Chapter 7

7

T he following morning, it was not merely Lady Darington who waited for Elizabeth and her mother in the drawing room, but also Jasper.

Elizabeth drew up when she saw him, her heart pounding.

She had scarcely slept the night before for thoughts of him, the way he had gazed down at her, how he had studied her mouth. As if he meant to kiss her.

Stupid little fool that she was, she had wished that might happen.

Of course, it didn’t. And it wouldn’t. Not when they were not truly engaged. Not when all of this was simply a facade.

But the way he’d looked at her then with that lopsided smile on his face made every rational thought in her head melt into a pool of hope.

“I say we make it the event of the season,” Lady Darington declared.

Elizabeth tensed. “I beg your pardon?”

The event of the season would mean a considerable number of guests. And she would be the sole focus alongside Jasper. Everyone would notice each wobble, every stumble, as well as any possible small stain or rip. “How many attendees did you have in mind?”

Lady Darington folded her gloves in her lap as she took a seat, completely oblivious to Elizabeth’s distress. “I want to have at least one hundred people there. Perhaps more.” She beamed at Jasper. “My grandson is getting married, and I want the world to know.”

Mama clapped her hands together, her eyes sparkling. “This will be such a delight!”

But Elizabeth did not feel delight. She felt dread, the icy darkness of it twisting her gut and leaving her stomach roiling. And while she was perfectly capable of speaking up to protest the idea of such a publicized affair, she could not bring herself to dim the joy on the faces of her mother and Jasper’s grandmother.

A hand touched her arm, pulling her attention to where Jasper stood at her side. “May I speak with you in private? And by private, I mean a quiet corner of the room.” He nodded toward the rear window where Grace had read her book when he came to call on Elizabeth after the announcement of their engagement.

She nodded and followed him to the corner. Both Mama and Lady Darington paused in their chatter for a moment to watch them walk toward that back corner and shared a smile that seemed to say “ah, young love.”

“You don’t appear overjoyed,” he said in a low voice.

“They’ll hear you.” Elizabeth shot a glance back to where Mama and Lady Darington had their heads together, both talking excitedly.

Jasper scoffed. “They won’t. Look at them.”

Elizabeth glanced over as both women laughed in shared joy, and Mama gave a merry little clap of her hands again.

“They’re so happy.” Elizabeth smiled to watch them, these women reveling in what they had wanted for so long.

They would be heartbroken when the engagement came to an end.

Jasper took in Elizabeth’s downcast expression. “I know you do not want the event of the season for our engagement party. Likely you do not even want the party at all.”

“There is no real engagement to celebrate,” she whispered. “But no, I do not want a party at all.”

“Then all you need do is say as much.” Jasper turned toward the women, opening his mouth to speak, but Elizabeth stopped him by grasping his hand. Neither of them wore gloves and the warmth of their naked fingers touching was like a jolt through her.

As if hit with the same sensation, Jasper looked down at where she still held his hand in hers.

“Let them have this,” Elizabeth said.

“But you don’t want a large party.” Jasper shook his head. “You should not have to endure something you do not want. It is, after all, our engagement and not theirs.”

“They won’t have a wedding,” Elizabeth said softly. “Let them have this.”

The expression on Jasper’s face softened from concern to consideration. “I’ll be by your side the whole night.”

Elizabeth gave a humorless laugh. “For every trip and spill?”

“I’ll catch you if you fall and we’ll insist on only foods that will not stain.”

“I do not think such a thing exists.” But even as she spoke, a smile touched her lips.

He grinned back in a way that warmed her heart more than it should. “Then we will match once more if you do spill something.”

“I told you last night, you don’t need to protect me.” The last thing she wanted was Jasper being burdened with responsibility for her actions. She could not even mind her own actions, let alone knowing she was dragging someone else down with her.

“I assure you, we will be the happiest couple.” Jasper gazed down at her as if he could not stop keep his eyes off her.

And though she wanted to lose herself in those fathomless dark eyes, she understood his actions for what they were—a facade.

She had not realized what an actor he was until that moment. Suddenly, it all made sense. The way he called her dearest and darling , the way he looked at her like she was the only person to ever exist in the world, even how he had studied her mouth as if he meant to kiss her.

None of it held any true meaning. He was simply playing the role she had forced him into. And she would do well to remember that.

“I imagine it is difficult of you to take time out of your day to attend the engagement party planning,” Elizabeth said. “At least we will not see one another until our engagement party.”

The statement was meant to be one of consolation. What man wished to burden his schedule with a woman he did not mean to marry?

But his jaw seemed to go tight under his grand smile. “Indeed.” Then he offered her his arm and led her toward the sofa where tea had been set out and the engagement party planning was already underway.

Jasper sat at Elizabeth’s side as Bess and Lady Langston discussed the courses of a grand feast, the hothouse flower arrangements, and argued over which orchestra would be the perfect fit for such an event.

In the end, Bess won, and Lady Langston learned Jasper’s grandmother was a true force to be reckoned with. Bess was not one to lose. Ever.

Through it all, Elizabeth remained agreeable. Yes, purple hyacinths and white orchids would be lovely. Yes, the fish course would be a nice addition. Yes, the order of the songs was perfect.

But Jasper knew she wanted none of it, that she merely went along to please her mother and Bess.

There was a great kindness to Elizabeth. She was truly a good person, wanting only to bring joy to others.

Which made him only want to protect her even more.

Perhaps after so many years, that need to shelter someone weaker than himself was inherent. If the engagement party was to continue, he would ensure he did remain at her side, to shield her from any wayward comments, and keep her solidly on her feet.

In truth, he had been looking forward to seeing her before their engagement party, to get to know the woman who appeared so shy from a distance, but up close was bold and open with her assessments. But her claiming they need not waste time on one another until the engagement party was a stark reminder that this was all just for show. A play with an end.

But in that moment, as she nodded in a sweet, agreeable nature to an event she wanted no part of, he wanted to be the kind of man who deserved to be engaged to her. Even if it all was an act.

But whatever his good intentions had been, they were dashed the next morning with the delivery of the scandal sheets.

Bess gave a chagrined sigh as Jasper sat down to breakfast the following morning. “I understand your haste.”

“And here I thought I was late to breakfast,” he jested.

“I’m referring to Lady Elizabeth.” She settled the paper in front of him.

There, in black-and-white print, was the story of how just moments before the engagement that stunned London society, Jasper had been found in the study alone with Elizabeth. Already a scandalous thing, but especially when paired with his notorious reputation.

The article went on to justify their placement in the study for his wanting privacy to propose, but the damage was likely already done.

“It’s a good thing you love her,” Bess said. “Or that girl’s reputation would be in shreds.”

Jasper set the paper down. “Especially with my reputation,” he muttered.

Bess flicked the scandal sheet away as if it were a bug. “You haven’t been that man for years. Don’t let your past define you.”

“Despite your encouraging words, the ton has already seen to that. And now my folly as a youth might put Elizabeth at risk.”

Bess patted his hand. “Don’t be silly, Jasper. Once you wed her, any question of her reputation will be laid to rest.”

Jasper nodded.

“You do love her, don’t you?” Bess asked.

“I’m engaged to her.”

Bess lifted a brow. “That isn’t an answer and you well know it.”

“Of course.” Jasper gave her an easy smile. Because he did know very well he hadn’t given her an answer and therefore was not lying.

A bird landed on the window ledge, its feathers iridescent in the glint of sunlight, and Bess sucked in a breath, hastily grabbing for her little notebook.

Jasper accepted the reprieve from the conversation and enjoyed a pastry, one that actually melted in his mouth as he ate it. The cook really had taken advantage of Jasper’s busy schedule. He would do as Bess suggested and stay on him to continue his efforts after she eventually returned to the country. Which might not be for a while if she remained until the engagement was broken.

But even with the idea of breaking the engagement, Jasper and Elizabeth first had to make the ton believe they truly did love one another. That Elizabeth had not been a woman Jasper had merely seduced as a conquest.

Not that he’d ever been that man, but the ton made of a bad reputation what they liked.

And if he did not play his cards right with this, they would do the same to Elizabeth.