Page 18 of Redemption of a Marquess

“Miss Stone insisted.”

He nodded and resumed writing. “Have you and Miss Stone reviewed the latest party invitations?”

She scrunched her nose in distaste. “Can’t I simply pick one from the pile? They’re all the same.”

“Forgive me, but they’re not all the same.”

She waved an airy hand. “Dancing, champagne, crowded ballrooms, pheasant for dinner—they are alike.”

With a sigh, he laid down his pen and leaned back in his chair. “Perhaps there are some similarities in the programming, but I can assure you, that does not mean they are all the same.”

“You mean that some are more socially important than others.”

He nodded. “Something you might remember, if you are to find that elderly gentleman you want.”

“How long do you think it will take me to find this gentleman?”

“Are you in a hurry?” he asked.

“I will no’ be young forever,” she said. “I am already nineteen.”

He nodded gravely, but the glint in his eyes told her he was laughing at her. “I believe you have enough time to find someone before you are on the shelf.”

“Laugh all you want,” she said. “There are plenty of younger women than I—and more beautiful. I cannot afford to waste time. My younger sisters are already married.”

He regarded her. “You are bothered by the fact that they married before you?”

“Of course. The eldest sister is supposed to marry first.”

“Surely, there was some young man you could have married?”

“There are always young men to marry. But I want a wealthy gentleman who…”

“Who is ready to move on to his reward?” he finished for her. “This has been a plan of yours for some time, I take it?”

Jeanine nodded. “Since my mother decided to remarry, two years ago. They only just married last year, which is why I knew I had to take action.”

His lordships’ brows shot up in surprise. “You have a father?”

“Stepfather,” she corrected. “It isn’t at all the same thing.”

“Either way, he will have something to say about who you marry,” the marquess said. “Surely, he will want you to return home and find a husband?”

“Oh no, I can never return home.” Her gaze caught on the small game table to the left of the ladder. “Is that a chess board?”

“There is a chess board inside the table,” he said.

“I like chess. Will you play with me sometime?”

“If you like. Why can you never return home?” he asked.” His eyes shifted past Jeanine and she twisted in her chair as a light knock came to the open door. Miss Stone stood in the doorway.

“Come in,” his lordship said.

Jeanine jumped to her feet as Miss Stone approached. “Doesn’t she look lovely? The pale yellow fabric compliments her complexion. The needlework on the ruffled sleeves is perfect. I insisted that Mrs. Morgan sew her a day dress straight away. It arrived last night.”

His eyes bore into Miss Stone. “And she agreed?” he said.

Miss Stone stopped in front of his desk. “Nae, sir, I did not. In fact, I instructed Mrs. Morgan to sew Miss Matheson’s dress first. When this dress arrived yesterday, I sent her a note demanding to know why she had ignored my instructions.”