Page 33 of From Unwanted to Duchess
James shrugged his shoulders. “No. In fact, I prefer silence.”
“If you prefer silence, there are many rooms in this house that are not currently being used for entertainment,” Frances pointed out. “You are being quite rag-mannered.”
Their eyes met, and she saw a flicker in his. At first, she wasn’t quite sure what it was, but then she saw him glance at the Baron and then back at her. And it was clear—that flicker she had seen was jealousy.
James was jealous of Lord Blatt, but why? He had barely even talked to her in days.
“You are quite right, Miss Langley,” he said, before turning on his heel and walking away.
“I do beg your pardon, Lord Blatt,” Frances offered. “I am sure His Grace did not mean to offend.”
Lord Blatt raised his hands. “It is quite all right. He has received bad news about his estate. Goodness, I am only grateful that my father did not think it a good idea to place half of our estate into a trust with a bank.”
Frances’s ears perked up. A bank? His estate in a bank?
“What do you mean?”
“But do not trouble yourself with such things. That is the perk of being a woman—not having to worry about boring financial details. As long as the budget for the household balances, that is all that matters. We men will take care of the rest.”
His condescending tone raised her hackles, but she let it go. She was too intrigued by what he had said. And too mad at James’s behavior.
The cheek! How dare he act jealous? How dare he barge into their perfectly pleasant afternoon with his Friday-faced self?
“Would you excuse me?” she said and walked out, following James.
She found him in the library. He had a book open in front of him, but he wasn’t reading. She knew this because the book was upside down.
“Are you enjoying your thrilling read?” she asked. “What a picture you make.”
He looked up, noted that the book was the wrong way around, and put it down. “No, actually, I wasn’t. I was waiting for you.”
“For me? How did you know I was going to?—”
“Because you cannot help yourself,” he interrupted. “I have thoroughly missed your razor-sharp wit this afternoon, and I am pleased that you did not hesitate to give me a few well-deserved lashes even in front of company.”
“Well-deserved lashes? You were very rude to the Baron.”
“Yes, well, if he had not been bothering us with his?—”
“He played quite beautifully.”
He raised his hand. “Regardless. Now that you are here, I must tell you something. The repairs in my townhouse have been completed, and I will return there in two days.”
Frances paused. This was quicker than expected. The last time she’d spoken to him about this, she thought that he was going to stay longer than a fortnight. Now, she wasn’t so sure.
“I see. So you will be leaving.”
“I am,” he said. “However, I will not be leaving alone.”
She frowned and crossed her arms. “Well, I had hoped that you would take your valet back with you and not leave him here.”
“You misunderstand.” He shook his head. “When I said I was not leaving alone, I was not talking about my valet. I was talking aboutyou. I have decided to take my godmother up on her offer. I will make you my wife.”
