Loving Lord Ash (18 page)

Only if she and Kit suddenly turned invisible.

“Look who’s arrived, Mama,” Jack said. Of course it had to be Jack, though the duke was looking at them, too, his expression inscrutable.

Jess pressed against Kit. She wanted to hide behind him. Yes, it was a cowardly thought, but she wasn’t feeling especially brave at the moment.

“Who’s arrived? What do you mean?” The duchess looked up at Jack, who nodded in their direction.

“Behold,” Jack said. “The Duchess of Love’s family is all in the same place for once.”

The duchess frowned, clearly puzzled, and then her eyes widened. She made an odd sound—a yelp or a squeak—and came hurrying toward them.

“Oh, God,” Jess muttered, and forced her feet to stay where they were, no matter how strong her urge to jump behind Kit. She was
not
a coward.

And if she told herself that enough times, perhaps she would actually believe it.

Chapter Ten

But sometimes you will want to keep
his family at arm’s length.

—Venus’s Love Notes

Mama had her arms out as if she would hug Jess, but she caught herself at the last moment and merely took her hands.

“Oh, it is
so
good to see you again, my dear. You haven’t changed a bit.” She looked up at Ash. Good God, were there tears in her eyes? “I’m so happy you two have resolved your differences.”

Jess looked up at him, too, clearly wanting him to clarify matters.

“Er, well, as to that—”

But Mama rushed on like a flooding river. “And how kind of you to join us here. I assume Mr. Dalton told you we were in London when you got back to the castle? He is the best of butlers; he must have hinted we would love to have you come up to Town. Though of course he didn’t know everything that’s been happening—I haven’t had time to send him word.” Mama was still holding Jess’s hands; thankfully, Jess wasn’t struggling.

“Ah. Well, we didn’t actually . . . that is, we never went to the castle.”

Mama laughed and winked. “So you’ve spent all this time at the manor, getting reacquainted, have you? Well, of course you have. You’ve so much time to make up for.” She must have squeezed Jess’s hands, because Jess winced slightly. “Perhaps we will have another grandchild to welcome in the not-so-distant future, hmm?”

Oh, God, could Mama be more mortifying? Poor Jess. He should—

Wait a minute.

“Another?” He glanced at Ned and Ellie. Ellie was blushing, and Ned was trying not to look too proud of himself.

His brother had obviously been extremely efficient.

He looked back at Mama and Jess to find Jess frowning at him, inclining her head toward Mama and wiggling her brows significantly and with perhaps a touch of panic.

What was he to do? Tell his mother he had not, in fact, been sleeping with his wife? Oh, no, he was not going to broach that subject. Just the thought of discussing such a topic with his mother made his blood run cold—and his stomach churn.

“I will tell you, Ash, I was more than a little worried as the days went by and we didn’t hear from you,” Mama said. She looked back at Jess. “But isn’t that just like a man? They are such dreadful correspondents when they have something—or
someone
”—Mama winked again—“more immediate to occupy their thoughts.”

Jess smiled weakly. She looked a bit ill.

Mama finally released her to put a hand on his arm. “But we’ve been very busy with your brothers, Ash. We have so much news!”

“Which we’d best communicate inside, don’t you think, my dear duchess?” Father had paid off Darby, directed footmen to take Ash’s and Jess’s bags inside, and then come up, hopefully to restrain Mama. Everyone else was wisely staying a safe distance away.

“Oh, yes, what am I thinking? We don’t want to entertain the neighbors with our business, do we? But I am just so happy, I can hardly contain myself! Come, you must tell me how you’ve been getting on, Jess.” She took Jess’s arm and started toward the house.

Jess sent him a look of definite panic. He tried to smile reassuringly. He couldn’t very well wrest her away from Mama. That would look very odd.

Mama paused and glanced down at Fluff, who was following Jess. “Oh, heavens! The coachman forgot his dog.”

“The man claimed the dog was Jess’s,” Father said.

“Oh?” Mama looked slightly disconcerted. “He’s very large, isn’t he? What’s his name, dear?”

“Ki—”

“Fluff!” Ash said quickly. His parents might not use his Christian name, but they certainly knew it.

“Fluff,” Jess agreed while sending him a look that clearly said her pet would become “Kit” again if he failed to protect her from his mother.

Mama was still considering Fluff, who wagged his tail in a friendly fashion. Fortunately, he refrained from barking. “Do you think he’d be more comfortable in the stables? He’s almost the size of a pony.”

“But he’s very well behaved,” Jess said. “He’s lived in the manor with me for years. He won’t cause any trouble.”

“But how is he with other dogs?” Father asked.

“Oh, yes.” Mama nodded. “A very good point, my dear duke. We can’t have him fighting with Shakespeare.”

“Shakespeare?” Ash frowned. Mama had a thieving cat named Sir Reginald who stayed at the castle, but he’d never heard of any creature named Shakespeare.

“A dog I’ve recently acquired,” Jack said, stepping forward to take Jess’s free hand. “Hallo, Jess. It’s been too long.”

“Yes.” Jess smiled. “It’s good to see you again, Jack.”

“May I make you known to my wife, Frances?”

“Wife?”
Ash stared at the woman next to Jack. Good God, did nothing make sense today?

Jack laughed. “And this lobcock, Frances, is my older brother, the Marquis of Ashton.”

Jack’s wife smiled. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Ashton, Lord Ashton.”

“You must call me Ash,” he said, trying to marshal his thoughts. “Everyone does.” Except, of course his wife. “Ah, no, the pleasure is all ours, Miss—I mean, er, that is, Frances.”

The girl was pretty enough, though her hair was startlingly short and very red. But she was clearly in love with Jack—and Jack seemed to be in love with her, judging by his besotted expression.

“And please call me Jess.” Jess smiled and then turned to greet Ned.

“Ned,” Mama said once Jess moved on to speak to Ellie, “you can’t leave now. Send poor John Coachman back to the mews and come inside with us for a nice cup of tea.”

“But, Mama . . .”

“And don’t dillydally.” Mama reclaimed Jess’s arm and almost towed her along toward the house. “We can all catch up inside.” She looked over her shoulder at them. “As your father so wisely pointed out, we don’t want to give the gossips more to chew on. They will be excited enough that Jess and Ash are in Town.”

Damnation. Mama was likely all too correct about the gossips. Ash glanced around furtively—and thought he saw the curtains on one of the neighboring houses twitch back into place.

Ned sighed and looked at Ash. “This is the second time we’ve had the coach all packed to go back to the country, and the second time we’ve had to stay.”

“And for excellent reasons,” Ellie said. “First Jack’s wedding, and now Ash’s and Jess’s arrival.” She came up to touch Ash’s arm. “I’m so happy you and Jess have mended things between you. I told you she loved you.”

“Ah.” Ellie had indeed said that at Mama’s house party. She was wrong, of course, but he couldn’t tell her that, just as he couldn’t tell her he and Jess hadn’t mended anything. “Er. Yes. Exactly.”

Why the hell did his entire family have to be in London?

Ellie frowned. “You and Jess
have
settled your differences, haven’t you?”

He hated lying to Ellie, but telling her the truth felt like betraying Jess. “We have . . . that is, we are . . .” He forced a smile. “We’re in agreement.”
About trying to come to an agreement.
“Frankly, we were hoping to spend some time alone together, which is why we came here instead of going to the castle.”

“Trying to avoid Mama and Father, hmm?” Ned said, having bowed to the inevitable and sent the coach away.

Poor Jess had been swept along with Mama into the house, but at least Jack and his wife—
Good God, Jack had a wife!
—had gone with her.

“Yes.”

Ellie giggled. “Your expression! Oh, poor Ash. You look so beleaguered, but you know you will just have to accept that you are trapped. You might as well enjoy it.”

“Enjoy it? You know my mother is going to drag me and Jess around to every social event she can find.” He’d never liked the idle, inane chatter that passed for conversation at ton parties. “I’d rather be boiled in oil.”

“I’m sure you would,” Ned said, “but that’s beside the point. Mama believes she knows what’s best, and much as I hate to admit it, she is often right.”

“Not in this case.” Ah, perhaps he saw a way to wriggle free. “Jess doesn’t have the proper wardrobe.”

Ellie laughed. “Frances tried that excuse, and your mother was having none of it. Well, I needed all new clothes also, and, as you can see”—she extended her arms to show off her new dress—“the duchess solved that problem, too. Truthfully, I think she was delighted to look at pattern books. She didn’t get to do that before, having only sons.” Ellie led the way through the front door. “And Madame Celeste will be overjoyed.”

“Who’s Madame Celeste?” Ash asked, following behind Ned.

Ellie looked back over her shoulder. “The London dressmaker. She—oh!”

Ellie stumbled, and Ned lunged to grab her, but she caught her own balance.

“Are you all right?” Ned’s voice was far too sharp for such a minor event.

“Yes, of course,” Ellie said, smiling. “I just didn’t pick up my feet. I’m fine.”

Poor Ned. His tendency to worry had only got stronger with his first wife’s and his son’s death in childbirth. And now with Ellie. . . .

“Did I understand Mama correctly and congratulations are in order?”

Ellie’s smile was blinding. “Yes. We are delighted, aren’t we, Ned?”

Ned looked more anxious than delighted. “I’ll be happier once the baby’s born.”

Ellie shook his arm slightly. “Remember, you promised not to worry.”

With Ned, that was like promising not to breathe.

Ellie must have realized this, too, because she laughed. “Well, not worry too much.”

“I’m trying,” Ned said, putting his hand over hers, the love he felt so clear in his eyes even Ash could see it.

If only
his
love was as uncomplicated as Ned’s, Ash thought as he watched his brother escort Ellie into the blue drawing room. But then Ned had never had to face betrayal. He’d married Cicely, whom he’d loved and who had loved him as best she could, and when she’d died . . .

Ah, yes, there
were
some things worse than being cuckolded. As much as Jess had hurt him and as much as her demise would simplify his life, he couldn’t wish for her death. Just the thought was unbearably painful, especially now that he’d seen her again.

“Lord Ashton!” Braxton, the butler, approached from the back of the house, a small—well, small in comparison to Fluff—brown dog with floppy ears and a plumed tail at his heels.

“Hallo, Braxton. Do you have a pet now?”

“A pet? Oh, no.” He chuckled. “This is Shakespeare, my lord. Lord Jack’s dog. Richard—one of the footman, you know—came down to the kitchen to say some cakes and biscuits and tea were needed at once in the drawing room, so Shakespeare, being very interested in cakes and biscuits, came up to investigate, isn’t that right, sir?”

Shakespeare barked once and wagged his tail emphatically.

“He’s a very talented animal, my lord. Say good day to Lord Ashton, Shakespeare.”

Shakespeare sat and offered his paw.

Ash took it. “My wife has brought her dog with her, Braxton. I hope Shakespeare will welcome him also.”

Braxton sucked in his breath sharply. “Lady Ashton is here as well?” He grinned broadly. “Oh, my lord, that is wonderful news. We have all hoped this day would come. I know I speak for the entire staff when I say we are so happy you and Lady Ashton have reconciled.”

Ash forced himself to smile. “Yes, well. Thank you.” Good God, he knew the servants wanted him to resolve his marital issues, but he’d thought their concern was largely for their own well-being—not that their employment was at all at risk with Ned and Jack able to continue the line. But Braxton seemed happy for Ash himself—Ash as a man, not as the heir. He suddenly hoped he wouldn’t disappoint him.

“Ah, and here is Richard now,” Braxton said, “and William as well. I see Cook took the precaution of sending up plenty of provisions. Your brothers do like their cakes, my lord, and they are always hungry. I imagine you might be a bit sharp-set yourself.”

“Yes, I suppose I am.”

He followed the servants into the drawing room. Jess was on the settee next to Mama, but the place next to her was empty, partly due to the fact Fluff was sprawled over the floor by her feet. She shot him a look of both anger and desperation as he came in. He felt a twinge of guilt; he had rather deserted her, though he hadn’t intended to do so.

“Ah, here’s Shakespeare,” Jack said. “Now we’ll see how he and Fluff get along.”

“Fluff is very calm and well behaved,” Jess said. Her voice was firm, but her eyes flicked nervously to Shakespeare as he gave an excited yip and trotted over to make Fluff’s acquaintance.

Ash strode over to separate the animals if necessary, but Fluff merely yawned as Shakespeare sniffed around him, and then shifted position so Ash could sit next to Jess.

“Shakespeare, come here.” Jack snapped his fingers, and Shakespeare reluctantly left Fluff to sit by Jack.

“At least we aren’t going to have a dog fight in Mama’s drawing room,” Ned said as he reached for the tray of cakes William had just put down. “You were taking a bit of a chance, Jack, introducing them like that.”

“I didn’t introduce them, if you’ll notice,” Jack said. “Ash is the one who let Shakespeare in.”

“Your dog let himself in.” Ash helped himself to a slice of seedcake. “Would you care for something, Jess?”