“At the risk of offending you, Your Grace,” Rafe interjected, “it sounds as if you’ve got your hands full with your new duchess.”

Claringdon’s mouth quirked up in a half-smile. “You don’t know the half of it, Cavendish.” He settled back in his chair and steepled his fingers over his middle. “That’s it, Upton. I thought you should know.”

Garrett closed his eyes briefly. “Thank you for telling me, Claringdon. I assume Lucy sent you so she wouldn’t have to face my wrath.”

Claringdon inclined his head. “Something like that. She also had the nerve to ask me to tell you she still believes you and Jane make a fine couple and you should seriously consider marrying her.”

Garrett’s throat tightened. “It’s too late.” He shook his head and stared, unseeing, into the fireplace across the room. “You must congratulate me, fellows. I have just decided to marry Isabella Langford.”

Chapter 38

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

“But Lucy told me specifically that you adore Much Ado About Nothing and you would certainly agree to accompany me,” Daphne Swift said the next afternoon as she and Jane took a turn around Jane’s parents’ garden. Jane would have preferred a stroll through the park, but considering how gossip about her behavior at the wedding house party was spreading through town, she thought better of such an outing today. It was only a matter of time before her mother found out. And possibly dismissed Mrs. Bunbury. Which was ridiculous, of course, but entirely probable.

“Please, Jane,” Daphne continued. “It’s been so dreadfully dull since Cass and Julian left on their honeymoon. I’ve nothing to entertain me.”

Jane gave her a sideways stare and pressed her lips together to keep from smiling. “What about Captain Cavendish? He looked as if he were entertaining you at the wedding ball.”

Daphne pushed her small nose in the air. “Captain Cavendish makes me more angry than entertained. The man drives me quite mad.”

“I know the feeling,” Jane said on a sigh. When Lucy had informed Jane this morning that Upton would be announcing his engagement to Mrs. Langford, she’d done an admirable job of taking the news in stride. It was true she’d briefly lost her mind and fancied herself in love with the man, but after his quick defection to Mrs. Langford, he was no longer someone she even bothered thinking about … mostly.

It was her own fault, really, not Upton’s. Upton had never made her any promises. He’d never pretended to be anything other than who he was. If Lucy couldn’t change her ways, neither could her cousin. Jane never should have believed for one moment the man wasn’t a rake. While Lucy seemed convinced Garrett had somehow been forced into proposing to Mrs. Langford, Jane knew better. She’d seen Garrett’s attraction to the widow with her own eyes. God help her.