Chapter Twenty-Four

T he next morning, Jasper woke to sunlight warming his face. He opened his eyes and then shut them quickly. His head ached so badly he could not turn it without his eyeballs cracking. Where the devil was he?

He was tangled in a sheet that stank of curdled sweat and stale champagne breath. He wore only his shirt and drawers, but his clothes must be around somewhere.

He sifted through a befogged, disjointed cluster of memories. He’d been in the card room. Hazard would not let him leave, even sat him down at the Prince Regent’s table so that no excuse would serve. The very devil. Prinny could drink . And every man in Brooks’s had wanted to shake Jasper’s hand and slap a glass into it.

He felt he’d been run over by a carriage.

But it was a triumph. He’d collected invitations—invitations that included Mrs. Wardrip—more than he could count. Of course, the majority of those would be rescinded or forgotten once wives and mothers caught wind. But not the one to Carlton House. Prinny wanted to meet the brave lady. He’d called her that. Brave lady.

God. He’d left her worrying at 8 Grosvenor Square. Damn Hazard. That’s where he was. At Hazard’s. Another memory crashed back. Hazard and Prinny hauling him from Brooks’s and tossing him into a carriage. The Prince Regent had found it all hysterically funny. It must have been near dawn. And now it must be noon, at the earliest. He’d left her alone. He hadn’t sent word. God.

He opened his eyes a slit and tried sliding to the edge of the bed. His stomach roiled. He lowered his feet to the floor and raised himself slowly, closing his eyes as the room spun. Then he opened them rapidly, dropped to the floor on his knees, and vomited into the chamber pot. For a long moment, he rested his forehead against the cool marble flooring.

Eventually, he managed to crawl back into bed and roll his face out of the sunlight. He couldn’t go home. Not yet. He moaned himself back to sleep.

*

It was near to two o’clock in the afternoon when Hazard shook him awake and dropped a clean shirt and newly pressed evening clothes onto the bed.

“Wake up. That’s enough.”

Jasper groaned, but opening his eyes, he discovered that his headache had dulled to a quiet throb and his stomach no longer threatened revolt.

“What did you do to me?”

Hazard laughed. “You did it to yourself. I merely provided the means.”

“Vanessa—”

“Will be fine. But you’ve worn out your welcome. Time to go.”

Jasper sat up.

“You should have let me go home last night. Damn. How much did I lose?”

“Not enough to worry about. A few hundred pounds.” Hazard scratched his chin. “I stopped you from wagering Mercury. Prinny may never forgive me, but that is not your mount to bet.”

“God.” Then he scowled. Remembering more. “Why on earth did you pin me to that chair? The party broke up hours before—”

“Blame Crispin.”

“What? Why?”

“He said to keep you in my sight until well past daybreak. And, if possible, to keep you in the sight of other reliable witnesses as well. I think the Prince Regent qualifies.”

“What the hell? Reliable witnesses?”

“Crispin was concerned for your welfare. Firstly, that Hilyer would exact some sort of revenge if you went stumbling towards Grosvenor Square in the wee hours of the morning. But also, he said that if anything happened to Hilyer, it should not happen after the two of you publicly squabbled.”

“What did he imagine would happen to Hilyer?” What—that he would confide to Hazard?

“I don’t know.” Hazard ruffled his hair, then scratched his earlobe. “Footpads most like. Or there is apoplexy. A heart seizure. The man is not a healthy specimen, and he was choleric. Moreover, you’re not the only one with a grudge against him. Yours was only the most recent and most visible grudge.”

“I never knew Crispin for such a nervous old maid.”

“Well, he managed to frighten me as well. I don’t know what he will do when he finds out I’ve misplaced Caro.”

“You’ve what ?”

“You left him snoring in the Subscription Room, but apparently, he woke and slunk out. Haven’t seen him since. If Crispin complains, tell him I’m not a nanny.” Hazard stood, appearing well-pleased with himself. “You may borrow that shirt. I have some calls to pay. I assume you can find your way out.”

*

Vanessa did not sleep. She lay in bed. She closed her eyes. But sleep eluded her the entire night. When dawn broke, she rose and dressed. And waited.

It was midmorning before a maid knocked at the door with a tray. When the girl left, Vanessa lifted the cover to find tea and fresh buns. She sat to eat, hungry despite her anxiousness. When she lifted the teapot, she found a folded note under it.

They are both fine.

She let out a long, shaky breath, then started to cry, the ferocity of her relief making her aware of how truly frightened she had been.

*

Jasper entered 8 Grosvenor Square fully intending to go straight to the Rose Room. But Peters met him at the door and said staidly, “Lord and Lady Iversley wish you to attend them in the small parlor.”

He decided it wasn’t worth antagonizing them further. And Vanessa had waited this long, a few more minutes would not matter.

He trod into the small parlor with a scowl on his face. His mother sat by the fire embroidering. His father, in his usual chair near the brightest lamp, read the afternoon newspaper. Crispin sprawled on the davenport, smirking over a copy of the Morning Post .

“Have a seat, Jasper,” his father said without looking up.

“Have you eaten?” his mother asked.

Jasper nodded, though he had not.

Crispin chuckled.

“What?” Jasper said.

It irritated him to see Crispin so relaxed in loose trousers, a crisp shirt, and an unbuttoned waistcoat. A light gray jacket was draped over the arm of the davenport. His riding boots had small scuffs at the heels. He looked every bit like a soldier on a well-deserved leave. One who had slept. Slept well.

Crispin rolled up the Post and tossed it to him. “The cartoon.”

Jasper unfurled it. A large-headed, small-bodied caricature of Hilyer stood alone in a cavernous room with empty card tables, banging his fist against a closed door. A scribbled sign on the door said gentlemen only . On the other side of the door, hordes of men, well-dressed but with indistinguishable faces, played cards at tables laden with champagne glasses. Near the window, a very large Prince Regent smiled broadly. Above his head, a bubble read: You promised fisticuffs!

“Caro was busy last night.” He rolled the paper and lobbed it back at Crispin, who caught it one-handed.

“Busier than you can possibly know.”

“Hazard was worried he’d lost him.”

Crispin snorted.

“You are being rude,” the countess said, setting aside her embroidery.

Crispin stood up and brought the Post to her. “I’m sorry, Mother. Let me explain.” He opened it. “This is the Marquess of Hilyer. You know. The old goat who tried to purchase a young girl with his title.”

She pushed it away. “Don’t be vulgar.”

The earl started. “Good God.”

They all turned to him. He looked up from the news.

“A ship caught fire in the Pool last night.”

“Is that so unusual?” Crispin asked.

“The whole thing burned and sank.” Father rubbed his brow. “Fortunately, it slipped its mooring and floated away from the rest or the whole lot of them could have burned.”

“I’m surprised it doesn’t happen more often.” Crispin shook his head. “The Pool is far too congested.”

“What kind of boat?” Jasper asked, a disturbing thought creeping into his brain.

“A merchant ship of some kind. One of Culpepper’s.” The earl snorted. “He can afford to lose a few.”

Jasper glanced at Crispin, who did not return the look.

“Two charred crewmen floated up this morning,” the earl continued. “Unrecognizable.”

Mother cleared her throat and said, “Iversley.”

“Well, Beatrice, I’m only reporting what happened. The boys are old enough. I’m sure Crispin has seen similar horrors.”

“Unrecognizable?” Jasper asked.

“A shame,” Crispin said. “But I suppose it could have been worse.” Then he returned to the davenport, dropped the Post onto it, and began buttoning his waistcoat. “Jasp, can you go change into something less… less ? More appropriate for Tattersalls?” He picked up his jacket. “I’ll fetch Vanessa.”

“Crispin!” Mother slammed the embroidery into her lap.

Crispin rolled his eyes. Then he whispered loudly and made broad hand gestures. “While you change your clothes, I will, you know, remove the person from the Rose Room.”

Father squelched a laugh. Jasper didn’t think Crispin’s tack was particularly helpful. Nevertheless, he stage-whispered back. “I’ll meet you at the front door.”

*

It was Crispin who came to her in the Rose Room.

“Jasper will meet us out front.”

“Is he avoiding me?” she asked sourly, lifting her wrap from a chair near the door.

“Should he be?”

“What happened?”

“Nothing untoward. Freddy went quite alone to Trafalgar. I imagine he had the blunt in his purse. He wandered about for a good two hours before giving up.”

Vanessa’s eyes watered. “Oh, Freddy.” Then she tilted her head to study Crispin. “How do you know?”

“I had someone keep watch on him. It isn’t the safest place for a wealthy boy on his own at that time of night.”

She swallowed hard. “Thank you. Where did he go afterward?”

Crispin did not look at her. “Back to where he’d come from. But he’d been gone long enough. I imagine he went home from there.” Then he did look at her. His expression was stern except for a small quiver on one side of his lips. “He wasn’t followed after that. My resources are not unlimited.”

“I appreciate all that you did. I’m not sure why you did it, but thank you.”

“Say nothing to Jasper. In fact, say nothing more at all. You may hear things. You may draw conclusions. I will ask you not to ask questions and not to speculate aloud.”

As she nodded, he took her wrap from her and draped it around her shoulders. Then he took her elbow and murmured, “We’d better get to the receiving hall before my mother has a fit. It is quite improper for me to be here with you.”

“Oh, for pity’s sake.”

He walked her down the hallway, pointing out features of the wing, what was behind some of the doors, and the provenance of the large landscape painting on the wall. It was not even a full day since Jasper had brought her along the same hallway, silently, roiled by fury he was struggling to control. And she had been shaking with shame and fear. It felt like forever ago.

As they reached the main part of the house, Vanessa slowed.

“Is Hilyer going to leave London?”

Crispin said, “You’ll have to ask Jasper. I wasn’t at Brooks’s last night. Although I did see a cartoon in the Post that suggests he was successful.”

“Ah. The Morning Post . A favorite of yours.”

Crispin halted. He faced her stricken. “Vanessa, I’m sorry. Truly. I was peeved at Jasper, but I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“Crispin.” She stiffened her spine. “I’ve listened to you. Now you must listen to me. You have no right to be peeved at Jasper. None. You are not his keeper, and you are certainly not mine.” She held up a hand to silence him. “I am grateful to you for seeing me safely out of Corunna. However, I was unaware that your help was conditional.”

“It wasn’t.”

“Apparently, it was. You seem to think I owe you more than my gratitude.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“It is. My life, and my choices, are my own. I chose…I choose …to be with Jasper. We decided on the terms. That decision is no one else’s concern. So it is unclear to me why you think you had cause to be peeved with your brother.”

Crispin was quiet. She could see his brow cloud. Then he said, “You’re right.”

“I think you are less peeved with him than you are disappointed in me.”

“But I’m not disappointed in you.” He sounded genuinely confused by the accusation.

“With the idea of me. I think you are. I was quite the soldier’s-wife-heroine, was I not? Until I succumbed to Jasper’s wiles and became no more than a common courtesan.”

“All right. Enough. Let me think.” He stood a moment, staring at the wall. He tapped his fingers together. Then he said, “You may have a point. But I think, too, that I sometimes feel a responsibility for my men that extends beyond my remit. I felt responsible for you. I should have realized that Jasper was not…was not taking advantage of someone helpless. That had you not wanted to be with him, you would not be.”

Now it was her turn to ponder his words. It seemed they had reached an understanding. Of sorts.

“So now?” she asked.

“Now?”

“You will agree I am not your responsibility.”

He shrugged. “Now you are Jasper’s.” Then he grinned. “And he is yours.”

She pursed her lips. “That must be a great weight off your shoulders.”

“Ha!” He tapped her elbow and led her the rest of the way, more quickly, back to the entrance, where Jasper paced back and forth. When he saw them, he rushed forward and caught her in his arms. Crispin stepped back.

“Vanessa, I’m so sorry. I should have come for you last night. I should have sent word.”

“Is Hilyer leaving London?”

“He—I believe he’s already gone.”

“But will he come back?”

She saw Jasper raise his eyes, looking to Crispin, then he lowered his gaze to her and said, “No.”

“Good.”

“Vanessa, I promised you I wouldn’t leave you alone, waiting—”

“And I said I would eventually outgrow such neediness. Do you think, Jasper,” she pulled his arm, turned a little aside, and said, “that we could have this conversation at home?”

He flushed, glanced at his brother again, then back at her. “Yes, of course.”

Crispin laughed. “I’ll be at Tattersalls. If you join me there, fine. If not, I think I can manage to choose my own horse.”

*

As Vanessa and Jasper approached their townhouse, she noticed a young man lurking at the gate.

“Wait here a moment,” she said, putting her hands on Jasper’s chest. “Please.” Then she hurried to her brother.

“Freddy?” She drew closer. “Freddy! It is you. What on earth?”

“Nessa!” He raced to her and threw his arms around her.

“Vanessa!” Jasper shouted.

“It’s all right, Jasper. I know him. Wait a moment. Please.”

To his credit, Jasper remained where he was.

“If you want to run,” Freddy said in a low voice, “I have my pistol. I will keep him…”

“Oh, Freddy, hush.” Her brother looked disheveled. Wild-eyed and disheveled. He had not returned home. He must have spent the last several hours tracking her down. “I have no wish to run from Lord Taverston. Don’t be foolish.”

“But he—”

“But nothing. I am a widow. I’m of age. I’ll do as I please.”

“But you wrote you were afraid.”

“Not—” She bit her tongue. She almost said she was afraid of Hilyer, not Jasper. “I didn’t write.” She laughed a little falsely. “What on earth could I be afraid of in London?”

“I-I brought your ten pounds,” he stammered, confused.

“Ten pounds?” She made her face curious. “What ten pounds?”

“You said you needed to hide out in the country.”

“Freddy, what in the world are you talking about?”

He pulled a crumpled letter from his pocket. “This.”

She looked at it. Widened her eyes. Then said in a frightened tone, “I didn’t write this, Freddy. Who did? Who knew about…” she dropped her voice and whispered, “the marquess?”

“Oh, everyone knew.” He practically whined the words. “Nessa, what do you mean you didn’t write to me? Last night? He said it was from you.”

“Who said?”

“A beefy fellow. Foreigner, I think.”

Vanessa shuddered. “Why would someone do this?” Crispin had said not to speculate aloud. She needed to end this conversation. Quickly. But Freddy paled.

“Never mind,” he said. “I suppose I know. Father—” His voice caught as if he might gag. “The marquess won’t bother you again. Not anymore. I don’t know—” Freddy looked increasingly terrified. “I don’t understand. But Father must have wanted…” He shuddered.

“Freddy? What is it? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“What did Father want?”

“Nothing.”

He tore up the letter and dropped the pieces into the muck of the road.

“I’m sorry, Nessa. I’m sorry. I wanted to make it up to you somehow. Show you…” He clenched his fists. “Well, now he knows. I’ll deal with that.”

“With what ?”

“Father. Don’t worry. Here.” He pulled a ring from his finger. “Send this. If you ever do need to write to me, send this. So I won’t be fooled again.”

“Freddy—”

He hugged her hard again, suddenly, before she was ready to return the embrace. Then he turned away and fled.

As she stared after him, her heart hurting, Jasper drew up beside her. “Your brother?”

She nodded. Jasper let out a long sigh.

“Is this something we need to worry about?”

“No.” She looked up at Jasper. She pretended to smile. “No, I think we are done with worrying about brothers for a while.”