A Scandal in Spring

"I shouldn’t tell you about it,” Jane railed, pacing back and forth in the Marsden parlor later that evening. “In your condition you shouldn’t be distressed. But I can’t keep it to myself or I will explode, which you would probably find infinitely more distressing.” Her older sister lifted her head from Lord Mike’s supportive shoulder. “Tell me,” Lilyana said, swallowing against another wave of nausea. “I’m distressed only when people keep things from me.” She was half-reclining on the long settee, settled in the crook of Mike’s arm as he spooned some lemon ice into her mouth. She closed her eyes as she swallowed, her dark lashes resting in spiky crescents against her pale cheeks. “Better?” Mike asked gently, swabbing a stray drop near the corner of her lips. Lilyananodded, her face ghastly white. “Yes, I think it’s helping. Ugh. You had better pray for a boy, Mike, because this is your only ch"I shouldn’t tell you about it,” Jane railed, pacing back and forth in the Marsden parlor later that evening. “In your condition you shouldn’t be distressed. But I can’t keep it to myself or I will explode, which you would probably find infinitely more distressing.” Her older sister lifted her head from Lord Mike’s supportive shoulder. “Tell me,” Lilyana said, swallowing against another wave of nausea. “I’m distressed only when people keep things from me.” She was half-reclining on the long settee, settled in the crook of Mike’s arm as he spooned some lemon ice into her mouth. She closed her eyes as she swallowed, her dark lashes resting in spiky crescents against her pale cheeks. “Better?” Mike asked gently, swabbing a stray drop near the corner of her lips. Lilyananodded, her face ghastly white. “Yes, I think it’s helping. Ugh. You had better pray for a boy, Mike, because this is your only chance at an heir. I’m never going through this again—” “Open your mouth,” he said, and fed her more flavored ice. Ordinarily Jane would have been touched by the glimpse into the Mikes’ private life…it was rare that anyone saw Lilyanaso vulnerable, or Marcus so gentle and concerned. But Jane was so distracted by her own problems that she barely noticed their interaction as she blurted out, “Father has given me an ultimatum. Tonight he—” “Wait,” Mike said quietly, adjusting his hold on Lillian. As he eased his wife to her side, she leaned more heavily on him, one slender white hand coming to rest on the curve of her belly. He murmured something indecipherable into her rumpled ebony hair, and she nodded with a sigh. Anyone who witnessed Mike’s tender care of his young wife could not help but take note of the outward changes in the earl, who had always been known as a cold-natured man. He had become far more approachable—he smiled more, laughed more—and his standards for proper behavior had become far less exacting. Which was a good thing if one wished to have Lilyanafor a wife and Jane for a sister-in-law. Mike’s eyes, so deep a shade of brown they appeared black, narrowed slightly as he focused on Jane. Although he didn’t say a word, Jane read in his gaze the desire to shield Lilyanafrom anyone and anything that might disturb her peace. Suddenly Jane felt ashamed for having rushed over here to recount the injustices dealt by her father. She should have kept her problems to herself and instead she had run to her older sister like a tattling child. But then Lillian’s brown eyes opened, and they were warm and smiling, and a thousand childhood memories danced in the air between them like jubilant fireflies. The intimacy of sisters was something not even the most protective husband could disrupt. “Tell me,” Lilyanasaid, nestling against Mike’s shoulder, “what did the ogre say?” “That if I don’t find someone to marry by the end of May he would choose a husband for me. And guess who that is? Just guess!” “I can’t imagine,” Lilyana said. “Father doesn’t approve of anyone.” “Oh, yes he does,” Jane replied ominously. “There is one person in the world Father approves of one hundred percent.” Now even Mike was beginning to look interested. “It is someone with whom I am acquainted?” “You will be soon,” Jane said. “Father sent for him. He’ll be arriving at the Hampshire estate next week for the stag-and-hind hunt.” Mike riffled through his memory for the names Jerry Baron had asked him to include on the guest list for the spring hunt. “The American?” he asked. “Mr. Swift?” “Yes.” Lilyanastared at Jane blankly. Then she turned her face into Mike’s shoulder with a squeaky gasp. At first Jane feared she might be crying, but it quickly became apparent that Lilyanawas giggling helplessly. “No…not really…how absurd…you could never…” “You wouldn’t find it so amusing if you were supposed to marry him,” Jane said with a scowl. Mike glanced from one sister to the other. “What is wrong with Mr. Swift? From what your father has indicated he seems a respectable enough fellow.” “Everything is wrong with him,” Lilyanasaid, giving a last snort of laughter. “But your father esteems him,” Mike said. “Oh,” Lilyanascoffed, “Father’s vanity is flattered by the way Mr. Swift strives to emulate him and hangs onto his every word.” The earl considered her words while he spooned up more lemon ice and pressed it to Lillian’s lips. She made a sound of pleasure as the frosty liquid trickled down her throat. “Is your father incorrect in his claim that Mr. Swift is intelligent?” Mike asked Jane. “He is intelligent,” she admitted. “But one can’t have a conversation with him—he asks thousands of questions, and he absorbs everything one says but gives nothing back.” “Perhaps Swift is shy,” Mike said. Now Jane couldn’t help laughing. “I assure you, my lord, Mr. Swift is not shy. He’s—” She paused, finding it difficult to put her thoughts into words. Math Swift’s bred-in-the-bone coldness was accompanied by an insufferable air of superiority. One could never tell him anything—he knew it all. Since Jane had grown up in a family populated with uncompromising natures, she’d had little use for yet one more rigid and argumentative person in her life.ance at an heir. I’m never going through this again—” “Open your mouth,” he said, and fed her more flavored ice. Ordinarily Jane would have been touched by the glimpse into the Mikes’ private life…it was rare that anyone saw Lilyanaso vulnerable, or Marcus so gentle and concerned. But Jane was so distracted by her own problems that she barely noticed their interaction as she blurted out, “Father has given me an ultimatum. Tonight he—” “Wait,” Mike said quietly, adjusting his hold on Lillian. As he eased his wife to her side, she leaned more heavily on him, one slender white hand coming to rest on the curve of her belly. He murmured something indecipherable into her rumpled ebony hair, and she nodded with a sigh. Anyone who witnessed Mike’s tender care of his young wife could not help but take note of the outward changes in the earl, who had always been known as a cold-natured man. He had become far more approachable—he smiled more, laughed more—and his standards for proper behavior had become far less exacting. Which was a good thing if one wished to have Lilyana for a wife and Jane for a sister-in-law. Mike’s eyes, so deep a shade of brown they appeared black, narrowed slightly as he focused on Jane. Although he didn’t say a word, Jane read in his gaze the desire to shield Lilyana from anyone and anything that might disturb her peace. Suddenly Jane felt ashamed for having rushed over here to recount the injustices dealt by her father. She should have kept her problems to herself and instead she had run to her older sister like a tattling child. But then Lilyana brown eyes opened, and they were warm and smiling, and a thousand childhood memories danced in the air between them like jubilant fireflies. The intimacy of sisters was something not even the most protective husband could disrupt. “Tell me,” Lilyana said, nestling against Mike’s shoulder, “what did the ogre say?” “That if I don’t find someone to marry by the end of May he would choose a husband for me. And guess who that is? Just guess!” “I can’t imagine,” Lilyana said. “Father doesn’t approve of anyone.” “Oh, yes he does,” Jane replied ominously. “There is one person in the world Father approves of one hundred percent.” Now even Mike was beginning to look interested. “It is someone with whom I am acquainted?” “You will be soon,” Jane said. “Father sent for him. He’ll be arriving at the Hampshire estate next week for the stag-and-hind hunt.” Mike riffled through his memory for the names Jerry Baron had asked him to include on the guest list for the spring hunt. “The American?” he asked. “Mr. Swift?” “Yes.” Lilyana stared at Jane blankly. Then she turned her face into Mike’s shoulder with a squeaky gasp. At first Jane feared she might be crying, but it quickly became apparent that Lilyanawas giggling helplessly. “No…not really…how absurd…you could never…” “You wouldn’t find it so amusing if you were supposed to marry him,” Jane said with a scowl. Mike glanced from one sister to the other. “What is wrong with Mr. Swift? From what your father has indicated he seems a respectable enough fellow.” “Everything is wrong with him,” Lilyana said, giving a last snort of laughter. “But your father esteems him,” Mike said. “Oh,” Lilyana , “Father’s vanity is flattered by the way Mr. Swift strives to emulate him and hangs into his every word.” The earl considered her words while he spooned up more lemon ice and pressed it to Lillian’s lips. She made a sound of pleasure as the frosty liquid trickled down her throat. “Is your father incorrect in his claim that Mr. Swift is intelligent?” Mike asked Jane. “He is intelligent,” she admitted. “But one can’t have a conversation with him—he asks thousands of questions, and he absorbs everything one says but gives nothing back.” “Perhaps Swift is shy,” Mike said. Now Jane couldn’t help laughing. “I assure you, my lord, Mr. Swift is not shy. He’s—” She paused, finding it difficult to put her thoughts into words. Math Swift’s bred-in-the-bone coldness was accompanied by an insufferable air of superiority. One could never tell him anything—he knew it all. Since Jane had grown up in a family populated with uncompromising natures, she’d had little use for yet one more rigid and argumentative person in her life.