Chapter 23

Eleanor stopped so short upon walking into the breakfast room that Kate had to grab her shoulders to stop herself from ploughing into her back.

She had spent the better part of last night tossing and turning, trying to parse what Jasper had meant by the cryptic statements that had ended the night. He had seemed taken aback by her offer to help him carry Benedick, a reminder, no doubt, of how brawny and unladylike she was. Yet he had still asked her to come to his bed tonight.

What did it all mean?

The sight of him smiling flirtatiously at Lady Francesca FitzSimon, a far more fitting candidate for the position of Duchess of Norwood and one of the young ladies Eleanor knew Jasper was considering for his bride, brought into sharp relief what last night had not meant.

He might want to dally with someone like Eleanor. But it didn’t mean anything, and it did not preclude him from continuing his search for a bride.

To be fair, he did smile at her once he noticed her presence. “Miss Weatherby,” he said, rising from his seat. He nodded to each of her sisters in turn. “Miss Weatherby, Miss Weatherby, Miss… Perhaps it would be better for me to simply say Miss Weatherbies so you will have time to eat your breakfasts before the sun goes down.”

Pippa giggled and Jasper cast her a smile. Eleanor peered at him cautiously. Perhaps he had meant it when he said that Pippa had made a good impression, and he would not stand in his brother’s way were he to wish to form an alliance with her.

“May I help you to prepare a plate?” Jasper asked. Ostensibly, he could have been speaking to any of the Weatherby sisters, but he was looking at Eleanor. He leaned forward confidingly. “The kippers are particularly good this morning.”

“Do you think the kittens would like some?” Pippa asked, oblivious to the tension radiating from her eldest sister.

“I feel quite confident that they would,” Jasper said. “Here, let us set some aside to bring them once you have had a chance to eat.”

Taking up a plate, Eleanor reminded herself that Jasper had made her no promises. That he was perfectly within his rights to continue his pursuit of Lady Francesca.

Even if it hurt.

She felt rather than saw Jasper sidle up to her. “Are you well this morning?” he murmured.

“Perfectly well,” she whispered tightly, keeping her eyes fixed upon her plate. “Thank you.”

“Good.” He fell silent, as if to give her the chance to elaborate. When she did not, he said, “I believe Lady Milthorpe has apple picking planned for this morning.”

“That will be delightful,” Eleanor said, not raising her eyes from the platter of poached eggs. “It appears we will have fine weather for it.”

“Eleanor,” he whispered. His hand suddenly covered hers on the handle of the serving spoon.

Eleanor glanced around, alarmed, but everyone else was seated at the table and seemed to be paying them no mind. She glanced up at him, eyes wide.

His brow was creased, and his eyes were full of concern. “Are you certain everything is all right?”

She swallowed. None of this was Jasper’s fault. He had never suggested that their affair would be anything more than a temporary interlude. She had gone into their liaison with her eyes wide open.

The only problem was that she had no experience when it came to having an affair, be it of the heart or the body. In retrospect, it had been foolish to imagine she could become involved physically with Jasper without losing her heart in the process. And the exquisite pain she had felt upon seeing him laughing with Lady Francesca indicated that she was farther gone than she had realized.

Their relationship, if you could call it that, had been doomed from the start. She had never imagined they would have a future beyond this house party.

She was still determined to snatch whatever moments with Jasper that she could. But those moments would now be bittersweet.

“Everything is fine,” she murmured. “Truly. Go and sit before someone notices something.”

He studied her for another beat, then nodded. He resumed his seat across the table from Lady Francesca, who was engaged in conversation with Clarissa. Pippa had taken the seat to the duke’s left, but the one to his right remained open.

Eleanor knew better than to fall into that trap. She took the seat next to Pippa and did not look over to see if this made Jasper frown.