Viscount (Steve Rogers AU) 18+

3

"I can't believe you just let him leave! Why didn't you make him stay longer?" Peggy complained as she paced the drawing room. "Honestly Joss, it's really not that hard to lie a little and say that I would be back at any moment".

Jocelyn's hands clasped together a little tighter as she now felt a little bad that Peggy had missed the Viscount's visit. "I did tell him that he could visit tomorrow..."

"Tomorrow's not good enough! I could miss him calling upon me again!" Peggy exasperated.

"So stay in?" Jocelyn suggested innocently. "If it's any consolation, he asked me what you were interested in, and I told him. He does seem keen to know you better Peg, and if he's seriously considering marriage? He will be here tomorrow to know you more".

Peggy sighed and nodded. "Yes, yes I suppose he will", then flopping down onto the chaise.

Jocelyn was silent for a moment. "Did you manage to find what you needed at the seamstresses?"

Her cousin nodded at this. "Thankfully. Oh, you can have my blue dress, the one I wore a couple of weeks ago? I probably won't wear it again".

"Thank you, Peg". She replied quietly and rose from her seat. "I'm going to take a walk in the garden". When her cousin didn't reply she simply left, knowing that Peggy was still stewing over the Viscount.

**

"Jocelyn! Jocelyyyyyyyyyn!" Aunt Amanda's shrill voice rang through the hallway before hurried steps followed, a knock sounding on the door. "Come along! It's almost time for the Viscount to call upon us!"

Joss sighed and sat up from where she'd been lying on her bed reading. "Ok". Was all she said, but then the door opened and Amanda walked in, flustered.

"Really Jocelyn? You could make yourself a little more presentable". She now eyed her niece with some disapproval.

She got up. "I will change now Aunt".

"No, no - there's no time, I suppose you'll just have to wear that". Amanda rolled her eyes and gestured her to follow. It was almost calling hour, and the clock on the mantle in the drawing room ticked away louder than before.

Peggy was sat playing the piano forte, but her mind wasn't as focused as it usually was. "Could you at least play something that doesn't sound like a funeral march?" Micheal rolled his eyes as he sat eating chocolates from a box.

Amanda snatched them away. "Those were to be put out for the Viscount!"

"Oops" he smirked and caught Jocelyn's eye. She pressed her lips together and hid a slight laugh behind her hand, then sitting next to him. "Trust mother to take out all the fun". He muttered to her. "She doesn't even know if the Viscount even likes chocolate".

"I think he'd be more interested in talking to Peggy than eating Carrington's finest". She eyed the pretty chocolate box on the table. Jocelyn adored chocolate, and now looked to Micheal who nodded with a sly expression. Discreetly she took one from the box and ate it before Amanda could notice.

"Very rebellious". Micheal whispered and sat up as the housekeeper now appeared in the doorway to announce Steve's arrival. "Let the fun begin..."

The Viscount now walked in, noting the family sat there and Peggy now stood up from the piano bench. Amanda now headed over all in a daze. "Lord Rogers, how good of you to call - we were just about to take some tea, if you'd like some?"

Steve smiled politely, eyes looking around the room and then landing on Jocelyn. "I had it on good authority that Miss Carter would be home today".

"Oh indeed, come, sit down and we shall give you some privacy". Amanda led him to a chair by Peggy and then headed up to Micheal and Jocelyn's end of the room - all three of them now watching the pair without any kind of discretion.

Jocelyn rolled her eyes and opened up her book that she'd brought down with her, exhaling deeply through her nose and then trying to focus on the page she had been reading before her Aunt had interrupted. She could still half hear the conversation going on between Peggy and Steve. They were talking about music and now her cousin turned round.

"Joss...come play us something whilst I talk to the Viscount".

She froze. "I...I really..."

Was this a set up? To embarrass her? "I honestly can't play as well as you Peg".

"Don't be silly, practice makes perfect". Peggy threw her a look that could only be described as calculating.

Putting her book down, Jocelyn stood up and walked to the piano, settling onto the stool and then looking through Peggy's sheet music before starting very slowly. If Peggy's tune had sounded like a funeral march, then she didn't know how to describe this. It was worse in her eyes (and ears).

Her finger hit the wrong note and she quickly looked up, seeing Peggy and the Viscount watching her. "Sorry...like I said, I play poorly".

"Yes...I didn't realise just how much". She heard Peggy say - but not quiet enough for her to hear. Regardless of how awful it sounded, she carried on - until the Viscount turned to her.

"and who taught you to play - Miss Carter?"

Jocelyn's playing stopped abruptly. "My governess. She could never understand why I didn't take to it as easily as other girls".

He nodded at this. "It's not the worst I've heard".

"You do not have to flatter me sir".

"Trust me, I wouldn't say it if it wasn't true". He smiled kindly and then turned his attentions back to Peggy.

Jocelyn decided to abandon the piano playing and return to her seat. Micheal clapping as she did. "Don't mock me". She mumbled and buried herself within her book again.

Steve stayed for the whole visiting hour until the clock sounded, and he rose from his chair. "Miss Carter, would you be interested in taking a walk with me tomorrow?"

"Oh...yes, yes I would". Peggy smiled broadly.

"Take Jocelyn with you, she can chaperone you". Amanda now interrupted.

She wanted to let out a groan from behind her book, but managed to keep it in. Great. So now she would have to be a chaperone for the foreseeable.

"What a good idea, don't you think lord?" Peggy looked to Steve.

He looked at Jocelyn where she was now watching them. "Yeah. It's a very good idea..."