The Marsh Hawk Read Online Free PDF Page B

you look much improved. That was dreadful last night. You gave us quite a fright. Simon was awfully upset. I saw him leaving the library just now. I’m sure he’s told you it was all terribly innocent.”
    â€œHave you known Lord Kevernwood long?” Jenna queried, unable to help herself.
    â€œHave I known Simon long,” the girl parroted. “Simply forever. We see a great deal of Simon in town. We’re often his guests there as well. When you visit London, you will have to come with us to Almack’s. Have you ever been?”
    â€œNo, I’m afraid not.” There had been no social whirl of fetes and balls, teas and jaunts to such establishments as Almack’s for Jenna. She wouldn’t elaborate. She wasn’t about to confide in this maddening little social butterfly that her father’s declining health had delayed the plans for her come-out until she was well past twenty. And she certainly wouldn’t confide that his untimely death at the hands of a heartless thatchgallows, and her mother’s subsequent spiral into pseudomelancholia had made an end to the prospect of a season in Town for her altogether. She would not bear the girl’s pity—especially since it wasn’t necessary. Jenna was perfectly happy without all the stirabout and pother of a social event in London. It wasn’t as though she was husband hunting, after all. There was hardly a need for entering the marriage mart, since Rupert Marner had always been a foregone conclusion. “I don’t go often to Town,” she said to the girl’s incredulous gasp. “I’m quite content here on the coast.”
    â€œWell, you must come . . . you and the viscount, of course. The orchestra is simply divine there. That’s where I learned the quadrille. Lady Jersey herself taught me! Can you imagine it? She’s one of the patronesses there, and a very dear old friend of Simon’s. And the ambience! Well, there’s simply nothing like Almack’s anywhere. You’ll see. Everyone who’s anyone goes. It’s very exclusive, one must be approved, but I’m sure you’ll have no difficulty. Simon can manage simply
anything
.”
    Jenna took the girl’s measure. She was beautiful, young, and vital. No wonder the earl had a
tendre
for her.
    â€œWe may have to do without Simon,” Lady Evelyn babbled on. “He’s become quite stodgy since Copenhagen. But that’s to be expected, what with his leg and all. He’s so unconventional, is Simon. Crispin and I have been trying to get him to cut his hair for ages. That dreadful tail of his is so outdated. Why, it’s positively passé. No one wears long hair anymore—not even we ladies. But Simon will be Simon. He is quite the revolutionary, you know. He utterly defies convention. But that’s part of his charm, isn’t it? I positively
adore
him.”
    The tears Jenna had blinked back were threatening again, and she returned the tome she’d been staring at to the shelf with no idea of its topic. Lady Evelyn was eyeing her coiffure now, with not a little interest. Was this gushing girl about to comment on the unconventional length of her hair as well?
    â€œExcuse me,” Jenna murmured, and fled without giving her the chance.

C HAPTER T HREE
    The weather held for picnicking and the men’s shoot that afternoon. Jenna did not see the earl again, and Rupert was conspicuous in his absence as well. He was evidently still angry. She was relieved that they were both missing and had no desire to see either of them. She even attempted to beg off the picnic, wanting no more encounters with Lady Evelyn either, but her mother wouldn’t hear of it.
    â€œYou cannot spoil the rest of the weekend, Jenna,” her mother intoned. “I simply will not allow it. What’s gotten into you? Rupert is awaiting your apology, dear. I’ve given him my word