A Gentleman for Lady Juniper (Clairvoir Castle #6)

Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

J ack looked impatiently at the clock, then back to his sister’s room full of admirers. Since they started taking callers at eleven o’clock, gentlemen had flowed in and out of the house continuously…for over an hour. He knew Emily had danced a great many times, but he hadn’t realized half the men of the ton had stood up with her, or wanted to stand up with her—and when they couldn’t, decided to pay their respects the following day.

Flowers covered the tables in the sitting room where Emily held court, trying her best to show genteel courtesy to everyone who called upon her. His mother and sisters-in-law sat in the room with her but were somewhat less than helpful.

No one quite knew what to do.

It fell therefore to Jack to watch his sister’s reaction to each gentleman, and if she seemed less than comfortable with their attention, he found reason to step in and extricate her or thank them for coming and show them the door.

At one point, his sister whispered to him, “Can we not send for Juniper and Betony? They would know how to help.”

He had thought of that himself, but had also quickly realized it would be of no use. “They will have their own sitting room full of men, I imagine.”

Emily grimaced and then put her polite smile on once more and returned to her next guest.

Not for the first time, Jack’s mind wandered to Juniper—Lady Juniper. Was she truly flooded with callers, too? How many gentlemen had visited her that morning, and how many had sent flowers as he had done? Though it was of course for the best that he remained home with Emily, for the best that he not pay a specific call to the Amberton sisters, his mind unendingly flitted across London streets to their home.

One of Emily’s more persistent callers, a Mr. Waldegrave, had brought her a stunningly large bouquet of red roses—a somewhat presumptuous offering, considering he barely knew her. Mr. Waldegrave had danced with her toward the end of the evening, after introducing himself to their father. He lingered in the sitting room past the quarter-hour most of the men had allowed themselves, and Jack’s irritation prickled.

Footmen brought two more flower deliveries into the room, and Jack took the opportunity to step between Mr. Waldegrave and his sister. “Emily, these two seem especially grand. What do the cards say?” He cut the gentleman at his elbow a quick glance. “Mr. Waldegrave, I must thank you for coming to see my sister. It has been a pleasure.” He spoke calmly, but with the unmistakable air of someone bidding farewell.

Mr. Waldegrave drew himself up, but was not quite eye-level with Jack, the man not striking him as someone particularly comfortable with conflict. His eyes flickered from Jack to Emily, then he bowed. “The pleasure was all mine. I look forward to seeing you again soon, Lady Emily.”

Emily, who held the many cards from the flowers in her hands, gave him a somewhat distracted curtsy. “Indeed, Mr. Waldegrave. Thank you. And thank you for the flowers.”

He had not even made it out of the room before Emily sighed with what sounded like disappointment. “They are from Lord Hartwell and Mr. Eastwood.”

“Nice of them to send something,” Jack said, watching until the door closed on the irritating gentleman. “Mr. Waldegrave was not my favorite of your callers today, Emily.”

“Nor one of mine.” She shook her head and her expression at last relaxed. “This is overwhelming. Must this always be the way after a ball? Every gentleman I danced with or spoke to coming to call, it feels excessive.”

“Lady Dunmore assured me it was likely,” their mother said with a sigh, fanning herself. “Dear me. Our kitchen staff will be worked to pieces, making an unending supply of tea and cakes and sandwiches for everyone who visits.”

“That is their purpose, Mother,” Jack reassured her. “And they are well compensated for it, never you fear.”

“What would we do without you, Jack?” his mother asked softly.

That was the question. The whole household and everyone in it would fall apart. He looked forward to the day Richard found himself comfortable enough in his role as heir and viscount to stand as leader. Their father had no intention of doing more than the minimum of fitting into their new life, claiming he was too old to pretend he belonged in a room full of fancy nobles.

Jack looked over the flowers Emily had received with interest. One was full of a variety of bright flowers, looking rather expensive. The other was not nearly so large, and the flowers were a mix of more common blooms, such as daisies and chrysanthemums. It was the simpler bouquet that his sister held in her arms. “Eastwood sent the smaller of the two arrangements?”

Emily glanced up. “Yes. How did you know?” She looked at the flowers. “Do you think it means something?”

“All flowers mean something,” Susan, their brother George’s wife, said from her place near the fire. “And after speaking with Lord Hartwell last evening about his mother’s passion for gardening, I would wager a guess both he and his brother are somewhat versed in at least the common meanings behind each bloom. Bring them here.”

Katherine shook her head. “Men rarely pay attention to such things as the meanings of flowers. Examine at the jumble around us and you can know that at once.”

“Let her have her fun, dear,” Jack’s mother said genially. “The large bouquet first, Susan.”

“Simple. Pink roses are for grace, wisteria for welcome, and laurel wishes you success.” Susan pointed to the smaller gathering of flowers. “Those are what interest me. Daisies are innocence, white carnations are sweet and lovely, and the greenery…” She put her nose in the flowers and laughed. “Oh, it’s peppermint.”

“Useful, but is it meaningful?” the new viscountess asked, eyebrows arched.

“Of course. It indicates warmth of feeling. This is from which brother, Emily?” Susan handed the flowers back with a teasing grin.

Jack watched his sister with interest as she took the flowers carefully, a light pink stealing into her cheeks. Interesting .

“Mr. Eastwood,” she said.

“Oh, the man with the stutter.” Katherine shook her head. “He only danced with you once. Was it difficult to make conversation with him?”

Cradling the flowers close, Emily shook her head. “I did not find it so.”

That had Jack raising his eyebrows. His sister’s soft smile unmistakably hinted at her own warm feelings about the baron’s younger brother. He would need to keep an eye on that. He liked what he knew of Hartwell and Mr. Eastwood, but it was precious little. He could not permit? —

With a wave of her hand, Susan dismissed Katherine’s remark. “If he can speak with flowers, has he need of greater eloquence?” Then she pointed at Jack. “Did you take my advice on what sort of flowers to send to your dancing partners?”

All the women in the room looked at him, Susan with expectancy and the other three with curiosity.

Jack’s stomach twisted as he kept his voice calm. “I did. Small bouquets of violets, sweat peas, and white clover.”

Now they all looked at Susan. “All innocent—and respectable—ways of saying thank you,” she said, lifting an eyebrow. “What about the one you said was special?”

His mother, his sister, and both sisters-in-law stared at him.

“Jack,” his mother said, a slow smile appearing on her gentle face. “A special bouquet? For a special woman?” She had a look in her eyes that he had seen many a mother wear before, usually when they were introducing their children to the duke’s children in hopes of a match. His mother hadn’t shown much interest in the idea of him marrying before, when he would visit home on rare occasions.

Of course, he hadn’t entertained the idea himself, given that his work for the duke had consumed all his time and energies. He hadn’t even thought he would ever have the luxury of marriage, not until he retired from service.

He felt his ears grow warm. Not that he was thinking of such things now, either. He cleared his throat. “I merely wished to show my appreciation to Lady Juniper, for her kindness and friendship—to us all. That was the only reason I thought to send her something other than what I gave to the rest of my dancing partners.”

“What was in the bouquet, Susan?” Emily asked with a wide smile. “Tell us, please.”

Before Jack could say a word, Susan answered. “Primrose, forget-me-not, and lily of the valley. Affection, remembrance, and happiness. In that order.” She tapped her chin thoughtfully. “ Of course, my interpretation of such flowers would normally be that the one sending that medley is indicating he holds the person receiving them in high esteem, with the first stirrings of something other than friendship.”

“Oh, Jack,” his sister said, expression bright with excitement. “Do you really like Lady Juniper?”

“Of course he does, look at his blush.” Katherine folded her arms and laughed. “Jack is smitten.”

His mother, to his alarm, appeared ready to cry. “Oh, she is such a lovely girl?—”

“Enough,” Jack said, raising both hands and trying to sound stern. He heard the amusement in his tone, though, and he had to shake his head somewhat ruefully. “I have not said anything to make any of you believe such things. Lady Juniper is a fine person, and she is proving a good friend to Emily as well as to me. That is all.”

“Why?” Susan asked, standing up and putting her hands on her hips. “Why not more than that, Jack?” She gestured to the other women. “We all saw the painting she made of you. We all saw how the two of you interacted first at dinner and then at Lady Jersey’s ball.”

“When she and her sister paid their visit to me, Juniper spent a long time speaking directly to Jack. Especially whilst on our walk.” As Emily made her pronouncement, Jack sent her a playful glare.

“Traitor.”

She stuck her tongue out at him. “It’s the truth. She even made him laugh.”

Katherine put a hand to her throat dramatically. “The man laughed? It is a miracle. Jack, you must wed her at once.”

They all giggled and laughed like school girls rather than the adults and fine ladies they were, and he looked to his mother for some support, feeling suddenly helpless in the face of his female relatives. His mother was the worst of the lot, however, smiling at him with a gentle fondness that made him think she was already planning his wedding.

“This is nonsense,” Jack said, trying to return to a more even tone even as his lungs tightened. “I have absolutely no thoughts toward more than cordial friendship with Lady Juniper.”

“But why ?” Susan asked again.

There were reasons. Several of them…a primary reason being that he had spent most of the last summer following her about a castle, dressed in the garb of a servant, watching over her and her sisters. He had spent hours of his day ignoring—or trying to ignore—the fact that she was a beautiful woman, because she had been so far above him in rank and dignity.

He had resisted the urge to smile every time he saw her make a book appear, seemingly from nowhere, to snatch moments reading while no one else saw. He had forced himself not to laugh when she and her sisters teased and jested with one another. Then he had spent months dismissing her from his mind after she went to Ireland upon her eldest sister’s marriage.

Juniper’s kindness at present did not surprise him. But the question remained: would she ever see him as more than the guard who had stood in the corner while she enjoyed the benefits of her close kinship to a duchess?

Jack cleared his throat. He had thought too long. “I ask that you do not speculate about more than friendship between myself and Lady Juniper—or any lady, for that matter. If there comes a time to discuss such things, I will let our family know. I promise.”

The ladies did not return to complete sobriety, but the giggles diminished and they merely exchanged knowing looks.

A footman brought in another gentleman, and everyone’s attention returned to Emily. Despite the busy morning, Jack counted the number of his sister’s callers as a success for their family. Whether men came specifically to know her better or to satisfy their curiosity about the new Earl of Benwaith’s family, London Society was coming to know the family. So long as Jack could keep them behaving respectably, everything would be fine.

As tempted as he was to wonder what Lady Juniper’s sitting room looked like at that moment, he contended himself with knowing that he’d be in her company again soon enough. They had confirmed their plans to visit the Tower of London, with Lady Betony and Emily, in a few days’ time. While walking through a medieval relic might not be everyone’s idea of entertainment, he suspected Juniper would show particular delight in every old stone and story the place held.

He could hardly wait.