Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

“Idon’t understand. What are you doing?” Peter asked, shaking his head as he glanced towards where Sophia was packing up her easel and paints.

“Can’t a man show a little affection to a pretty woman?” Jasper replied, and Peter smiled.

“Yes, of course. But you’re not the sort of man who does such things – ever,” he replied.

Jasper shrugged. He was not about to reveal the details of the ruse – even to Peter. The matter was between him and Sophia, and the more people who believed it, the greater its advantage would be. Jasper had come to the conclusion of that advantage the night before, realizing the potential the apparent match would have for his business prospects. He was determined to return the dukedom to its former glory and had every intention of making a profit where his father had failed.

“Well… I think she’s rather nice,” Jasper said, glancing across to where Sophia and his sister were now talking.

His words were sincere. He did think Sophia was nice. He had not given her much thought previously – she had merely been a guest at the house party, and Penelope’s friend – but since her proposition, he had come to see her in a different light. She was intelligent, vivacious, humorous, and… pretty. Peter raised his eyebrows.

“And are you going to do more about it than anger Henry with your flirtations?” Peter asked.

Jasper shrugged. He knew his cousin was smarting from having been cast aside, but he knew, too, that his attentions were unwanted. Sophia had no intention of marrying the Viscount, and if Henry intended to pursue the match, he would soon find himself disappointed.

“She doesn’t want to marry Henry,” Jasper replied.

His cousin was sitting on the flat rock, gazing out across the valley. Jasper had no sympathy for him. He was a poor excuse for a man and was only sulking because he was not getting his way. The thought of Sophia being forced to marry him made Jasper shudder, and for this reason alone, he was willing to carry out the ruse. But one question remained – who would Sophia actually marry?

“Come along, everyone. We’ll return to the horse and cart, then back to Weston House for tea and cake,” Jasper’s mother called out, and the party now set off down the hill through the trees.

Jasper lingered a moment, gazing out across the valley. It was a beautiful day, and he smiled to himself, knowing he had played the part of apparent suitor well.

“Your Grace, might we talk?” a voice behind him said, and Jasper turned to find Ethan standing behind him.

Despite his misgivings about the Earl, there could be no escaping the necessity of a conversation. If the ruse was to appear genuine, it was Ethan who would need to be convinced, even though Jasper had no intention of entering into any sort of business arrangement with him. He nodded, beckoning Ethan to follow him.

“Yes, but we need to follow the others,” he said, for the rest of the party had already disappeared into the trees.

Ethan nodded, appearing like a puppy eager for a bone from its master.

“Absolutely. I’ve been wanting to talk to you – about my cousin. I must confess… it’s come as a bit of a surprise,” he said, and Jasper looked at him with a feigned expression of confusion.

“What has?” he asked, and the Earl blushed.

“The fact of the two of you… your interest… my cousin’s interest. You see, I rather thought…” he stammered, and Jasper sighed.

“You thought what? Come on, say it,” he said, already growing exasperated with the Earl, who nodded.

“Yes, of course. Well… you see, my cousin was promised to the Viscount Loweshire…” he began, but Jasper interrupted him.

“By you, yes. But not of her own volition. She didn’t want to be promised to him, did she?” he said, fixing Ethan was a stern gaze.

The Earl faltered. “No… I suppose she didn’t,” he said, and Jasper nodded.

“Then allow her the freedom to make her own decisions. Or do you consider my cousin the better choice?” he asked.

He was enjoying this game, knowing the Earl was growing increasingly uncomfortable.

“No… not at all, Your Grace. I wanted to tell you… well, I’m only too pleased at the prospect of a match between you and my cousin,” he said, smiling at Jasper, as though it was he himself who was giving permission.

Jasper nodded. “I’m glad to hear it,” he replied.

“And… if it becomes… expedient… the prospect of you and I entering into some form of business arrangement. I am her ward, and that would make you… a sort of… son-in-law,” the Earl said.

Jasper laughed. He had never heard anything so ridiculous, though it was hardly surprising, given the way the Earl had previously behaved. He liked nothing more than status, and such a claim was entirely in keeping with this bizarre self-aggrandizement.

“Let’s not get carried away. Your cousin and I are… friends,” Jasper replied, for it would not do for the matter to advance beyond the realms of easy withdrawal.

Jasper had no intention of getting caught up in a betrothal. The apparent courtship could continue for some months – until Sophia had identified a possible suitor for herself – and then be quietly broken off without their succumbing to scandal.

“Yes, certainly, Your Grace. But every possibility remains, doesn’t it?” Ethan asked, and Jasper nodded.

“I’m sure it does, yes,” he replied.

They had reached the bottom of the hill and now emerged from the trees to find the rest of the party gathered around the farm cart.

“Come along, Jasper. We’re waiting for you,” his mother said, and Jasper nodded to Ethan, willing, at least, to accept the Earl’s permission to court Sophia, even though he had no intention of furthering his business interests.

“What were you talking about?” Peter whispered as Jasper climbed into the cart.

“Business,” Jasper replied, raising his eyebrows and smiling.

Upon arriving back at Weston House, the guests went to take tea in the drawing room, finding the Batley sisters in a heightened state of excitement.

“Venus is aligning with Neptune,” Helen said, as soon as they entered the room, with a tone suggesting everyone present should know immediately the implications of this astronomical anomaly.

“Is it?” Jasper said, for he really had no interest in what his aunt was saying, even as she nodded with a look of the utmost urgency on her face.

“Yes, the fiery Venus and the icy Neptune, come together in the celestial dance,” she said, her eyes growing wide.

“You know what it means, don’t you?” Nora said, and Jasper shook his head, glancing at the others, all of whom were trying hard not to laugh.

“I don’t think I do, no,” he said.

“Oh, come on, Jasper. Everyone knows what happens when Venus and Neptune align,” Peter said, laughing into his handkerchief.

“It means unexpected love,” Helen said, oblivious, it seemed, to the amusement she was causing amongst the others.

“Oh, yes, how foolish of me,” Jasper replied.

He always felt uncomfortable when Helen talked of fortunes, particularly when others believed them.

Lady Frighton clapped her hands together in delight. “Oh, but that’s the two of you, isn’t it? You and Sophia,” she said.

Sophia had only just entered the drawing room with Penelope, and she looked surprised at hearing her name mentioned.

“Well… I wouldn’t go so far as that,” Jasper replied, but the seed had been sown, and Helen nodded.

“Absolutely,” she said, with a look of satisfaction on her face.

Tea that afternoon was a hasty affair. It had been a long day, and most of the guests were eager to rest before dinner. Lord and Lady Frighton were the first to leave the drawing room, followed by Sir Arthur, and Henry, who had said next to nothing on the ride home, or over tea. Jasper, too, had no desire to remain longer than necessary, and having stayed for what he felt was a polite amount of time, he excused himself and retreated to his study, where a pile of correspondence kept him busy for the next hour. But just as he was about to go upstairs to change for dinner, a knock at the door startled him.

“I’m not disturbing you, am I?” Sophia asked, looking timidly around the door after Jasper had called for her to come in.

He was pleasantly surprised to see her, glad of it, even, and he beckoned her inside.

“Not at all, no,” he said.

Jasper knew he was behaving out of character. Anyone else who knocked at the study door would be very much disturbing him. But having spent the day in Sophia’s company, Jasper could not help but feel glad to have it again, and as she closed the door behind her, he rose to his feet, smiling at her from across the desk.

“I just wanted to say I’m sorry. It’s all getting rather out of hand, isn’t it? I know you talked to Ethan – or rather he talked to you. Did he… say anything?” she asked.

Jasper shook his head.

“He wanted to pretend as though he was giving his permission for the two of us to court one another. But I don’t need his permission. Not at all. He wants to pursue some business venture, but… well, I’ve got no intention of doing so. But don’t worry, it’s all rather fun, isn’t it?” he said, and Sophia smiled.

“It is, rather, yes. They’re all convinced. And your aunt Helen rather helps matters with her predictions, doesn’t she? Venus and Neptune meeting in the skies. I just don’t want you to feel obligated to continue, if you don’t want to,” she said, but Jasper shook his head.

“I assure you, Sophia, I wouldn’t continue if I didn’t want to. As I told you, it helps me, too,” he said, for he felt certain the rumor of a courtship would be beneficial to him.

The estate was not yet at the state he wanted, though matters were improving by the day, and Jasper hoped a number of investments he had recently made would bear fruit. But for now, his father’s legacy remained, and Jasper knew he would have to work hard to secure the future of the estate and his title.

“I’m glad. It would be wrong for this arrangement to be entirely to my own benefit,” Sophia replied.

Jasper smiled. She really was very pretty, and his gaze now lingered on her for longer than perhaps it should have, their eyes meeting across the desk as a slight blush came over her face.

“Not at all, though I’m glad it works to your advantage, too. As it should do. Your cousin was wrong to attempt to marry you to Henry like that. And Henry needs to learn he can’t always have his way in matters like this,” Jasper said.

Sophia nodded, and there was a look of gratitude on her face, as now she thanked him again, before excusing herself – a definite understanding now existing between them.

As the door closed, Jasper shook his head, smiling to himself at the thought of what they were doing – of what he was doing. His sister was right, this was not the usual way in which he behaved, even as he was glad to do so for Sophia’s sake, if not his own.

Finishing his correspondence, he wondered what the coming days – the conclusion of the house party – would hold, and what would happen next.

She’ll find someone soon enough. Then we can forget the matter.

But as he dressed for dinner that evening, jasper could not help but wonder what would happen if Venus and Neptune really had aligned…