Page 2 of A Lady's Key to Passion

“Maybe I shall,” said Marianne, frowning. “But in the meantime, Lucy is your guest, and you are being quite rude. Now, we shall turn back to her, and I wantyouto be on your best behaviour.”

Jane scowled. “Oh, very well.” She turned back, plastering a wide smile upon her face, expecting Lucy to be miffed because she had not been included in the conversation. But her cousin was not even looking at them. Her blue eyes had grown even wider, staring at something in the other direction.

“What is it, Lucy?” asked Marianne, gazing in the same direction, shielding her eyes from the glare of the sun.

“Over there,” breathed Lucy, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “Is that not the mysterious earl who is staying in Seaborne that all thetonare talking about?”

Marianne smiled widely. “Well, so it is! Lord Carlisle. Henry and I are rather friendly with him in Brighton....”

Lucy whipped around, staring at Marianne as if she was a vision of the Blessed Virgin. “Youknowhim? You are acquainted with him?”

“Yes, I do,” said Marianne, sounding amused. “Lord Carlisle lives in Brighton, most of the time. He has a grand townhouse in London as well, but he prefers the sea air of Sussex. Or so he claims.”

Lucy let out an excited squeak. “Will you introduce me, Cousin?Please?”

Jane grew bored as she watched Lucy squirm at the thought of being introduced to this earl, whoever he was. It was so typical of her cousin to be starstruck by an earl, even though she didn’t know the man from Adam. Lucy was such a terrible snob. All she cared about was the man’s exalted title.

Jane sighed dramatically, casting her eyes towards the object of Lucy’s excitement. A tall gentleman with broad shoulders and a rather solid physique. She discerned light brown hair beneath his hat, curling on the nape of his neck.

A dapper dresser, by the look of it, in his green velvet coat and tight white breeches. Was he a dandy? He looked rather out of place in such attire in Seaborne. But of course, he was used to the more glittering promenades of Brighton and Hyde Park than this medium-sized seaside town.

She kept watching him, in an idle fashion. He gazed out at the sea, before carefully peeling off his jacket, and folding it over his arm. Jane suppressed a grin. His very fashionable jacket was rather too hot for a day of strolling in this weather.

“Can we return to the house now?” she said, turning to her companions, growing bored with the sight of the dandy earl. “We have been promenading for half an hour. It is tedious.”

“I think not,” said Marianne, her eyes alight. “I think I shall introduce youbothto the Earl of Carlisle. It would be rude of me not to say hello.”

“Thank you, Cousin,” breathed Lucy, sounding as if Marianne had just offered her the Holy Grail.

Jane sighed again. “Marianne, must you? Can I not just return to the house by myself?”

“Do not be such a spoilsport, Jane,” said her sister in a firm voice. “It is good for you to socialise. You spend rather too much time with your head buried in a book, and even when you are out, you never dance or mingle.” She paused. “We shall not be long.”

“Oh, all right,” said Jane in a long-suffering voice.

Lucy took Marianne’s arm firmly. They headed off towards the Earl, who was still mesmerised by the sea. Jane trailed after them, a mutinous expression on her face.

Hopefully, it would only take a few moments, she thought. She didn’t have to say or do anything. She could just stand there while Marianne chatted with her friend, or Lucy did. Her cousin was gregarious and liked to be the centre of attention.

She was also beautiful, in the way of a porcelain doll. Most gentlemen acted as if they were bewitched by Lucy right from the start. This gentleman would be no different. Jane could stand back and melt into the background, which was just the way she liked it.

Jane knew she had a reputation in the district as a wallflower. It was said in a derogatory way, of course, but she didn’t care. Shelikedbeing a wallflower. As a wallflower, she didn’t have to dance with every clumsy oaf at every ball, nor did she have to suffer their tedious conversation.

She could melt and blend into the background, biding her time. One day, when she was officially declared on the shelf, she wouldn’t have to endure it at all. She was patient. She could wait.

She knew most people thought her an oddball, treating her warily, as if her wayward attitude were contagious. She didn’t care a whit about that, either. She didn’t want to get married. Ever. It was as simple as that.

This earl, this friend of Marianne’s from Brighton, would find out she wasn’t a regular lady fairly quickly. He might encourage her to join the conversation at first, out of politeness, but few bothered after they hit her impenetrable wall of silence. And with Lucy there, in all her dazzling glory, Jane very much doubted he would even bother.

She glanced at Marianne’s back, as Lucy dragged her along. Her sister had tried to get her to socialise and lead the conventional life of a young lady for years. But she knew Marianne accepted her resolve now. As did their father. Dear Papa never pressured her anymore.

He declared he would be content if she remained a spinster. He said he liked having her at home, that it would be like living in a mausoleum if she left. It was only the two of them rattling around the house most of the time these days. Except for when Lucy stayed, of course.

Jane’s heart twisted as she thought of her mother in her grave these past five years. It was because of Mama that she had chosen this path. But memories of her mother always made her sad, so she pushed them firmly aside. She had learnt to live without her mother. She had learnt to live without her sister, who didn’t live close any longer. Dear Papa would one day be gone, as well.

In the end, Jane knew the only person she could ever rely upon was herself. So that was exactly what she intended to do.

Chapter 2

---