Page 26 (1/2)

Chapter 22

Jane smoothed her hands over her wide pleated skirts The blue and yellow striped dihastly black She could have ith elation

It had taken less than a week to outfit her with a neardrobe The little Frenchwo orders with military precision Even Anna jumped to her commands In a flash, the seamstress had stripped her wardrobe with the clipped coowns, day dresses, riding habits, nightgowns, fil was overlooked, including future clothing for her confine on the tidy white cuffs of her dress, she knocked on the door to Seth’s office, anxious to see his reaction to her new attire, to show him that she could look the part of a countess--even if a name only wife

They had not seen each other since he deposited her in her bedcha her to Anna’s care His suh the door, bidding her enter

Squaring her shoulders, she fixed a neutral expression on her face and did her best to ignore the way her blood rushed at seeing hi the surface Strands of golden brown hair fell over his forehead As always her fingers itched to touch his hair, to delve through the sun-kissed reeted, his gaze sweeping over her as he rose to his feet, tossing his hair back with a shake of his head

Her fingers flew to her cla she own With each day, she felt as if she were being turned inside out Her sto beast that dictated her actions Every s her nose, fearful to draw too deep a breath lest she becoesture and noticed the rooer, the Guthrie faave hih she possessed half a brain Fortunately, she had not seen hi to his feet, the reed-thin gentleman bowed "Lady Guth--" he stopped and corrected hihtly and took the chair beside his "A pleasure to see you again,"

she lied

"Jane, Mr Younger has soer

"Yes, it seey, my lady"

She cocked her head to the side "Whatever for?"

The solicitor’s Adam’s apple bobbed wildly "It appears I should have monitored your brother-in-law’s supervision of your jointure--"

"My jointure?" she interrupted Her gaze flicked to Seth "Marcus left er pulled at his starched collar as if it choked him "In fact, the late Lord Guthrie did"

Marcus left her a jointure? She considered this news, accepting it as a possibility It hat entles convinced us that you were too grief-stricken over Lord Guthrie’s sudden death to attend to your affairs" Releasing his collar, he gave a s "Given the circu, I deemed that very likely"

"Could you not have askedthe arms of her chair

He reddened further at her simple question "I found it quite credible that you lacked the proper fras usually left to the dos and I decided he was best suited to reement

Suddenly it all made sense Desmond had worked so hard to keep her beneath his thumb in order to nation firing her as she focused her wrath on the hapless solicitor "Well, which is it, Mr Younger? Was I too grief-stricken or too feeble-minded to be versed inat the arrogant popinjay

Her own jointure would have altered everything Granted her the means to be independent

Perhaps she would not have risked attending Madaht of freedom Perhaps she would not have seduced Seth at Vauxhall Would not now find herselffor her

Nor would she carry his child Her hand drifted to her sto of smoke in the air As sier inclined his head in a show of reies, my lady It was not well done of me"

Seth’s voice broke in, "I would like my wife’s funds transferred at once"

"That, s me here today," the solicitorof Lady Guthrie’s e, I set myself to that precise task

And yet…" He pulled on his collar again

"Spit it out, Younger," Seth des has gone through all of it"

"Gone through all of it?" Seth echoed, dark brows dipping in a frown

Jane shook her head A bitter laugh bubbling up froalled her Desmond had convinced the solicitors she was incompetent to oversee her affairs, and then _he _ proceeded to squander her s, er rushed to say "I’ve visited him and he claimed that your wife’s portion was spent on her upkeep"

"Indeed," she inserted hotly, thinking of all she had gone without since Marcus’s death She had not shopped, traveled, or done the usual things that a lady of the _ton _her nerves, "Seeing as there is no way to prove or disprove this claie to his voice sharp as cut glass Jane watched as he unfolded his great length froer shrank back in his chair, the leather creaking beneath hier And thank you It’s of use to know one solicitor whom I shall never entrust my affairs I shall be sure that all of Town knows as well"

Mr Younger’sforward, he raised a hand in supplication "L-Lord St Claire, you cannot mean to spread tales--"

"Of your incompetence? Indeed, I do Good day, sir I’m certain you reave a reluctant nod before rising and departing the room

Jane stared after the solicitor for awith a shake of her head, "I’m sorry, Seth It seee"