friends in London for the Season. She asked about Lucy and Sherbourne’s wedding trip and was not terribly surprised when Lucy said they would wait until summer to take one. She didn’t want to leave William just yet, not until he was more comfortable in his new surroundings.
They talked of many things, but they didn’t talk about Blixford, or the disaster that was their marriage. Jane thought Lucy wanted to talk about it, but wouldn’t be so rude to inquire. She waited for a cue, which Jane was careful not to give. What was done was done, and continuing to talk of it or wish it were different was pointless. Besides, why depress the dear woman on the eve of her own wedding?
They arrived in London late in the afternoon and Sherbourne went off immediately to obtain a special license before it was too late in the day. Lucy declared herself exhausted and cried off of dinner, asking if they’d mind terribly if she dined in her room and made an early night of it?
Of course they did not, and within minutes of arriving at the house in Cavendish Square, she and Blixford were alone.
He was still smiling. He had done so all day. She had the low desire to slap him and demand he stop being so bloody cheerful. Their marriage, for all intents and purposes, was over. How dare he go about smiling as though all was right with his world?
She was introduced to the household staff, a veritable army, all under the direction of a very proper butler called Peatrie. Finally, she was able to go to her bedchamber and freshen up, wash her face, answer nature’s call, and change into a clean gown. Afterward, she met with the housekeeper, Mrs. Humphries, and discussed what they would serve for Lucy’s wedding breakfast. She asked that smoked trout be the highlighted offering.
Dinner was long and boring, with her at one end of the table and Blixford at the other, a mile away, it seemed. All the better, she thought. She’d scarcely risen and left him to his port before he was in the drawing room with her, cozying up beside her upon the sofa to read a sheaf of papers he said was a manuscript Mr. Pipkin wanted him to peruse. She attempted to read an already published book, but he constantly interrupted, laughing and reading passages from the manuscript. She finally gave up on her own story and set it aside to listen as he continued to read aloud.