Page 95 of A Pure Lady for the Broken Duke
Thomas laughed. “No, I meant what would you like to do during the morning? Ride? Walk? Take a tour of the house? I am certain Grandmamma would be more than delighted to show you Pemberton.”
The scowl on Grandmamma’s face did not confirm her delight.
“And what are your plans, Thomas?” Prunella asked.
“I thought I might check on the work at the racecourse, and then confer with the trainer about our next training plans. And we have our new jockey reporting for his first day of training. A busy day, but you are welcome to accompany me. Or, if you prefer, I would be happy to take some time off and go riding with you, take you to the village, or even visit some of our neighbors.”
Prunella attended to the tea Willoughby was serving her and then said, “Mother is still abed. I should like to see what she would like to do, and then decide. Although, a quiet morning reading by the fire also has a great deal of appeal.”
He dearly hoped she would choose the latter, but said, “As you wish. I want you to do what pleases all of you.”
“Very well, Ishouldlike a tour of Pemberton,” Prunella spoke up. “However, I would like you to be the one to show me around. I know I will have many questions about the fine artwork—some of which I have glimpsed as I have passed through the various rooms.”
Thomas nodded, but quickly calculated the work time he would lose by spending time with her. But he reminded himself she was a guestanda valued investor. It was his duty, as host, to accommodate his guests. “Whenever you wish.”
“I shall confer with mother and let you know.”
* * *
Jenny had just received her first letter from Evan, but she waited to read it until she was finished with work and could retire to her bedroom to read it alone. It read:
Dearest Jenny,
I have done a terrible thing. At work, all I can think about is you. Day and night you are on my mind. I see you walking down the street—but it is not you. I dream of you and awake in a panic thinking I have lost you—but it is only a dream.
What am I to do? I must complete my training and become a printer. It is my life’s work. It is so that we can build a life together, and yet I am a negligent and a bad employee.
Jenny, only you can save me. I struggle with the thought that you do not love me as I love you. But what can I do about that? I can only be me, and hope and trust that you will one day love me as I love you.
I know I should be asking about your work—your day. But I am obsessed. Can you give me any hope? Can you grant me peace of mind and tell me that you truly love me?
In torturous AGONY,
Your ever loving and devoted,
Evan
Jenny put the letter in her lap and shed a few tears. So much heartfelt love and longing. And she was responsible. Dear Evan. She was, indeed, very fond of him. But the heartfelt love he was longing for she could not give—at least, not yet. He stirred her affections, but not her passions. There, she had finally admitted it. What was she to do? She must respond to this passionate letter, but she felt she could not give him the answer he longed for. She wished to be able to ease his pain but was unable to decide what to do. The only person she could turn to for advice was dear Helena—Claudia was too young and her mother too... well, one just did not confide in a parent about such matters.
“I am going to visit, Helena, Mama,” Jenny called out as she put on her coat, scarf, and hat. “Perhaps I shall stay to dinner. Do not be surprised if I am home late.”
Mother came out of her room, “Oh, very well, dear. Please give my regards to Helena. Oh, and I have something for you to take to her.” Mama rushed to the kitchen and returned with a parcel. “It is a piece of that cake she so loves.”
Jenny smiled. How dear her mother was. “I shall be happy to deliver it to her.” And she leaned in and gave her mother a kiss on the cheek when she handed Jenny the parcel.
* * *
A cold wind was coming off the slope of a hill as Jenny hurried along the road toward Springford Manor. She hoped Helena would be free to see her, as her visit was a spur of the moment impulse, and she had not had time to write her a note saying she was coming.
As she rounded a curve in the road, she saw a horseman coming toward her. Could he have been visiting the Comerfords?
Jenny pulled the collar of her coat up and rewound her scarf around her neck. The light was fading, dark clouds were forming, and it was getting colder. But the horseman was almost upon her before she recognized him to be Thomas.
It seemed he recognized her at the same time and pulled his horse to a stop as he reached her.
“Miss Jenny, out alone on an evening like this?”
Jenny was almost speechless with embarrassment, but managed to say, “On my way to see Helena, it is not too much further.”
