“They were indeed lies.” He paused. “Are you angry with Lucy?”
“Lucy cannot help herself. Any more than you can.”
His head snapped to the side to face her. “What is that supposed to mean?”
Jane pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. Perhaps she shouldn’t have said that. She desperately needed to change the subject. She blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “Lucy tells me you intend to marry Isabella Langford.”
“Jane, I—”
“I think it’s for the best. I wish you both well.”
She took a shaky breath. She didn’t love him. He didn’t love her. So why did the thought of Garrett with Isabella make Jane sick to her stomach?
Thankfully, Daphne and Berkeley returned then. “Captain Cavendish sends his greetings, Jane,” Daphne said.
“I should have come with you,” Jane replied. Then I wouldn’t have had to sit here and have this excruciating conversation with Garrett.
“Ladies, what do you have planned for the remainder of the week?” Lord Berkeley asked.
“I intend to go shopping on Bond Street tomorrow,” Daphne announced. “But I cannot seem to convince Miss Lowndes to come with me.”
Jane laughed. “You cannot convince me because I’d rather have my eyes gouged out with hot pokers than go shopping. Unless a bookstore is involved, of course.”
“Is that so?” Lord Berkeley whistled. “A lady who doesn’t enjoy shopping. You are a rare find indeed, Miss Lowndes.”
Jane tilted her head and grinned at him. “My lord? You’ve never met a bluestocking spinster before?”
Berkeley laughed aloud at that. Then he asked, “What do you intend to do with yourself tomorrow then, Miss Lowndes?”
“I’ve been looking for an old book. I’m going to the library to search for it. I don’t have much hope of finding it, of course, but I do intend to try.”
“What book is it, Miss Lowndes?” Lord Berkeley asked.
“It’s called The Art of Penmanship,” Jane replied. Surely Lord Berkeley was only being polite by asking.
“I have it.” Upton’s reply sounded curt.
A silence ensued.
“Pardon?” Jane finally offered.
“I have that book at my town house,” Upton said.
Jane turned to face him. “You have The Art of Penmanship?”
“Yes.”
“Mr. Upton, I could not be more astonished,” Jane said.
He met her eyes. “If you come to my house tomorrow, you’re welcome to borrow it.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Jane stood outside the imposing door to Upton’s town house for five entire minutes. Eloise was waiting in the coach. Jane was unable to either step forward and rap upon the door or flee back to the vehicle. Instead, she stood, hands folded, reticule dangling from her wrist, as she contemplated the possibilities. She could knock on the door and be ushered into the town house where she would simply tell Upton she’d come to borrow his book. Or, she could turn away, go back home, and pretend she’d never made this journey. Then Upton wouldn’t think she gave a fig about him or his book collection. That would show him.
However, she wanted that book.
Her arrival had absolutely nothing to do with seeing Garrett. Nothing at all. She was here in search of a book.
Yes, this was strictly professional.
She squared her shoulders and took one small step closer to the door. She rapped upon it three times and stood back, staring at it expectantly.
The door swung open moments later and a distinguished-looking butler and two well-behaved dogs stood at attention in the entryway. Upton had dogs?
“Yes?” the butler said, giving Jane a not unfriendly once-over.
She cleared her throat. “I’m Miss Jane Lowndes, here to see Mr. Upton. I am borrowing a book.” The last part was completely unnecessary, but seeing as how she was an unmarried female, she felt it wise to explain she wasn’t here for some sort of mid-afternoon assignation. God only knew what sort of women arrived on Upton’s doorstep at all hours of the day and night.
“Come in.” The butler stood aside, allowing Jane to move past him into the house. The dogs politely moved to the side as well. She studied them. They were some type of spaniel. One was red and white and the other, black and white. They looked quite handsome. Upton had never given her any indication that he owned dogs.
She’d never been here before, actually. She used to visit Lucy at her Aunt Mary’s town house, which wasn’t far. Upton had had this particular house before his father died, and while he was often at his mother’s house, this was his main residence in London.
The butler shut the door behind her.