Page 75 of The Gentleman's Confession
“Come in.”
A maid slipped inside. “Are you ready, miss?”
Jemma had already sent her away once. Despite all her fixed resolutions, moving forward pulled the last ounce from her already depleted well of strength. She forced a nod and allowed the maid to help her change into a clean gown, one Mrs. Manning had sent over. Once Jemma was buttoned into her gown, the maid carefully fixed Jemma’s hair into a low chignon. Her color was not quite right yet, but it would have to do. If she was going to have a proper conversation with Mr. Bentley, she wanted to be presentable. It was one thing for her closest friends to see her at her worst, but she would spare Mr. Bentley the sight as long as possible.
Lady Felcroft poked her head inside the room with a grin as wide as Tom’s. “May I come in?”
“Yes, please. Thank you again for taking such good care of me.”
“It is our pleasure.” Lady Felcroft strolled to her side at the dressing table. “You have always been a special part of our Brookeside family. You know that, don’t you?”
“I know you have all spoiled me, so yes.” Jemma smiled.
“You look lovely tonight. Mr. Bentley has just arrived and is ready to see you when you are.”
Jemma sighed, searching for her inner fortitude to take purchase. “I’m ready.”
“Wonderful. Let’s tackle the stairs together, shall we?”
Jemma was feeling steady enough to walk unaided, but she graciously accepted Lady Felcroft’s arm. Together they weaved out of her room, which was near the stairs, and began to descend.
“Has everyone returned home, then?” she asked. The Rebels and their families had been in and out of the house and her guest room all day.
“Everyone but your aunt and Lisette,” Lady Felcroft said.
“Oh? I did not know they were still here.”
“They hate to leave you. They plan to stay with you for dinner and will return again tomorrow to bring you home.”
She accepted the plan with a nod.
When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Lady Felcroft released her arm. “I will let you and Mr. Bentley sort things out without my hovering. I’ll be back shortly to help you return up the stairs, but if you need anything, ring for a servant.”
“Thank you, Lady Felcroft.”
The drawing room door was open, so Jemma slipped inside, surprised to see Lisette sitting beside Mr. Bentley.
“Good evening,” Jemma said.
They both stood, a sort of guilty look about them. Had they been discussing her? Her brow furrowed, but she said nothing. Whether she liked it or not, she was everyone’s problem these days.
She took a seat on the sofa perpendicular to them, and they sat again as well. She thought Lisette would excuse herself since she was well aware that Jemma and Mr. Bentley had a great deal to discuss, but it appeared she intended to stay.
Mr. Bentley clasped his hands together. “Are you feeling any better, Miss Fielding?”
“I am much improved.” She managed a smile and hoped it would deceive them. It was normally a little awkward around Mr. Bentley, but tonight, it felt unusually so. He studied her like a puzzle he could not quite understand.
He exchanged another glance at Lisette, seeming to communicate something beyond Jemma’s own comprehension. Was this about her health? Did she appear worse than she thought? “Forgive me. Your look just now. Is there something I should know?”
Mr. Bentley cleared his throat. “Thereissomething I would like to say.” He shifted before beginning again. “Perhaps it willmake more sense if I go back and explain my initial feelings upon arriving in England first.”
“Go ahead.”
“Thank you. When I began the journey home, I grew lonely for what I left behind, and I dreaded my future. I worried excessively about finding like-minded friends. Indeed, I thought finding a suitable wife would be the hardest challenge of all. I never imagined I would move into the happiest of neighborhoods. I did not know places like Brookeside existed. It was providential for me. I found the best of people right here in this little corner of York.”
His story captured Jemma’s complete attention. It was the deepest conversation she had had with Mr. Bentley to date. Outwardly, he acted so confident. Had he truly worried so much? How grateful she was to her dear friends and family for surrounding Mr. Bentley and accepting him into the community with open arms.
“I owe Lady Kellen a debt,” he said. “She can be a persuasive woman. Indeed, she professed to have the answer to all my problems. Before long, I was introduced to you and Miss Manning.” He motioned to Lisette, stopping long enough to smile at her cousin. “I agreed to marry you, Jemma, but somewhere along the lines, I fell in love with someone else.”
