Page 80 of Seduced By the Rakish Duke

“Well, I ran into Mr. Winlsow. Remember her?”

“Elizabeth’s nanny,” Jenny offered to a confused Nora.

“She said Harry sent Elizabeth away to live with relatives because he couldn’t handle her. And since she was no longer in his employ, she felt the need to tell her story.”

Jenny sat up with interest. “Her story? What do you mean?”

“You definitely lucked out, my dear,” Sarah started. “It seems his behavior at the wedding was not a one-time occurrence. He was known to have a temper. He never hit or struck anyone, but she said he was always yelling and had no control over that child. Mr. Winlsow hated living there, but she felt bad leaving the girl alone with him, so she stayed on.”

Frances gasped. “He always seemed so in control of his emotions when he was around us. I mean even when Elizabeth lit the pastor’s vestments on fire, he seemed level-headed about it.”

Sarah clapped her hands together. “Apparently, it was all a ruse. He knew how to conduct himself in Society, but behind closed doors, it was a different story.”

Jenny shivered at the thought of what her life could have been like. Once again, she thanked her lucky stars that David barged into that church on that fated afternoon.

Frances waved her hands. “Enough of this nonsense. What is done is done, and we’re all moving on to brighter days. Isn’t that right, Jenny?”

Jenny blushed. “Absolutely. I can honestly say I have never been more excited about tomorrow. I don’t even think I was this excited when Thomas and I first arrived here.”

Frances reached over and grabbed her sister-in-law’s hand. “I remember the first night Nora introduced us. You were a bundle of nervous energy, ready to take on the whole world. I’m glad tosee you haven’t lost any of that lively energy. I was worried for a bit that you may have.”

The women sat in silence for a moment, each recalling those days leading up to the wedding to Harry.

“You know, there is a question I need to ask you, Jenny. I wonder what possessed David to barge into the wedding like that,” Nora mused.

Jenny wrung her hands in her lap. “Frannie said something to me the night before that got me thinking.”

Frances looked curiously over at her.

“You told me to fight for what I want, so I did.”

The women processed Jenny’s words.

Frances groaned. “Tell me you didn’t snuck out to his house that night.”

Jenny said nothing but offered a smile and a shrug.

“Jane! What did I tell you about sneaking off to his house?!”

Nora and Sarah yelped in surprise.

“You would sneak out to go to his house at night?” Sarah was positively giddy at the thought of more gossip.

Jenny stood up. “Well, ladies, I think we should call it a night. I don’t know if you heard, but I have a big day ahead of me tomorrow.”

She ushered the nosy women out of the house, knowing full well they’d be revisiting that conversation later. But that was for another day. She had better things to do, like figuring out how she was going to fall asleep when she was as excited as a child on Christmas morning.

The carriage pulled up to Lady Staunton’s estate. The Countess had offered her grounds for their wedding after witnessing the scuffle at Jenny’s ill-fated wedding. She claimed that since their first introduction was at one of her infamous parties, it only be right that they hold the wedding there.

Thomas helped Jenny out of the carriage, his face lit with a bright smile.

She stopped. “What is your face doing?”

Thomas held out his arm for her to take. “Smiling.”

“Why?’

Thomas chuckled. “Because this is how you should look like when you’re getting married.”

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