An Earl’s Flaming Journal – Extended Epilogue

Two Months Later

“Lady St Ives.”

Jemima turned and beamed when she saw Lord Ely crossing the room towards her. It always warmed her to see Nicholas’ closest friend. She approached him and kissed his cheek.

“Thank you for coming, Lord Ely.”

“Always for you two.” Lord Ely winked. “Especially for the lovely lady.”

“Stop it.” Jemima swatted his arm. “But I am glad you’re here. You make me feel better when others are in the room.”

“Hmm.” Nicholas grunted as he moved to stand beside her, an arm slipping around her waist. “Should I be offended by that statement?”

“No.” Jemima grinned. “You know what I mean.”

Having both Ely and Nicholas with her did make Jemima feel a little calmer. This would be the first dinner party she was hosting, and Jemima was a bunch of nerves. They had spent their honeymoon in Ireland and then in some seclusion at their St Ives home. News that Nicholas had married a girl with no title or status at all had spread through Society like wildfire and Nicholas had had a few visitors asking if he had lost his mind. Jemima hadn’t stepped outside the house unless it was to see her father, sister and Georgiana, but she saw the way people looked at her when they passed her. They thought she didn’t belong.

Jemima thought she had a thick skin, but it started getting to her. She didn’t want people to dislike her because of how she grew up. That was not fair. But she knew she wouldn’t be able to change anyone’s mind. Opinions were difficult to shift.

Nicholas had suggested this dinner party, but only with a few close friends, those he trusted. One step at a time. If people still spoke about his wife in such a manner that wasn’t becoming, he would cut them out. Nicholas had declared she was more important than what they thought.

Jemima couldn’t think it was possible to love him more.

“Tonight is going to be fine, my lady.” Ely smiled. “You’re going to be the perfect hostess.”

“I hope so.” Jemima held up her trembling hands. “Look at this.”

Nicholas laughed.

“She’s been like this since I suggested it.”

“Can you blame me?”

“At least your father and Elizabeth are going to be here. And Georgiana and her suitor are turning up to join us.”

Jemima sighed.

“I’m glad about that. I don’t think I could have coped with them.”

“And no Mrs Place?” Ely raised his eyebrows. “Is she still refusing to accept this?”

“I’m afraid so.” Jemima rolled her eyes. “When I saw her yesterday, she said that this was never going to work and I was going to come back crying my eyes out to say that she was right.”

Ely laughed.

“I never thought I would hear someone of a lower status objecting to their child marrying above their station. You would’ve thought she’d be delighted to have you married and to someone of good standing.”

“If it’s not her narrative, it’s not good.” Nicholas grunted. “And Mrs Place is a strange woman.”

Jemima prodded him in the side.

“That is my mother, darling. Although I won’t argue with that.” She then shook her head. “At least she would be preferable to another person who’s attending.”

“Oh?” Ely asked. “Who’s that?”

Jemima glared at Nicholas, who cleared his throat.

“Mr and Mrs Jennings are coming. And…Catherine is coming as well.”

Ely’s eyes widened.

“You what? Why would you do that? She tried to keep you two apart in the first place.”

“I was only going to invite the parents, but…” Nicholas winced as he glanced at Jemima, “but Mrs Jennings asked if Catherine could come along as well. She asked nicely and she’s a nice woman, so I couldn’t really refuse.”

“Do they know that you don’t want their daughter in your home after what she did?”

Jemima sighed.

“They do know. Catherine made a big fuss about it. But they said that she’s calmed down and her engagement is secure, and she wants to make amends.”

Jemima didn’t believe that for a second, and neither did Nicholas. They knew Catherine would be up to something. But Nicholas couldn’t turn down Mrs Jennings, and he was willing to see if it was true. If she could behave, then they could work with that. But if she couldn’t, then no more invitations. Jemima knew Catherine wouldn’t behave and would do anything to ruin their marriage, but there was no point arguing. Nicholas had to see it for himself.

From the look on Ely’s face, he agreed with Jemima.

“You are far too nice, Nicholas. If it had been me, I would’ve told them that it wasn’t happening.”

“As my wife has been telling me several times since I told her.” Nicholas grimaced. “I don’t think I’m going to be forgiven for a while.”

Jemima spied a movement behind Ely and saw Maxwell leading the Jennings family into the room. Mr and Mrs Jennings looked very nicely dressed, and Catherine did, she had to admit, look stunning. She was dressed in pale grey, her head held high and looking around the empty room. They were the first guests after Ely.

Jemima saw the way Catherine’s eyes flashed when she spied Nicholas. She knew then that Catherine wasn’t here to make amends; she had a different plan in mind. Jemima eased away from her husband.

“Why don’t you greet Mr and Mrs Jennings? I’ll speak to Catherine.”

“All right.”

Nicholas walked towards the mother and father, who greeted him warmly. Catherine started towards him, clearly about to touch his arm, but Jemima stepped in front of her, putting on a smile.

“Good evening, Miss Jennings.”

Catherine stopped suddenly, blinking in surprise. Then the surprise vanished and her lip curled in a sneer.

“Oh. It’s you.”

Off to a good start.

“If you’re going to speak, then address me properly, Miss Jennings.”

Catherine’s eyes flashed. Then she looked Jemima up and down.

“You clean up nicely, I see.”

“And I see your manners haven’t improved.”

“Why should I be courteous towards a solicitor’s daughter? Because that’s all you are, at the end of the day.”

A few people had said that before today, and it had hurt Jemima to hear that. But Nicholas always stood up for her. This time, Jemima felt a calmness wash over her. She fixed an icy smile at the other woman.

“Because the solicitor’s daughter is your hostess tonight. And if you’re going to insult the hostess, you can sit at the end of the table with a slice of bread and a glass of water.”

Catherine’s mouth dropped open.

“You…you can’t do that.”

“I can do that. I would rather have you thrown out, but I don’t want to make your parents feel worse about their daughter than they already do.” Jemima stepped towards her, fighting back the satisfaction when Catherine stepped back. “You’re only here because your parents asked nicely. That’s it. My husband will not be talking to you. I’m sure your future husband won’t be too impressed with you trying to converse with someone you wanted to have an affair with.”

Catherine’s eyes narrowed.

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“If you had been a decent person and treated me with some respect, I might have treated you differently.” Jemima turned away. “Remember what I said about the bread and water.”

It wasn’t very ladylike, Jemima knew that, but it felt very satisfying to do it. She was sure Catherine was the reason rumours about her, all of them exaggerated, were still surfacing. She had not changed, and Jemima would tolerate her for a short amount of time. After tonight, no more, and Nicholas would understand.

Nicholas joined her as Jemima took a drink from the tray one of the servants was holding.

“What did you just say to Catherine?” He whispered. “She looks like she’s about to explode.”

“I’ll tell you later.” Jemima sipped her glass. “But she will try and trap you in a corner.”

“Not going to happen. I’m sticking with you tonight.” Nicholas took her free hand and kissed it. “My wife deserves my support, especially tonight.”

He was far too sweet to her. Jemima didn’t think that was possible. Then again, she was seeing a side of Nicholas nobody else really witnessed. And she felt honoured.

“If you manage to do that, I think I can forgive you for agreeing to let her come here.”

“Then I’d better carry on paying you more attention.” Nicholas winked. “I don’t want to make you feel neglected.”

Now Jemima was looking forward to this dinner party being over. Mostly because she wanted to see how Nicholas would make her forgive him. And she would. She always did.

THE END

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