Page 65 of The Favourite

Pleased that she had not contested the other two points, he conceded this was true with a murmured, “Perhaps not, but he will get a stooping gait if he continues to study his books to such excess. All scholars do.”

She hesitated. “There is some reason you do not like Sir James?” she ventured.

“I? Wherever did you gain an impression like that? I have nothing against him, save that it is tiresome hearing the ladies sigh over the purity of his profile.”

At this point, Bertrand seized a firm hold of his gold necklace and gave it a violent tug. Luckily, the chain was a substantial one. “Kindly refrain from that, impudent child,” he begged with a pained expression, freeing it from the child’s chubby fist.

Bertrand beamed at him gummily. He could see no evidence of teeth, though there might have been a vague suggestion somewhere at the back of his mouth. “In any case,” he continued breezily, “you agree about his calves?”

“I have never noticed them, one way or another,” she answered with just a hint of asperity. “It is not a habit of mine to—” She broke off her words with a faint exclamation.

“What? Ogle men’s legs?”

Jane turned rather pink. “Certainly not!” she spluttered. “I have better things to occupy my thoughts.”

“Very well, then let me hear your thoughts on the worthy Lady Constance if you do not consider yourself an authority on men.”

“Lady Constance seems to me a very admirable young woman,” she answered repressively.

Alisander rolled his eyes. She would not be drawn on this, it seemed. He would have to try a different approach. “The Queen appears to be showing signs of thawing toward Mistress Frances Lessimore of late,” he added casually. “Though The Bartree continues as her most constant companion.”

Jane stiffened at this, and she looked as though she would speak, before stopping herself. Disappointing. “I know nothing of the Lessimores,” he lied breezily, knowing full well both Mistress Frances’ connections at court and the match her parents hoped to barter for her. “Do you?”

“She has but lately come to court,” Jane replied, “and has nice manners. I can see why she might please the Queen.” There was a faint quiver in her voice.

He snorted. “She’s almost as tedious as Lady Constance.”

Jane straightened, a mutinous gleam entering her eye. “It seems to me that when you say ‘dull’ or ‘tedious’ that you might just as well use words like ‘laudable’ or ‘decent’.”

He laughed. “I see you are starting to get my measure, wife.” She stared at him. “What is it?” he asked curiously. She shook her head. “No, say it,” he urged her.

“It is just that—” She looked frustrated. “It is just, I am sure, you must feel the self-same way about me, my lord!” At this, two pink spots appeared on both of her cheeks and she could not look his way, fussily tucking the blanket more firmly about the child in her lap.

Alisander tipped his head to one side, considering his answer. “Perhaps at one time,” he admitted softly, “but not for long.” Her shoulders took on a rigid look. “It is true. You don’t believe me?” He turned to the door Robert had disappeared around. “Very well, I will offer you evidence. Robert!” he called and, after a moment, they heard the old man’s shuffling step.

“Milord?” he asked, his grizzled head peeping around the door.

“Come in,” Alisander beckoned him. “Robert, you will oblige me by casting your mind back to a conversation we had some weeks ago about the Lady Jane. You will recall, when I told you I was to marry, and you asked me what manner of woman my future wife was.”

Robert’s rheumy gaze flew to Jane and then back to Alisander. “Aye, milord?”

“You remember how I described her then?” The old man gave a hesitant nod. There was a risk, of course, that Robert might recall some of the more unflattering parts of his description, but Alisander reckoned it was only slight. Even at the time, his old servant had dismissed the majority of his words and viewed the rest of them in the most flattering of lights.

“Kindly relay the gist of it to my viscountess now,” he said, gesturing toward Jane. “Or as much of it as you can remember.”

Robert screwed up his eyes in the effort of remembrance. “Well, milord, you greatly relieved my mind; I remember that much. You said as how she was a virtuous maid, who kept good time and would never keep others waiting, whether ‘twas for an appointed meeting or a kindly word.”

Alisander nodded, watching Jane’s reaction all the while. She lifted her gaze to the old servant’s face and kept them there with such an intent expression that his peace of mind suffered a nasty jolt. Fuck. If Robert remembered something negative now, he would surely suffer a setback with her.

He steeled himself as Robert seemed to warm to his theme. “You said as she gave to the poor and said her prayers and was neat as a new pin. Yes, you said she was vastly neat and tidy in her manners,” the old servant pronounced emphatically, nodding his head.

Jane’s expression turned from baffled to cautiously gratified. She glanced at Alisander uncertainly, as though trying to reconcile such a kindly description as falling from his lips.

“Well, thank you, Robert,” he started, feeling pleased he had thought to get the old servant’s corroboration. “That is—”

Robert turned and started to leave the room before clapping his hand to his forehead. “I clean forgot!” he said swinging back around again. “There was that business about her eyes being like precious jewels, Master Sander,” he added. “I remember that bit most particular, for I’ve never heard you speak like that about a woman before. Poetical-like.”

Alisander froze. Jane gave a faint gasp. Robert nodded at them both, beaming all over his kindly face. “Will that be all, milord?” he asked.