Free Waking Up With the Duke by Lorraine Heath Page A

assisted with minor inconveniences—explaining which room held a servant who would repair a torn hem—she wasn’t certain she’d ever felt quite so lonely or quite so aged.
    “My dear!”
    She halted her progress, turned, and greeted her guest. “Lady Inwood.”
    “You have certainly outdone yourself,” she said. The woman leaned forward conspiratorially. “And the previous marchioness as well. You have achieved a comfort and elegance that she could not quite accomplish.”
    “You give me far too much credit. I daresay, I merely followed her example.”
    “You are too modest.” She glanced around. “Ainsley is in top form tonight. I swear he has the devil’s good looks.”
    Jayne held her tongue, refusing to acknowledge that he was the most handsome man in attendance.
    “I don’t suppose you know if any of the maids found a bed unmade this morning,” Lady Inwood asked, her sharp gaze implying much more. The implication that if Ainsley had slept elsewhere—in a lady’s bed—then his would not need tending. Although Jayne suspected the man was clever enough to rumple it before he departed for his rendezvous.
    “Not to my knowledge, no.”
    “We cannot determine who he has selected for a dalliance.”
    “Perhaps no one.”
    The older woman scoffed. “Hardly likely.” Then her expression turned shrewd. “Although you were seen walking with him this afternoon.”
    “My horse and I took a tumble. His Grace was kind enough to escort me back to the manor.”
    “Hmmm. Fortunate for you . . . that you were not injured, I mean.”
    “Very fortunate.”
    Lady Inwood squeezed Jayne’s hand. “If you do hear anything regarding who has earned Ainsley’s favor, you will let me know, won’t you?”
    Absolutely not! Rather than speak the words, however, Jayne merely smiled. She felt rather out of sorts of a sudden. Turning, she spotted Walfort sitting off to the side, appearing as lonely as she felt. With only a few people stopping her for a quick chat, she managed to make it to his side before the current dance ended. Sitting in a chair beside him, she took his hand. “I think everything is going splendidly.”
    “You’ve done a wonderful job of it, Jayne. Even my mother, may she rest in peace, would have been impressed.”
    “We’ve been fortunate that the weather has held. I’ve seen a few go out into the garden.” She bit her lower lip. “Is this difficult for you, Walfort? Watching everyone waltzing about?”
    “No. I never really fancied dancing.”
    “But you were so good at it.”
    “Only when I was with you.” His quick smile withered. “Do you miss it, Jayne?”
    “How can I when I am right where I wish to be: beside the man I love?”
    “You deserve so much better than I’ve given you.”
    “Walfort, please, let’s not go there.”
    He nodded. His face brightened. “Ainsley, where have you been, old chap?”
    She glanced up as Ainsley came to stand before them. Everything about him was perfect. His cravat appeared as though it had not been touched since his valet secured it. He had not a single dark hair out of place. With sudden surprise, she realized she was searching for some sign that he’d had an assignation. What did she care what he did with whom?
    “I was playing cards,” he said.
    “He has the devil’s own luck at cards,” Walfort muttered to her. “Now that you’ve left the tables, perhaps I’ll give it a go. Although I hate to leave Jayne alone.”
    “She’s hardly alone in this mash of people.”
    “I suppose that’s true enough.”
    She didn’t like them talking around her as though she wasn’t there. Still, she touched Walfort’s wrist, slid her hand over his. “You should go to the card room if that’s where you prefer to be. I’ll be perfectly all right.”
    “If you’re sure.”
    “Of course.”
    “Perhaps to lessen the pain of his parting, you would honor me with a dance,” Ainsley said.
    She and Walfort both jerked their heads to the