Jane watched Upton’s approach out of the corner of her eye. He stopped a few paces from her. He cleared his throat and she tilted her head to look at him. He gestured to the seat next to her. “May I?”

She opened her mouth to reply, just before Owen Monroe materialized directly behind Upton.

“Always getting to Miss Lowndes before I do, Upton,” Owen said, flashing a smile.

Upton turned his head and scowled at Owen. Jane raised her brows. Was it possible that Owen Monroe wanted to spend time in her company as well? What was in that perfume Lucy had allowed her to borrow? Jane had dabbed it beneath each ear tonight before she’d come to dinner. Apparently, it was attracting rakes hither and yon. Potent stuff, that.

Jane nodded her assent to Upton to sit and then said, “Lord Owen, please join us.”

Upton’s frown deepened. Jane’s grin widened.

“Don’t mind if I do,” Owen replied, pushing up his dark coattails and sitting on the opposite side of Jane.

She glanced from side to side. She was properly squeezed between the two large, handsome men. As if her blasted stays weren’t enough.

“What did you wish to speak to me about, Upton?” she asked without turning toward him.

He, too, kept his gaze focused on the wall across from them. “Why do you think I had something specific to say?”

She turned to him and was immediately aware of how close he was. Their thighs nearly touched. “You’ve sought out my company during two events now. I thought perhaps there was something you wanted to say to me. Otherwise, I’m certain Mrs. Langford is missing your company. Perhaps she might take a tumble from the settee and require your assistance helping her to her bedchamber.”

Owen snorted.

Upton’s confident smile fell just a bit. He glared at Owen. “No, I’m quite content here but perhaps you’d like to go spend time with Mrs. Langford, Monroe.” Upton jerked his head in the widow’s direction.

Owen calmly shook his head. “No, I’m content here as well.”

Upton took a deep breath and turned toward Jane finally. “Very well. Miss Lowndes, allow me to apologize for Mrs. Langford’s—for some of the things she said earlier.”

Jane fixed him with a stare over the top of her spectacles. “Only some of what she said?”

Owen’s gaze bounced between them, his handsome face full of amusement.

Upton cleared his throat. “Some of the things she said were…”

Jane arched a brow. “Rude? Ignorant? Wrong?”

“Inappropriate,” Upton finished.

“That too,” Jane allowed.

Upton shifted a bit closer to her. “I’m sorry she came with us in the boat. I’d hoped to—”