Chapter Fourteen

V anessa Wardrip trusted Lord Jasper Taverston. She did.

So, when she awoke the morning after the dreadful night at the play—where she had been humiliated in front of his friends, by his friends, and then been chased from the theater by her ghosts—to find the bed beside her cold and empty, she did not doubt Lord Taverston. She would not allow herself to doubt him.

When long minutes turned to long hours, she had to tamp down dread. That I-am-left-alone dread. Jasper’s friend, that wonderful man Lord Haslet, would not permit Jasper to call Hilyer out over a confrontation that had not even taken place. Dear God, don’t let that confrontation ever take place.

She’d made herself rise, dress, send for breakfast, eat a few bites of dry toast. Then she’d given in to her fears and crawled back into bed. He found her there. Not sleeping. Just waiting. He made love to her so gently, so tenderly—in the bed with the pillows arranged just so—that after juddering through tension to release, she lashed out. She didn’t want his pity.

“Pity!” He stared at her, confused. “Vanessa, I can assure you this is not pity.”

“What then?” He had never treated her with such kid gloves before.

He blinked at her, then shook his head. “Not pity.”

He rose and went to his washstand to splash water on his head, then took up a wet cloth to rub over himself. Her eyes followed, hypnotized by the beauty of him. The long taut line from ankle to hip. The muscled thighs. The graceful curve of his buttock with the symmetrical hollows on either side. She liked to rest her hands there, to feel the working of him as he moved inside her. She’d learned to sense the moment when his control deserted him. When he gave over to his need. In those last few moments, she liked to imagine she was anchoring him.

He threw the cloth into the basin and came back to her, brows knotted.

“I think, protectiveness.”

It startled her. He’d been pondering all the while she had been ogling.

“Vanessa, I want to be your knight. I know that sounds patronizing, but I recognize it as a fault of mine rather than any perceived deficiency in you.”

“What on earth are you talking about?”

“I want to take care of you. I want to do battle for you.” He winced. “That must sound practically blasphemous.”

“It sounds terrifying.”

“Well, you needn’t be frightened. I’m not a violent man. I suppose I could be if there were a need, but I would not lower myself to violence against a decrepit stinking pot of flesh like Hilyer.”

She breathed a little more easily. She believed him.

“I’m more calculating,” he went on, sitting on the edge of the bed, absently pulling a blanket over his lap. “He will rue the day, Vanessa, but…”

“But what?”

“This won’t be easy for you. I don’t see any way through this but to proceed. And I know you can do it. I’ve seen you.”

“Jasper, you’ve lost me.” She shook her head. “What is it that I am supposed to do?”

“You can’t let them shame you. Firstly, we have to be seen in company together. I’m not parading you or flaunting you. I would never. But we cannot appear ashamed. You see that, don’t you?”

She nodded slowly. “It’s difficult. Much more so for me than for you.”

“Differently difficult. It hurts me to see you hurt.” He waited for her to grant him her understanding. Then he said, “But I was so proud of you last night. When those two idiots burst in on us, you cut Carleton the way a countess would have done.”

“I cannot imagine a countess ever having the need. One would think she would simply ignore.”

“Maybe.” He stood up again and picked up his shirt from where he had dropped it, to pull it on over his head. He cast about for his drawers, found them, and stepped into them. Pantaloons next. He was buttoning his fall by the time he had reasoned out his answer. “It would depend upon the slight. But ignoring Carleton when he was drooling on you would not have been as effective. You disregarded him. It was superb. It defused some of my fury. Even saying this now makes me understand I can’t truly go into battle for you. I have to go into battle with you.”

“Jasper, I’m willing.” She shook her head. “But I don’t know that I am able.”

“I’ll help you. Trust me. We will start with Carleton. You have no reason to believe this, but he’s not a terrible person. He can’t hold his drink. I’ve told him so before, but once he starts, he has no voice in his head telling him that it’s time to stop.”

“Do you?”

“Yes, of course.” He flushed. “I haven’t always listened to it, but I do know when I’ve had enough. I will give oath that Carleton has only a vague idea that he was insulting last night. And he has spent the day praying he was not too insulting.”

“Will you tell him that he crossed the line?”

“No. I will give him the cut direct. At White’s. He will be as mortified as he made you.”

“So you will break with him? But you say he’s not a terrible person. Jasper, I don’t want for you to break with all your friends.”

“I won’t.” He smirked. Then he crossed the room to her dressing table for one of the fresh neckcloths kept in the drawer. He draped it around his neck and came back to her. “Carleton might try to apologize a second time. I will cut him again. He’ll be frantic. Hazard will take him aside. He’ll make him see that the apology must be to you.”

“Oh.” She felt chilled. Jasper might be giving this too much thought. “And am I to accept or refuse?”

“Accept, if you will. But with that same magnificent frostiness. Tell him it was no account. You understand that he was ‘not himself.’”

She smiled a little. “I am to pronounce the man unable to hold his liquor.” Then she laughed. “You don’t think that is too cruel?”

“You’ll be doing him a favor. Drink will ruin him if he lets it.”

It all sounded so clever. Too clever for her. She shook her head. “I cannot carry it off. I’ll be too aware of myself playing a role.”

“Ah, but I will stage it. I’ll allow Carleton to pay a call. Only you, I, and Hazard will be here. Even if you don’t pull it off perfectly, when Hazard repeats the tale, he’ll present it as though you did.”

She considered it. She didn’t know why Viscount Haslet would be so kind to her. Perhaps he enjoyed the chance to be malicious and kind in one turn.

“Is it worth all the effort simply to win Carleton back into the fold?”

“Unfortunately, Carleton matters. His brother is the Duke of Dorchester. Moreover, he will be an example. I wish I could say that was the first and last slight you will endure, but there will be others. Still, I daresay it won’t take too long to put a stop to it.”

But it would not put a stop to it.

“Jasper, Hilyer will not come crawling to apologize. And he is a marquess. And there were marriage contracts.”

He took her hands and rubbed them between his palms. “I went to see Wilkerson this morning. My solicitor, if you recall.”

“Yes. Will said he was tough.”

“And Wilkerson said he hoped to never cross pens with young Collingswood again. Vanessa, there was a marriage contract, but no marriage. No banns were read. You never stood up with Hilyer in front of witnesses. If he intended to take legal action, he would have had to take it against your father. It’s likely too late to do so now. At any rate, he can’t touch you. You wed someone else. And he can hardly sue Henry.” He grimaced. “I’m sorry. That was not meant to be flippant.”

“He can’t sue you?”

“What grounds could he possibly have?”

“I don’t know. But you must understand, I feel like a piece of property. First my father’s. Now yours. Hilyer must feel…” ausea swept over her. “Entitled to his share.”

Jasper flushed. “Hilyer has no claim, none, on my mistress. No matter what prior claim he may think he had on a wife.”

“Well, that’s fine, Jasper. But it addresses only the legality. Hilyer can still humiliate me. Us. And he has powerful friends who could make trouble.”

“Hilyer has not a single friend in all of Society. He has a few hangers-on, but they are not worthy men. And they would desert him without a moment’s hesitation if faced with—well, this is blatantly arrogant, but they won’t wish to incur the displeasure of the lords of Iversley. My father has far more influence than Hilyer. Reginald inspires a kind of amused awe wherever he goes. And Crispin is not a person men care to cross.”

“And you?”

Jasper shrugged. “I have vastly more friends.” Then he rolled his neckcloth and tied it in a simple knot, done perfectly. “When I am done with him, he will be cut off from Society altogether. He won’t show his face in London again.”

*

Jasper snubbed Carleton at White’s. It did not take doing twice. The next morning there was an enormous bouquet of lilies delivered to her door, with a card, humbly begging an audience.

She passed Jasper the card. He glanced at it, then nodded.

Vanessa laughed. “Oh, don’t look so smug. What next?”

“We will permit him to call next week. That is generous; it should be two weeks. But I believe he is honestly contrite. Tonight, if the weather holds clear, I will take you for a carriage ride in the park.”

She gritted her teeth and nodded. “I’ll wear my brown dress and the yellow bonnet.”

The point, after all, was to show her face.

Jasper disappeared during the days, attending to his usual cares or to his new schemes. He wouldn’t say. But he did have plans for their evenings.

The first, he drove her down one of the less popular paths in Hyde Park where they would be seen but he could still let his horses clip along. At that pace, it was less obvious that no one greeted them. He was unperturbed, greeting none of them either. Instead, he focused on his ribbons and on her. And it was a lovely evening for a ride.

Jasper said, “Lilies are not your favorite flower. That would be bluebells. And hollyhocks make you sneeze.”

“You carry two handkerchiefs in your breast pocket. One large and one small. I have yet to discover why.”

“A gentleman always carries a dainty handkerchief to offer a lady if a need should arise. But that little wisp of cloth does not suffice for my nasal needs.”

“Ah. A man of mystery no more.”

They were no longer strangers. Yet he did not know all of her secrets. And despite his evident openness, she suspected he must have some as well.

He said, “You butter your toast out to the very edges. And lick your fingers when you think I am not looking.”

She slid a glance at him. “I lick my fingers when I know you are looking.”

He laughed. Not to show the world the delightful time they were having, but because he was having a delightful time, she was sure of it. After all, so was she.

The second night, she thought she noted a hint of impatience. When they returned home the third night, cold and drenched from the sleeting rain they had ridden in, he was exasperated. There were so few people in the park, that it was painfully obvious they were being ignored by those there.

“Jasper, it isn’t important.”

“It is. But I know what went wrong.” He huffed. Then confessed, “There were a few lines in today’s Morning Post . There will not be again.”

She wanted to swear like a soldier. Instead, she said, “What did they say?”

“Nothing that bears repeating. It was vulgar.”

“Of course it was vulgar. It was the Post . But it will hardly shock me.”

His gaze slid past her, and she noticed he was reddening.

He recited, “It has come to our attention that the daughter of a notably moneyed cit prefers a handsome bed to a purchased title.”

She felt faint and hoped she hadn’t gone pale. She’d said it wouldn’t shock her. “At least it is accurate.”

“It was heavy-handed. I can’t imagine Hilyer is pleased with it.” He tossed his head. “The people who write these things are generally cleverer. He likely didn’t pay them enough.”

Jasper was peeved at being called a handsome bed . How…revealing.

“Well,” he went on, “we have taken the carriage rides as far as they can go. Tomorrow afternoon, we stroll.”

“Walking? Past people who turn up their noses and avert their eyes?” She didn’t know if she could do it.

“They will acknowledge us. I’m bringing the heavy guns.”

*

The Earl of Iversley descended from his gleaming black coach. Old-fashioned and boxy, it was substantial enough to require six horses to draw. Vanessa and Jasper had been awaiting him at the entrance to Kensington Park, but he hadn’t kept them long. Crowds were milling about. They stopped milling to observe.

The earl held himself erect, though he gripped his walking stick tightly. It was more than decoration. His hair was a faded blond version of Jasper’s. He had the same color eyes, a vivid blue, but his were more piercing. More like Lieutenant Taverston’s. And if Jasper’s demeanor hinted at friendly arrogance, this man’s oozed it.

“Jasper.”

“Father. May I introduce to you Mrs. Henry Wardrip?”

He turned to her. She curtsied and he waited, then said, “Mrs. Wardrip. My condolences on your loss. Jasper tells me your husband served on the Peninsula.”

“He did, my lord.”

He glanced down the long grassy path. “The gauntlet, eh?” Then, to her surprise, he offered his arm. Of course, she took it, and he began to walk. And to talk.

“I don’t suppose you’ve met General Wellesley, no? Strange chap. Strange. I don’t deny his military brilliance.”

“Crispin wouldn’t let you,” Jasper said, falling in alongside.

“Ha. No. But when I was in Ireland…” He paused and bowed to the couple who were walking towards them, unavoidably. “Whetherby. Lady Wetherby. Lovely day to be about, isn’t it? My son and his friend, Mrs. Wardrip, invited me for a stroll.” He chuckled. “He says I don’t walk enough. I think my physician pays him .”

They laughed politely. Then they were obligated to include Vanessa in their goodbyes as they moved along.

And so it went, with a succession of aristocrats out for a stroll, all yielding to the Earl of Iversley. It was not arrogance, she decided. Or only partly arrogance. It was power. And she could see where Jasper had gotten his charm.

He didn’t require much from her. A word or two here and there. He pointed out a few brown stubs of plants lining the way and she obligingly sniffed them. Although there were no flowers, the dormant twigs had a fresh scent of their own. Jasper added his part, but he was deferential. It was nice to see him deferential for a change. And Vanessa was acknowledged. Not warmly. Certainly not with a lovely-to-meet-you-you-must-come-to-tea. But she was acknowledged.

They reached the end of the path. They paused. The earl looked over his shoulder.

“And down again?” He sounded faintly winded.

Jasper said, “I don’t think that’s necessary. I had my carriage sent around to meet us here. We can drop you back at yours.” He touched his father’s arm and smiled. “And thank you.”

The earl nodded. “Well, it was…fun. Haven’t done anything like that in a while.”

“Thank you, my lord,” Vanessa said.

She saw Jasper’s carriage pulling towards them. The earl relinquished her, and she took Jasper’s arm.

“Ah, wait.” Jasper gestured with his chin to a young lady hurrying in their direction. Hurrying. Hand on her hat, skirts billowing behind her. It was possible that she was running in public.

“Oh,” she said, patting her heart as she reached them. “I’m glad I caught you.”

She was a curious woman, perhaps Jasper’s age, with pale eyes and a square jaw that made her interesting rather than pretty. Vanessa’s first reaction was petty: that the lady was hoping to catch Jasper. But she turned her pale eyes on Vanessa.

“You are Mrs. Wardrip? You followed the drum?”

Vanessa nodded, perhaps gaping a little. This was not how introductions were done.

“Rose Posonby,” the lady said.

Vanessa could not have been more surprised if the woman had stuck out a hand to shake.

Jasper said, “Lady Posonby, permit me to introduce Mrs. Henry Wardrip.”

“Slow out the gate, Lord Taverston. As usual.” Then she smiled at Vanessa. “Please call on me. Or permit me to call on you. I have so many questions, I could burst.”

*

They arrived home. Jasper could not stop smiling. Vanessa found herself smiling too.

“Your father is…exactly what I would expect your father to be.”

“I’m very fortunate. I knew he would agree to help, but in truth, I thought I would have to apply more pressure than it took. My mother, a wonderful woman in her own right, don’t misunderstand, will not be pleased.”

“No. Of course not.”

“I don’t expect you will ever meet her.” He sounded apologetic.

“Of course not.” He didn’t mention his sister, Olivia. Meeting her was so far beyond the realm of possibility, he did not bother. Vanessa refused to let that hurt.

He tossed his hat on the rack and rested his walking stick against the wall. Then he spotted something on the correspondence table and frowned. A few letters meant for him found their way here instead of his parents’ home. She didn’t know why he looked so alarmed.

He picked it up and tore it open.

“God.”

“What?”

He handed it over to her without speaking. There was only one word on the page. He must have recognized the handwriting.

EXPLAIN

She looked at him, questioning.

He said, “Crispin.”