“I think not.” She stepped away from him and he dropped his arms. “Let’s leave now.”
“The coach awaits your pleasure.”
She moved toward the doors. “I’ve changed my mind about the coach. If you’ve no objection, I’d prefer to ride. We can make good time and lunch at the Red Lion on the Dover road.” Glancing at him over her shoulder, she was sober as a church. “I’ve heard they have lovely private rooms there.”
Forcing himself not to look the way he felt, Michael nodded as solemnly as she’d spoken. “Luncheon at the Red Lion would be an excellent beginning to our honeymoon. Will you be donning a habit, Jane?”
“Yes. I’ll meet you in the drawing room shortly.”
He watched her leave and ruthlessly squelched the ridiculous shout of gladness forming in his throat. He must remember his goal where she was concerned. Get her pregnant as quickly as possible and leave directly afterward. Spending additional time with his beautiful wife was unwise at best, potentially disastrous at worst.
Clearing his throat, he remained in the study and considered the spines of Sherbourne’s books until he was once again in control of his person, able to present himself to the occupants of the drawing room without embarrassment.
Chapter 7
Lucy was relieved when Sherbourne appeared in the drawing room and announced he and Blix had come to an understanding, that by Jove, he would undoubtedly make Jane a fine husband. The Lennox brothers appeared to relax, and anxious to ask questions, but clearly didn’t want to embarrass her.
The next quarter hour was spent discussing mundane topics over tea, which she had been requested to pour, being that no hostess was present. As she gazed about at Jane’s family, she wondered why none of them were married, for surely there were not more handsome men to be had in all England. She’d heard they each held a considerable fortune in their own right, a legacy of their mother’s father, a Scottish tradesman who made his money in woolens. It seemed curious that none of them had taken a wife, although she did recall the second eldest, Jack, was a widower.
Sherbourne himself was something of a puzzle. He was a devilishly handsome man and cut a fine figure, even in middle age. With his black hair beginning to silver at the temples and laugh lines about his mouth, he looked very much like a man who enjoyed life, but retained a certain aristocratic dignity. Perhaps he had loved his wife too much to contemplate marrying again. She could well understand that, if it was true. After Bonderant, she’d not been inclined to consider a second marriage. One was fortunate indeed to experience true love and happiness in marriage, and it was unlikely one could find such a fortunate union twice in one lifetime.
James, Viscount Hildebrand, asked politely, “How is your son faring, ma’am?”
“Very well, thank you. William has reached the grand age of five, and considers himself quite grown and capable. It proves difficult to convince him otherwise.”
Sherbourne laughed right out loud. “Deuced tricky to raise sons, Lady Bonderant. I should know, having done so with these six lummoxes you see before you.” He beamed at his lummoxes, clearly mad for each of them. “Connie, m’wife, that is, up and left me when James was but eleven, and Jane a mere infant. I suppose a feminine hand was what was needed, but strangely enough, every female I brought on the place took one look at these rapscallions and immediately decided to leave.”
Robert, the youngest of the brothers, chuckled. “Don’t let him bamboozle you, ma’am. Sherbourne simply didn’t want any interference in his favorite pastimes of hunting and horse breeding, which surely a wife would pose.”
Lucy watched Sherbourne smile, intrigued by the faraway look in his blue eyes, and his wistful expression. “Not ashamed to admit, m’lady, I never found a wife who could replace Constance, and so I did the best I could with all these brats, and in the process, have grown into the crusty bachelor you see before you.”
She couldn’t resist a grin. “Sherbourne, I’d not describe you as crusty, just yet.”
He took a sip of his tea while holding the delicate china saucer in one long fingered hand. “Perhaps I’ve a few years left in me.” He set the saucer and cup aside and rested his elbows against the arms of his chair, steepling his fingers before him as he gazed at her. “Reckon we’re family now, in some manner, so I hope you won’t think me forward in offering my assistance to you in the event you’re ever in need. I know something of raising sons, and if there is a question of how to go on, I’d be honored to provide advice or help.” He nodded toward his own sons. “For all that they appear unlikable, in light of the fact they cannot find a woman who will have them, they didn’t turn out so badly.”