Sighing, Jemmah booted her unhappy musings aside.
As Jules had done every day since Jemmah had come to live with Aunt Theo, he’d be here momentarily for their daily outing. They’d explored all of the major parks and Covent Garden, visited Astley’s Amphitheatre, eaten ices at Gunter’s, and shopped along Bond Street several times.
Today’s plans included an excursion to Vauxhall Gardens.
She intended to return in the evening sometime too, but for this initial visit, she wanted to see the famed gardens in the daylight.
A soft knock rapped at her bedchamber door.
“Come.”
Jemmah drew on one soft kid glove.
“His Grace, the Duke of Dandridge, awaits you in the gold parlor, miss.” Pimble winked at his sister. “Let me know if Mary gets sassy. I’ll straighten her out, right quick, I shall.”
Mary stuck out her tongue and laughing, chucked a pillow at her brother’s head.
Observing their antics, Jemmah twisted her mouth into a wistful smile.
She didn’t remember ever playing like that with Adelinda.
“Never fear. Your sister attends her duties with conscience and efficiency. Mary, collect your cloak. I don’t want to keep the duke waiting.”
Ten minutes later saw Jemmah comfortably seated in Dandridge’s landau as his driver expertly tooled the conveyance along the busy lane. Mary dutifully sat in the rear groom’s seat to allow Jemmah and Jules privacy while still acting the part of chaperone.
As he was wont to do, despite the slight impropriety, Jules promptly tucked Jemmah’s gloved hand into his buff-clad one. He bent his head near, his breath tickling her ear.
“I called upon your mother again yesterday.”
“And?”
Jemmah searched his face, reading the answer in his compassionate gaze.
Drat Mama’s obstinance and pride.
“She refused me once more.”
The sun bounced off the diamond in his cravat, and the hunter green of his jacket reflected in the jade flecks in his irises.
Such kind, gentle eyes, yet also intelligent, alert, and assessing.
“I’m not surprised. In her bitterness, Mama blames everyone else for her circumstances. She sees herself as the victim, and that prevents her from hearing reason.”
Jemmah returned the mild, reassuring squeeze he gave her fingers.
The comfortable clip-clopping of the horses’ hooves on the cobblestones, the sun’s caressing rays, as well as the vehicle’s plush seat had her blinking sleepily and fighting a yawn.
“I’m sure it’s been quite difficult for her and Adelinda, now that Mary’s left and Aunt Theo has withdrawn her financial support.”
Jules made a confirming sound in the back of his throat, causing his Adam’s apple to bob. “I’ve no doubt, but once we are wed, I fully intend to provide her with an allowance as long as she agrees—”
Jemmah clutched his hand, and jaw sagging, she stared in stunned incredulity.
Confusion yanked his brows together, and he patted her hand twice.
“Why do you look at me like that? Don’t you want me to give your mother any funds? I thought you’d be pleased, but if not—”
Shaking her head, Jemmah’s mouth quivered.
“No, no. It’s not that at all. I think it very generous of you, and most forgiving too.”
More forgiving than she was capable of so soon.
Mama didn’t deserve Jules’s magnanimity.
He bent nearer, and brazenly brushed his lip across the top of Jemmah’s ear.
“Then what is it?”
Jemmah slid Mary a covert glance.
Completely absorbed in the passing scenery, the maid hadn’t heard Jules.
Jemmah scooted a little nearer, brushing her thigh against his in a most provocative way.
Keeping her voice low, so neither the driver nor Mary might overhear, she murmured, “You said... Well, at least I thought you said, ‘When we wed.’”
She raised hopeful eyes to Jules’s.
How pathetic she must look. How mortified she’d be if she’d misunderstood.
They’d never discussed marriage, but his courting and repeated visits to Mama must mean he’d contemplated the matter at some length. And when the time was right, he’d broach the subject with Jemmah.
Although, as long as Mama refused to let him officially address Jemmah, they’d little choice but to wait for her to come of age or elope to Gretna Green.
Not an entirely awful notion by half.
Actually, a rather grand one. Mayhap she should mention it to him.
If he proposed.
And if he didn’t? If she’d misheard?
Well then, when the dowager returned to the country, Jemmah would accompany her.
Thank goodness she had the promised position to fall back upon. The knowledge brought her a great deal of comfort.
Tenderness bent Jules’s mouth and pleated the angles of his face, deepening his fascinating eyes to a simmering cognac.
“Indeed, I did say that very thing, my precious Jem. I thought you understood that’s always my intention, my sweet, since I found you cozily slumbering in Theo’s parlor. To make you my duchess, the keeper of my heart.”
She couldn’t quite subdue her tiny elated gasp.
Sudden wariness filtered across his face, and he straightened a bit. “Did I assume wrongly? Misjudge your affections?”
“No, not at all, Your Grace.”
“Jules,” he reminded her.
Jemmah’s eyes misted and giving him a tremulous smile, she dragged her handkerchief from her reticule. Chin tucked to her chest, she angled her parasol and discreetly dabbed her eyes. “I didn’t dare dream something so wholly marvelous would happen to me.”
“Dare I hope your answer is yes? It’s not too soon?”
Jemmah gave a jerky nod, afraid she’d weep for joy if she spoke.
The carriage gave an abrupt shudder as the rear wheel sank into a hole, jostling them against each other.
Jules beaver hat smacked her parasol, skewing it to the side.
As he straightened it, he sought her eyes.
“Yes, it’s too soon, or your answer is yes?”
“Yes, I’ll marry you, darling man,” she whispered, perhaps not as quietly as she might since she didn’t care who knew this wonderful news.
They’d still Mama to convince, of course, but Jemmah refused to let that obstacle steal a single speck of her elation.
Jules released a long, shuddering breath.
“Thank God. I almost swallowed my heart. I think it’s still lodged somewhere in my throat.” After patting his neck, he winked and tucked her scandalously closer. “We can discuss the details while we wander Vauxhall, and I promise to propose properly. Too many ears, right now.”
He waggled his eyebrows toward Mary.
“But, I must tell you,” his voice dropped to a low purr, causing the most remarkable of sensations to sprout in unmentionable areas. “I adore you, Jemmah, love.”
A plump tear did escape then. One of pure, unadulterated joy.
“And I love you too, Jules.”
Had for years, but she wasn’t ready to share that just yet. Not until they were alone, and she could show him just how ecstatic she was.
Knuckle bent, he caught the wayward droplet. “I only want to see tears of happiness in your beautiful blue eyes from now on.”
“They will be.”