Chapter 5

Jasper watched with distaste as his brother spent the next half-hour conversing exclusively with those Weatherby Wallflowers.

Jasper could guess easily enough which one was Pippa, as Felix scarcely took his eyes off the chit. His brother hung on her every word and did not make the slightest attempt to converse with any of the other guests. His attentions, and his interest, could not have been more marked.

He had to own that she was as pretty as Felix had said. That didn’t change the fact that she likely saw nothing more in his brother than the hefty inheritance he would come into on his twenty-fifth birthday. All Jasper wanted was for his brother to find a wife who would truly care for him, who would be his life mate and partner. Not some fortune huntress who would bleed Felix dry and leave him heartbroken.

Surely that wasn’t too much to ask.

From across the crimson and gold parlor where the guests had gathered before dinner, Jasper observed the four Weatherby sisters. Felix had also been correct in his assessment that they were all passably handsome. To be sure, other than Pippa, they weren’t likely to attract much male attention, but that wasn’t on account of their looks. The one in the bronze dress kept her shoulders hunched and her chin ducked and wore such a ferocious scowl that it would take a brave man to ask her for so much as the time. The one in the blue gown, on the other hand, stared sightlessly across the room with an expression of disinterested melancholy.

The last sister concerned him the most. She looked to be the oldest of the four, not that she was what you would call old. She had medium-brown hair shot through with streaks of gold and a Roman nose that actually lent her a bit of an aristocratic air—ironic, considering she didn’t have a drop of blue blood in her veins. She was taller and more sturdily built than her three sisters, but not in an unattractive way. He had never much cared for waifish women. Jasper was a huge, hulking sort of man, and he much preferred a bedpartner he didn’t have to worry about snapping in two.

Not that Jasper was thinking of taking one of the Weatherby Wallflowers to bed. Good God, where had that thought come from?

But the main thing that concerned Jasper about the oldest Weatherby sister was her eyes. He couldn’t tell their color from across the room. But he could discern the fierce intelligence radiating from them.

Yes, the oldest sister was the one he needed to worry about. Unless he was very much mistaken, she would make a formidable foe.

Scowling at the four Weatherby sisters, he crossed the room to where his host, Lady Milthorpe, was conversing in hushed tones with the butler. Once the butler excused himself, Jasper bowed over her hand. “Lady Milthorpe, it is lovely, as always, to see you.”

The countess gave a fond smile. She was still an attractive woman, for all that her own children were grown, with a pleasantly plump figure and curling hair that was a mix of blonde and grey. “Likewise, Your Grace.”

Jasper dropped his voice low. “Have the particular guests we discussed arrived?”

“They have.”

Having decided that the time had come for him to marry, Jasper had asked Lady Milthorpe, who was practically an aunt to him, having been his mother’s dearest friend, to help him find the next Duchess of Norwood. She had sent him a list of candidates with an outline of both their best attributes and those that might cause him to hesitate. Jasper had chosen two—Lady Josephine Paulet, daughter of the Marquess of Peveral, and Lady Francesca FitzSimon, daughter of the Duke of Wroxley.

“That is Lady Josephine,” Lady Milthorpe said, gesturing subtly with her fan to a young lady in a white dress. She had a mane of dark, glossy curls and was presently engaged in conversation with three besotted-looking young gentlemen.

“And that is Lady Francesca,” the countess said, indicating a petite, fair-haired young lady in a pink dress, who was standing in the corner with a woman who looked to be her mother.

Jasper felt a pang of disappointment. The two young ladies were fashionably thin and wan… which was not what he liked at all. Their wrists would look comically small next to his.

God, he was going be sleeping with one of these women for the rest of his life, and he would have to be constantly on his guard to make sure he wasn’t too rough with her. Would he never be able to relax and actually enjoy himself in bed?

What an unworthy thought. Lady Josephine and Lady Francesca had been selected for their breeding, their accomplishments, and their readiness to step into the role of duchess. These were far more important qualities to consider than bed sport.

“You will be seated next to Lady Josephine at dinner tonight,” Lady Milthorpe explained, “and I will make sure you are able to spend some time with Lady Francesca tomorrow.”

“Perfect,” Jasper murmured. “Thank you for arranging things.”

The woman who was the closest thing he had to a mother nodded. “You’re most welcome.”

“One more thing.” Jasper subtly inclined his head toward the far side of the room. “I take it that is Miss Philippa Weatherby who is engaged in conversation with my brother at present?”

“That is correct.” Lady Milthorpe frowned, studying his expression. “I know what you must be thinking. But Pippa is a lovely girl.”

Jasper arched a single brow. “Is she?”

“She is,” Lady Milthorpe said firmly.

“Hmm.” Jasper narrowed his eyes as Felix and Pippa chuckled over some private joke. “Am I correct in assuming that the three ladies surrounding them are the other Misses Weatherby?”

“You are. The one in the blue dress is Katherine. The one in the bronze is Clarissa. And the one in pink is Eleanor.”

A woman in a dark blue gown was hovering nearby, obviously hoping for a moment of their hostess’s time. Jasper bowed over Lady Milthorpe’s hand. “Thank you, my lady. You have told me precisely what I wanted to know.”

He headed across the room to greet the earl. So, the name of the wallflower in the raspberry gown was Eleanor Weatherby.

It was important to know the name of his enemy.

As he accepted a brandy from a passing footman, Jasper glowered across the room at her.