Scandalous Miss Brightwells [Book 1-4]

“Lord Derry is very boring. He’s never ridden an elephant.” Diana put her nose in the air. “And he only wants to talk to Mama, besides.”

Jack felt a small tug in his chest cavity. Lord Derry would soon marry Katherine. He was besotted, and little wonder.

“But Mama doesn’t want to talk to Lord Derry. She says she has to, though.”

“Goodness, child. What a thing to say!” said her aunt, and Jack would have expected her to shut down whatever indiscretion might be about to issue from Diana’s mouth. Instead, she prompted, “Why does your mama have to talk to Lord Derry if she doesn’t want to?”

A furtive look crossed Diana’s face as she hesitated. “Mama might be cross if I tell.”

“Oh, not if you tell me,” Lady Quamby assured her, leaning down to her level so that the flowers in her bonnet trembled like a bouquet in the breeze. Jack had to admire the woman for her style. And her subtle insistence on having her way which she achieved through the greatest charm. “Your mama knows how anxious I am to help. Tell me why you think your mama feels she has to talk to Lord Derry if she doesn’t want to.”

Diana gave a loud sigh and pursed her lips. “Mama always has to be nice to Lord Derry. Papa told her she had to.”

“Really?”

Jack’s ears felt like they were burning. While he wanted to know more, he understood Katherine would not be happy to learn her daughter was so happy to divulge that which was probably not intended to be public knowledge.

Diana nodded as she clasped her hands demurely in front of her and said, “Lord Derry helped Papa when he had his cribbage crisis so mama had to be nice to him.”

“Oh…my goodness, Diana. Cribbage Crisis? Are you sure?” There was a definite note of prurient interest in Lady Quamby’s question.

“Of course. I heard everything,” replied the little girl who looked like she was enjoying the attention. Her tone became more enthusiastic. “I was hiding under the chair by the window. They didn’t know I was there, but Mama said she didn’t want to do what Papa said because it would put her in a comp… “ she struggled with the word, agreeing happily when Lady Quamby suggested, ‘compromising’, then adding, “but Papa said it was the only way, and she had to. Now now Mama has to always be nice to Lord Derry.” She turned to Jack. “Will you tell me more elephant stories, Mr Patmore?”

“Only if you’re very sure you want to come along with me,” he said cautiously. “I’d hate you to dislike the idea of talking to me—”

“Oh, you’re much more interesting than Lord Derry,” Diana assured him, turning back towards his carriage and waving to her aunt. “Besides, if I have to go with Aunt Antoinette I know Uncle Bertram will start snoring as soon as the carriage starts moving, and he does make such a terrible noise when he does that. I’m sure it’s the main reason he has such trouble with the ladies.”

“Snoring? I’m sure I don’t!” protested Bertram, but Jack was too caught up with his o

wn musings to take much notice. Since he’d tried everything to get out of delivering Diana, he couldn’t possibly be blamed for the time he would be able to spend with her mother. Courtesy would demand that he furnish Katherine with the answers to all her no-doubt anxious questions.

“Please reassure Odette I’ll return as quickly as is practicable,” he said, helping Diana into the carriage.

“I rather think she’ll enjoy a little respite. You and she have been inseparable since you returned, and that’s certainly not a healthy way to start married life.” Lady Quamby nodded decisively before she turned back to her own carriage.

Jack was just thinking the same as he closed the door behind him, before he was immediately called upon to give a full accounting of all the animals he’d seen, ridden, shot or eaten when in the Far East.

But even while he spoke at great length in the most descriptive terms, his mind was dwelling on his forthcoming encounter with Katherine and how much he was looking forward to witnessing her joy at seeing him emerge from the carriage with her daughter.

He was familiar with all her expressions and his favourite was the look of pleasure that crossed her face when she encountered someone she cared for deeply.

Like when she’d seen Jack again after so many years. There was a magical quality to their encounter in the darkness seven years ago. He thought of that disembodied kiss, often. It had sustained through much loneliness during his time away.

And her pleasure at seeing him after he’d returned with Odette sent tendrils of warmth coursing through his body.

Quickly, he reminded himself how easily firm friendship that lasted forever could be mistaken for the transient affection of the heart.

Yes, he was indeed lucky to be able to claim Katherine as a friend for life. He was sure Odette understood they were almost like kin.

So Jack could see Katherine, innocently and respectably, whenever he wanted and there’d be nothing untoward in their fond reunion when he arrived at Quamby House after his journey.

The thought should have been comforting.

But it wasn’t.

Katherine who’d been waiting fearfully at Quamby House for news of her daughter, saw the carriage turn into the driveway from her position at the window. She flew down the corridor and out of the front door, reaching the bottom of the steps as the carriage drew up.

“Diana!” she cried, whisking her daughter into her arms and raining kisses upon her head before the little girl had stepped onto firm ground. “What were you thinking? You weren’t, were you? What could have possessed you to climb into a strange carriage? Do you have any idea where you could have ended up?”