Jonathan and Amy Read Online Free PDF Page B

with you, though your marchioness is charming beyond endurance. In your presence, however, I’m happy to shout and carry on at great length regarding the days Georgina spends in your house—”
    â€œWeeks, at least!”
    â€œâ€”But the womenfolk will have the matter quite in hand by the time they finish ambling down the barn aisles. They might need until teatime to contrive a way to make us think the terms they reach are entirely our idea.”
    Deene blinked, accepted his drink, and muttered, “My thanks.” His lordship drank half of this glass as well, then paused, one side of his mouth quirking up. “Billiards or cards?”
    â€œBilliards.”
    Deene remained quiet until they reached the game room on the second floor. “Have you deputed Miss Ingraham to negotiate on your behalf?”
    â€œWith some women, it isn’t a matter of delegating authority, it’s a matter of managing on the crumbs of dignity they leave us.” Jonathan took down a cue stick from the rack on the wall, and put his choice back as too light.
    â€œEvie would never threaten my dignity.”
    Jonathan eyed the lemonade in the younger man’s glass. “Not intentionally, of course. The only consolation is that you manage on those crumbs of dignity willingly to ensure her happiness and safety.”
    Deene chose his cue stick and sighted down it toward nothing in particular that Jonathan could determine. “Would you have me believe this is how it was between you and my sister?”
    So casual, but behind the question was a younger brother’s worry, and a surviving sibling’s guilt. Without planning to, without wanting to, Jonathan addressed both.
    â€œDeene, I loved your sister very much. I took years to understand what a gift the Almighty and your impecunious father put in my hands, but I am confident that by the time she was taken from us, she was at least certain of my regard. Now prepare to suffer a sound drubbing in the name of hospitality.”
    Whether in the name of hospitality or as a function of a new husband and expectant father’s nerves, Jonathan’s host did in fact lose to him handily.
    All three times.
    And perhaps because Jonathan was feeling expansive in victory, but more likely because he could see that Deene’s anxiety over the marchioness had robbed him of even the ability to concentrate on a game of billiards, Jonathan hazarded a question.
    â€œYou consider yourself a gentleman, don’t you, Deene?”
    Deene looked up from a table devoid of easy shots. “Are you contemplating calling me out, Dolan? It’s a bit late for that.”
    â€œI will take that as a yes, and thus I will put a question to you: Is there any circumstance under which a gentleman may make advances toward a woman in his employ?”
    The vague air of distraction left Deene’s countenance. He straightened without making a shot and regarded Jonathan with a half smile. “Advances of a romantic nature? No, there is not. Is this about that blue-eyed governess?”
    â€œMiss Ingraham’s eyes are gray, and do you think I’d admit to you that I enjoyed an attraction to the lady?”
    â€œYou just did, but the answer is still no, not if a fellow wants to keep his honor in good shine. Alas for you.” Deene grinned evilly, bent over the table, sighted down his cue stick, and by virtue of skillful use of the bumpers and a judicious application of spin on the cue ball, managed to sink two balls and leave Jonathan not one decent shot.
    ***
    The waltzing had about killed Amy’s self-discipline, left it a miserable, whining mess of shoulds and oughts cowering in the dingiest corner of her conscience. Mr. Dolan brought to waltzing the same intensity of focus he brought to his business endeavors and his parenting, which meant he’d not simply swayed around the room with her, he’d danced .
    â€œMr. Dolan’s lack of refined