Chapter Seven
Contents - Prev | Next
Ask me no questions, and I'll tell you no fibs.
— Oliver Goldsmith, c.1728-1774
"Come in," Lord Mayhew called from Jarrod's study as Jarrod entered his town house a quarter of an hour after dropping Sarah off at her hotel. True to his word, Lord Mayhew had made himself at home by stoking the fire, settling onto a comfortable chair, and propping his feet upon the matching leather ottoman. "Henderson brought a tray of coffee. I'll pour you a cup. Go ahead and warm yourself by the fire."
Jarrod gratefully accepted the cup of coffee his godfather offered. He took the cup from the saucer and wrapped both hands around the delicate china cup, as he walked over to stand in front of the fireplace. "Thanks for the coffee and for the loan of your coach."
"You're welcome." Lord Mayhew gave Jarrod a rueful smile. "It's the least I could do after my untimely intrusion."
Jarrod took a sip of coffee. "No need to apologize, Lord Rob," he said. "The young lady was leaving. Your timely intrusion prevented me from making what would have been a terrible mistake."
Lord Mayhew lifted an eyebrow. "The young lady's mode of dress would lead one to conclude that the mistake you fear you would have made was committed earlier in the evening."
"It wasn't," Jarrod answered. "I managed to refrain from taking her upstairs to bed." Jarrod took another swallow of coffee. "Despite her mode of dress."
Lord Mayhew raised his coffee cup. "My boy, I salute you! You have the willpower of a bloody saint!"
"Don't salute me." Jarrod left the fireplace and walked over to the chair opposite Lord Rob's. Jarrod sat down on the chair and Lord Rob pushed the ottoman an inch or so closer to him, encouraging Jarrod to share it. "You arrived in the midst of our first kiss."
"Then I'm glad I could be of service," Lord Mayhew quipped. "Because you were headed for a tumble. And it's doubtful that you would have made it upstairs."
Jarrod nodded. "As I said, your arrival prevented me from making a huge mistake."
"What's a godfather for if not to prevent his godson from making a terrible mistake?" He poured himself another cup of coffee, added two lumps of sugar, and stirred it. "It's been my experience that what our hearts and heads tell us is often quite at odds with what our bodies urge us to do."
They sat in companionable silence, sipping coffee and staring at the fire for some minutes before Jarrod spoke. "I did the right thing."
Lord Mayhew didn't pretend not to understand. "I've known you all your life, my boy, and I've never known you not to do the right thing." He nudged Jarrod's foot with the toe of his boot. "Sometimes I think you were born knowing right from wrong and exactly what to do."
Jarrod placed his empty coffee cup on its saucer, then closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the chair leather. "It's an illusion," he said softly. "I always try to do what's right, but I don't always succeed."
"Tonight you succeeded," Lord Mayhew reminded him.
"Yes," Jarrod agreed, opening his eyes to look at the man who had been more of a father to him than his own father had ever been. "Tonight, I succeeded."
"You succeeded in doing what you thought was right and yet I hear more regret than satisfaction in your voice." Lord Mayhew frowned. "Enlighten me."
"I wanted to fail," Jarrod said, simply. "I wanted to do as she asked. I wanted to forget about right and wrong. I wanted to forget about honor and duty and respect. I wanted… her."
"Then why didn't you take her?" Mayhew asked.
"Because I'm a gentleman," Jarrod replied with a snort of disgust. "Because I've spent my life living by a code of honor and I couldn't betray it. Even for her. Especially for her." He shook his head as if to clear it.
"You are a gentleman," Lord Mayhew confirmed. "There's no doubt about that. What's more, you are an unmarried gentleman, and Jarrod, my boy, you must know that there is no dishonor in taking pleasure when it's offered."
"There is when I know that by doing so, I would be setting her on the Cyprian path."
"You think she's an innocent?" Lord Mayhew's eyes widened at the suggestion that his godson had been hoodwinked by a slip of a girl professing to be a virgin.
"I know she is."
"Because she told you she was?" Jarrod shook his head. "Because she came to me for her first lesson in seduction."
Lord Mayhew frowned again. "She came to you?"