Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13

“Well, that’s settled, then. We’ll stay another night. I’d be delighted to discuss our business venture over a brandy or two this evening,” Ethan said as Jasper patted him on the back.

It pained him to do so, but, as he had suspected, flattery had ensured the Earl was more than willing to agree to him and Sophia spending another night at Weston House.

Jasper had simply promised a discussion about the cotton mills after dinner, and that had been enough for Ethan to begin discussing his own ideas for their joint venture.

“Excellent. Well, I forward to it,” Jasper replied.

He was not looking forward to it. But he knew he had to maintain a certain air in the face of Ethan’s expectations, and he was only too glad to do so if it meant spending another evening in Sophia’s company. He had been glad to find her waiting for him in the garden, and to have said the things he had said to her. It had felt strange at first, and Jasper had half expected her to laugh at him, even as he now realized that had been a foolish thing to think. Sophia was entirely sincere, and what he had said to her had been sincere, too. He trusted her, and in her company, he felt safe.

“Very good. I’ll tell my mother to arrange things for dinner,” Jasper said.

Peter, too, would be staying the night, and Jasper felt certain he could put up with the Earl in the company of his best friend, and that of Sophia. He did not want her to leave, and he had now decided to go up to London immediately for the rest of the Season. In Jasper’s eyes, this was no longer a ruse, a game, or a deceit. He wanted to be in Sophia’s company, and it seemed she wanted to be in his, too.

“It’s very good of you, Your Grace. I can’t tell you how glad I am to have your partnership in business. We’re going to make a considerable profit, I’m certain of it,” Ethan said, and Jasper smiled and nodded.

He had no intention of following the matter through. He would lead Ethan on – not to defraud him of any money, but to teach him a lesson over his treatment of Sophia. When the matter was settled – when they were married – then he would cast the Earl aside without a second thought. But this thought did cause him to think twice.

When we’re married? Is that really how I feel about her?

Ethan was still out in the garden, and Jasper was pleased he had not followed him inside, knowing he could only take so much of the Earl’s prattling. But as he let himself in through the side door, Jasper was surprised to find himself face to face with his cousin.

“Henry? I thought you’d left?” Jasper said, for he was certain his cousin had suggested he would be leaving after breakfast.

Henry shook his head. “I had some letters to write. I thought it easier to do so here than in a carriage,” he said.

“Very well. You can use the library. I’ll say goodbye now,” Jasper said, not having anything more to say to his cousin, and knowing Henry was angry with him for the apparent slight over Sophia.

“I’ve written the letters. It’s you I wanted to talk to,” Henry said, blocking Jasper’s way.

Jasper looked at him in surprise. He did not think there was anything for the two of them to say to one another. If Henry believed Jasper had stolen Sophia from him, his only response could be anger. And given Jasper thought it wickedness on his cousin’s part to have acted so forcefully at Ethan’s prompting, anger would surely be his own response, too.

“About what, Henry?” Jasper said, trying to step past his cousin, even as Henry followed him down the hallway towards his study.

“About Sophia. She’s playing games with you, you know – her and that cousin of hers,” Henry said, and Jasper rounded on him, holding up his finger accusingly.

“I’m not going to argue with you, Henry. Sophia’s made her choice. Can’t you accept that?” he replied, but Henry shook his head.

“Oh, but my concern lies with you, Cousin. I’ve had a lucky escape. They were playing games with me, too. She’s not what she seems,” he said, and Jasper paused.

Jasper had to admit he had been surprised at his cousin’s response. Henry had made some small show of jealousy – the glances across the room, the angry looks. But he had made no actual attempt to come between him and Sophia.

“Well… that’s… nonsense,” Jasper said, but Henry shook his head.

“Is it? I don’t think so, Cousin. I’ve come to realize what she’s really like. She and that cousin of hers. They’re both in it together. These business deals the Earl keeps talking about. It was the same with me. But you’re a far better prospect, aren’t you?” he said.

Jasper paused, thinking back to the heartfelt plea Sophia had made for him to pretend to be interested in her. There had been such sincerity in what she had said, and yet…

“I wouldn’t say so,” Jasper replied, but Henry shook his head.

“Well… I suppose it doesn’t matter. You’re not going to marry her, anyway. You’re not really interested in her, are you?” he asked.

Jasper could not deny it. He did not want to deny it. There was no longer any deceit, and yet his cousin’s words now gave rise to doubt. He really did not know Sophia – not as Henry did, at least – and what he said about Ethan was certainly true…

“Well… it’s still early. We barely know one another,” he stammered, and Henry nodded.

“Which is why I wanted to save you from making a terrible mistake, Cousin. I feel so very glad to have realized what she was – a Jezebel,” he said, shaking his head sadly.

Jasper grimaced. But his cousin’s words had caused him to think, and now the seed of doubt was planted…

“If you’ll excuse me,” Jasper said, stepping past Henry and entering his study.

“I’ll stay tonight, if you wish, Cousin,” Henry called out, but Jasper gave no answer, slamming the study door behind him and pouring himself a brandy from a decanter on his desk.

He drank it one gulp, sighing to himself as he set down the glass. He trusted Sophia – he still wanted to trust her. But Henry’s words had given rise to doubt, and he realized he had fallen headlong into a trap – if that was what it was.

He sank into a chair by the hearth, flexing his fingers, lost in thought. It had all happened so fast, and perhaps it was supposed to – the seductress in league with her cousin, the two of them standing to profit from any potential match, even if only on the promise of a business venture

Have I been terribly foolish?

But the truth was, Jasper simply did not know – all he had were his instincts, and it was with nothing but confusion he now contemplated the evening to come…

“Oh… why must you look so pretty all the time?” Penelope said, laughing as Sophia dabbed her neckline with perfume in front of the mirror on her dressing table.

Sophia turned towards Jasper’s sister and laughed. “And why must you always consider yourself second best? There’s certainly one person who can’t keep his eyes off you,” she said, and Penelope blushed.

“Oh, nonsense,” she replied, but Sophia raised her eyebrows.

“Don’t say you haven’t noticed. He’s always looking at you. I wish the two of you would just get on with it – it’s up to him, I suppose,” she said, and Penelope sighed.

“I do like him. I’ll admit that,” she said, and Sophia smiled.

“I’m glad to hear it,” she replied, checking her appearance one final time.

Sophia had spent the afternoon with Penelope, but her thoughts had been distracted by the memory of Henry’s words. She did not know what to make of them, other than he was simply out to cause trouble and gain the advantage. She could not believe Jasper was anything other than sincere, even as she had to admit he had proved himself an excellent actor, and she really did not know him at all. She was nervous about seeing him that evening, not knowing how she should respond to him. Was it all just a flight of fancy, or was there something real in his words and actions?

“And I still can’t quite believe Jasper asked you to stay another night. He must be serious in his suggestion of a courtship,” Penelope said.

Once again, Henry’s words went through Sophia’s mind, but another thought now occurred to her, too. If Henry could claim to know Jasper better than anyone, surely Penelope could make a similar – and strong claim – too. She was his sister, and the two of them had suffered at the hands of their father, each sharing in the financial hardships they had endured.

“I hope so. Do you think he is?” Sophia asked, and Penelope smiled.

“Why? Are you having second thoughts?” she asked, and Sophia shook her head.

“Not at all, no. I want to pursue a courtship. Absolutely, I do. But… it’s all happened so fast. And it occurred to me… well, I don’t really know him, do I? Not really, at least,” she said, but Penelope shook her head.

“Take it from someone who does know him. He’s never behaved like this before. I’ve not seen him smile so much… in years,” she said.

For Penelope, this was enough to convince her of Jasper’s sincerity. Henry claimed to know his cousin better than anyone, but Penelope was surely an exception. If she said her brother was a different man than before, and all because of Sophia’s influence, Sophia would believe her over the Viscount.

“Then I’m glad of it,” Sophia said, and Penelope smiled at her.

“Come on, let’s go down. They’ll be waiting for us. And won’t it be nice not to have so many old bores to endure over dinner? I was getting quite tired of Sir Arthur’s endless stories about absolutely nothing,” she said, shaking her head and laughing.

Arm in arm, they made their way downstairs. Sophia was reassured by Penelope’s words. Henry was just playing games, or so it seemed. She should have realized as much, knowing the bitterness he felt at her rejection. She had no intention of marrying him, and playing games with her only made her angrier – much as it amused her to think she had played a game with him and won.

“I’m sure we’ll have a lovely evening,” Sophia said, but as they entered the drawing room, she was surprised to find Henry standing by the window, talking to Jasper.

He glanced across the room at Sophia, raising his sherry glass and smiling. Jasper looked at her, too, but instead of a smile, he looked almost reluctant at the thought of her company and made no attempt to extract himself from the conversation with his cousin.

Sophia was somewhat taken aback. She had expected Jasper to come bounding over to her, and for the obviousness of the affection he had earlier displayed in the garden to be shown here, too. But as the sherry glasses were refilled, he made no attempt at all to communicate with her, and Sophia now feared the worst.

She did not know what she had done, or why he was ignoring her like this. When the gong rang for dinner, he made no offer to escort her, taking Penelope’s arm instead.

“What’s going on? Don’t say you’ve ruined it already,” Ethan hissed as they made their way into the dining room.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Sophia replied, but all through dinner, she could barely eat a mouthful, her mind filled with worry as to what she had done – or not done – to change Jasper’s attitude towards her.

When pudding had been served, Sophia and the other ladies – Penelope and the Dowager Duchess – retired to the drawing to drink coffee. The gentlemen remained at the table, smoking pipes and drinking port. By that time, Sophia was quite beside herself, though she could say nothing to either Penelope or the Dowager Duchess, who seemed oblivious to Jasper’s behavior, and even went as far as to say the apparent match was progressing admirably.

“I really didn’t expect him to fall so readily… but your charms are obvious, Sophia,” the Dowager Duchess said, smiling at Sophia over her coffee cup.

“That’s very kind of you,” Sophia replied, and Penelope placed her hand into Sophia’s.

“Sisters-in-law, that’s what we’ll be,” she said, and Sophia smiled and nodded.

“Well… he has to propose first,” she said, fearing the possibility was now a remote one.

But for the life of her, she could not imagine what had come over Jasper, save the suspicion of his prowess as an actor. If all this had been a ruse, then the part was played, the matter over and done with, and there could be no question of it continuing. But in the garden that morning, Sophia had been convinced of his sincerity. He had wanted to be with her. He had wanted her to remain at Weston House another night. He had even spoken of coming to London for the remainder of the Season. What reason would he have for saying such things if he meant to behave like this? Sophia was filled with confusion – with anger, even. She felt like a fool, and it seemed Henry had been right…

“Oh, he will do. It’s only a matter of time, isn’t it? We should start planning, of course. A small wedding – nothing too grand. I don’t mean that with any disrespect, but I find these large Society weddings very gaudy. A simple ceremony in the church on the estate, then a celebration here at Weston House. This fashion for grand weddings… It’s the vows that count,” the Dowager Duchess said, and Penelope nodded.

But Sophia was not listening. She could not bear to think of weddings and celebrations when her heart was close to breaking. She had not expected to feel like this…