Lover Be Mine A Legendary Lovers Novel - By Nicole Jordan Page 0,22
have no doubt she will comply. Skye and my sister Katharine are great admirers of your niece and want to get to know her better. In fact, they would be happy to introduce her to their genteel circles.”
“Their patronage would be beneficial for Sophie,” Mrs. Pennant said thoughtfully. “Oliver would be a fool to shun it, although even that enticing advantage is unlikely to sway him.”
“Which is another reason to invite me to Berkshire. It will give me a chance to persuade her father as well. And if anyone can charm Fortin, Skye can. She can also keep Dunmore occupied while I claim your niece’s time and attention.”
Mrs. Pennant seemed faintly impressed. “Apparently you have thought of everything.”
“Not by a long shot. I’ve had less than a day to plan.”
“It seems you are going to a great deal of trouble to pursue my niece.”
“True,” Jack agreed, amused at himself. He’d never gone to such lengths to court a lady, or been forced to desperate measures merely to see one. But he wasn’t willing to let this lady slip from his grasp without at least investigating their compatibility. He could afford to invest a week or so of time and effort in exploring what might have a momentous impact on his future.
“You will have to be clever,” Mrs. Pennant warned, “if you hope to evade her father’s wrath. And claiming Sophie’s time will not be easy either, as she will be busy helping me execute my duties toward my guests. I am much too old for all this fuss, and her mother cares little for entertaining or mingling with the ton. Rebecca is not an invalid precisely, but she customarily keeps to her rooms. That is another purpose of the party, by the by—to allow Sophie to display her talents as a hostess to Dunmore.”
Jack nodded but was eager for a decision. “So may I have your answer, Mrs. Pennant?”
After a long moment, she responded. “I am inclined to agree to your proposition, my lord. On the one hand, I want to promote Sophie’s prospects for an advantageous match. As a commoner, she may never get another chance to land someone with so lofty a title and fortune as Dunmore’s. Therefore, I am tolerating his suit. But I was forced by my own family to marry for wealth, and I thoroughly detested it. I do not want Sophie to be miserable as I was. In all honesty, I would very much like to foil her father’s scheme to pair her with Dunmore.”
Before Jack could reply, she continued debating with herself aloud. “Naturally Oliver will be furious at me for letting you within speaking distance of his daughter, but he wants to keep in my good graces since I hold the purse strings.”
She returned her focus to Jack. “In my will, I made Sophie my sole heir and bypassed her mother entirely because I didn’t want Oliver to see a penny of my wealth. But I can threaten to cut Sophie out. He will not want to risk losing my fortune for her, at least not until she is safely wed to the duke, so he won’t fight me outright on this. But he would oppose you, even without the feud. Oliver Fortin is rather prudish, very much the opposite of you notorious Wildes.”
Her sly humor suddenly returned. “I confess I should very much like to see you take on Oliver. It should prove entertaining. And if nothing else, you will provide competition for the duke. I want Sophie to see you and Dunmore side by side, so she can realize what she will be missing if she weds him. I guarantee she will prefer you to him.
“But still …” Her voice faded, and she looked as if she were vacillating again. Then her gaze sharpened on Jack. “I hope I can trust you to put her happiness before your own, my lord.”
“You can,” he responded honestly.
“Well, I warn you, if you hurt Sophie or drag her into a scandal, you will answer to me, sir.”
“I promise to be on my best behavior.”
Mrs. Pennant gave a delicate harrumph. “That is not saying much. I knew your mother, Lady Clara. You inherited her passionate nature, and I worry that you might go too far with Sophie. Although she is mature for her age and has a good head on her shoulders, she has been far more sheltered than your cousin or your sister. Sophie’s parents delayed her debut while she was being groomed