Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

" M r. Rogers, I have a correspondence I would like you to send," Jasper informed his butler. The older man, who was just now making his way down the hall, was passing by Jasper's office, so the duke stood and crossed out of the study to catch him.

"Of course, Your Grace." The butler offered him a small nod. "If you will allow me, I first need to deliver this letter to the duchess."

"Anything urgent?" Jasper queried.

"I do not know, Your Grace. I believe it is from her family."

A sudden thought struck the duke. "Then I shall take it up to her," he offered.

"Your Grace, you needn't –"

"It is no trouble." Jasper offered the man a small smile, hoping to assure him that Mr. Rogers was in no way shirking his duties.

With a grateful nod, the butler offered Jasper the letter, exchanging it for the duke's own and then hurried back down the way he had come.

Turning the small correspondence over in his hand, Jasper's mind raced.

This morning, as he lay in his bed, watching the early morning light fill his room, Jasper had come to a decision. He needed to clear the air between himself and Arabella. Even after their night in the hunting lodge, she had continued to avoid him, speaking only a few sentences to him at a time and keeping her distance. And, finally, Jasper was forced to accept that – though this was what he had originally requested of her – he was no longer sure it was what he wanted.

Swallowing his pride, he had admitted that he had begun to hope for something akin to friendship from the woman. After all, why shouldn't he? Friends could be companionable whilst still keeping their distance. And Arabella would make an interesting one to say the least. She was articulate, surprising, and curious. She was far more interesting that he had expected of the woman he would marry. Jasper had assumed that he would marry a privileged, self-centered woman who had very little to say about anything that really mattered.

But Arabella was quite the opposite. Not only was she a keen rider, happy to ruin her hair and clothing as she raced through the country side and risked being thrown from the horse's back, but had he caught her reading novels which pertained to history, business, and the state of the world. She was inquisitive and did not care whether her interests were considered ‘ladylike' or not.

Jasper had smiled to himself as he lay in bed, picturing her face when he had first insinuated that her riding was unbecoming of her. She had not even seemed angry with him. Rather, she had looked at him as if he were an ignorant fool. No one had ever dared to look at him like that before.

Nor had anyone dared to challenge him as she had.

As Jasper stood outside his study, a wave of heat had run through him at the memory of their confrontation in the stables. She had compelled him to draw closer to her, torn between the obligation to leave and the desire to pull her into his arms.

What might she feel like, tucked within his embrace?

The sudden thought took Jasper by surprise. His hands tingled with a warning. He knew exactly what it would feel like. Nothing. He would be overcome with nausea, his blood turning to ice.

He would not allow that to happen. Nor would he allow her to see such a thing and, consciously or not, spread the rumors of his condition.

But he could not keep her at a distance either. The distance was…more painful that he had thought it might be.

Sighing, Jasper passed a hand over his face. Then, before he could think better of it, he started upstairs. But Arabella was not in her rooms. He knocked again, but still received no answer.

Curious, he descended the stairs and stepped outside. Putting a hand to his eyes, he searched the far off stables for any sign of movement. Nothing there either. As least, as far as he could tell.

In the drawing room, Jasper merely found two of the maids cleaning. He was about to ask them if they had seen the duchess when he had a sudden thought. He knew where his wife would be.

Of course . Stepping back into the hall, Jasper made his way into the library. In a chair beneath one of the room's large windows, Arabella sat reading.

She did not look up at his approach, and Jasper figured she was too immersed in her story. For a moment, he did not speak. He merely stood there, looking on as she read.

She was beautiful. There was no denying that. With strawberry blond hair that, in the sunlight, looked like melted gold, and bright, intelligent blue eyes in a heart-shaped face, she was the picture of youth and vivacity.

His eyes traveled down a little ways. His chest tightened. She was lithe and fit, but had the curves of a woman. The effect of this vantage point stirred Jasper's blood in an unfamiliar, frightening way.

Clearing his throat, he forced himself forward. "Duchess?"

Jumping a little, she glanced up. When she saw him, the smile that had been spreading across her face fell away. This wounded Jasper more than he could have expected. "Oh. Your Grace. Did you have need of something?"

"A letter had arrived for you." Jasper held it out to her, crossing a little so that she did not have to stand to receive it.

But she stood all the same. As she reached out to take it, Jasper watched her hesitate ever so slightly. Her fingers stretched toward his but, at the last moment, she carefully took the letter from him without touched his gloved hands.

Then, opening it, she glanced briefly over the contents of the letter. When she glanced back up at him, she looked a little surprised. "Was there anything else you needed?"

It was time. Jasper shifted his weight, trying to find exactly the right words. "That is a letter from your family is it not?"

One of Arabella's eyebrows flicked skyward. "It is."

"I wanted to say…well, first I should…apologize."

Arabella's eyes widened slightly, but she stayed silent.

"I spoke harshly the other day. There was no need for such rudeness, and I am sorry." He took a deep breath, forcing himself to continue. It was not often that he found himself in the wrong. And it was more difficult to apologize to Arabella than he had surmised. She was looking at him so fiercely that it took all his mental resolve to stick to the speech he had prepared.

"Seeing this letter from your family," he continued, "has reminded me that you are still new here. New to your duties and responsibilities. New to the terms of our arrangement. It is to be expected that you might overstep the boundaries from time to time."

Arabella seemed to think this over for a little while. Then, her brow still furrowed, she turned a look of trepidation on him. "Your Grace, what happened the other day - and indeed, what you spoke of on our wedding day…I admit that I am a little confused. Why am I not to touch you?"

Was there a hint on pain in her eyes? Jasper quickly dismissed it. Why should she be sad about such a thing?

He swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry. "I have said all I will on the subject," he finally said gently. "I will trying to be understanding, but I hope you will continue to abide by that part of our arrangement. Your behavior the other day was…improper."

As Arabella opened her mouth to press further, Jasper decided it would be best to change the subject.

"Why have you not yet invited your family to visit the estate?" he asked.

At this, Arabella blinked in surprise. "I beg your pardon?"

He gestured to the letter. "I gather that you have been writing to them almost daily. Would it not be easier to simply speak with one another face to face?"

Hesitating, Arabella bit her lip. "I did not think you liked my family, Your Grace," she said softly. "I did not think you would approve of hosting them here."

This was indeed a surprise. Jasper frowned. "What has given you that impression?"

"Well, for one, your uncle has made his displeasure with their manners infinitely clear. I believed you shared in his opinion given the seating arrangements at our wedding banquet."

Finally understanding, Jasper's frown deepened. "I owe you another apology, I fear. The discourtesy done to your family on our wedding day was a most unfortunate accident. I take full responsibility for it, for I should have noticed the mistake earlier. But I never intended for your family to be seated in anything but a place of honor. It would be ungentlemanly to do otherwise."

As Arabella seemed to be processing this, Jasper felt the need to continue. "To prove to both you and your family that no offense was meant, might I suggest that you invite them over sooner rather than later? You need only alert the staff to the occasion and I am sure they will ensure that everything is properly prepared."

Slowly, a smile began to spread across Arabella's face. It began in her glittering eyes. Then those perfect lips lifted into a grin. "Are you certain, Your Grace?" she asked hopefully, still a little unsure.

Jasper chuckled. For some reason, her happiness was contagious. "Of course. You are a duchess now, after all. You may do as you wish. Within reason, of course," he added teasingly.

As Arabella's eyes lit up further, her smile widening, Jasper found himself unable to keep a smile from his own lips. He enjoyed seeing her like this. And he felt a little surge of pride knowing that it was he who had put that smile on her face.

"Oh thank you!" Arabella breathed. Her eyes shimmered slightly, tears of joy threatening in the midst of her good news. "I, I have missed them dearly. Though –" she cut herself off, stopping mid-thought.

"Though?" Jasper prompted.

Embarrassed, Arabella continued. "I must admit that there are others I wish to see. My old maid. Our cook. Would it be possible for me to visit my family at Clement estate?"

"Of course."

Arabella smiled gratefully up at them. "Oh my parents will be overjoyed! And I know they shall be so relieved. Their worries will be soothed when they see and speak to me in person."

"They are worried about you?"

Arabella shook her head quickly. "Only that I am out of their sights. Parents will find anything to worry about."

Wincing slightly, Jasper stopped himself from admitting to her that he would not know about such a thing. Indeed, it was a sore subject for him, ever after all these years. But she did not know that. It was not her fault that she had been lucky enough to be born into such a loving family.

But Arabella's words also reminded Jasper of something else. "When your mother joined us at the shops, she said that your sister was a kind soul, but shy. Entering into society like that might be difficult. I fear many men might take advantage of a young woman like her. If it is not too forward, I wondered if I might suggest a few men to your mother who might be good matches for when the time comes. Gentlemanly, kindhearted men who would appreciate a quiet, thoughtful girl like Miss Madeline."

"I could also provide Miss Emily with a few names of men to keep her daughter away from," he added grimly, a few such names coming to mind.

When he glanced back at Arabella, she was staring at him in awe. "I would be happy to introduce your sister to the appropriate men," he added hesitantly. "That would be my duty as brother-in-law, would it not?"

But Arabella continued to stare at him. Was she upset about something? Had he overstepped?

Then, just as he was wondering if he would be apologizing to Arabella for a third time today, she began to laugh.

"Is something funny?" he asked.

Arabella, still laughing, shook her head. "I, no, no not at all," she grinned. "I merely – I had the sudden realization of where I was and of the conversation I was having." She placed a hand on her chest to steady herself. "I have not quite adjusted to my new situation."

His wife's laughter had not irritated him. Nor had her last statement. Indeed, it would only make sense that she should not know what to expect of him. But to see such relief in her, as well as gratitude to him, prompted him to do what he did next.

Taking a step closer to her, he felt the corner of his mouth twitch with amusement. "Indeed not. You do not seem to understand the power you wield."

At this, Arabella's eyes widened. She opened her mouth slightly as if to ask just what he meant by that. But, for a moment, neither interrupted the silence between them. Though Jasper himself was taken aback at what he had said, he knew that he had spoken the truth. In more ways than one.

Arabella's smile faded slightly, but her joy did not. "Forgive me. I must admit, I did not expect you to make such a kind offer toward my sister," she admitted with quiet sincerity. "But I am most grateful."

"I am sorry that I have inadvertently caused them offense," Jasper replied, mesmerized by the look on her face. He had not seen this softness from her before. It made him want to reach out and touch her, to see if she truly was real.

She shook her head. "You have not acted ungentlemanly toward them." As she opened her mouth again, she seemed to fight a different smile. Was that a mischievous look she was now wearing? "They think very well of you, Your Grace. Indeed, they would be overjoyed to see you, if you were to join me for a visit to their estate."

Jasper regarded Arabella with wonder. If he was not mistaken, she was asking him to join her on her visit to her family's manor. And, if he was not entirely deluded, she looked hopeful that he might take her up on the offer.

For the second time in only a few days, Jasper fought against the desire to reach out and pull the woman to him. His body itched as if she belonged in his arms and that, by keeping her at a distance, he was working against the laws of nature itself.

Unthinkingly, Jasper raised a hand. Arabella's cheeks went pink. He took a step closer to her.

Then, his heart racing, Jasper took a step back. "I – er- there are preparations to be made. The ball, of course. I should ensure that everything is settled before we depart."

Then, without another word, he turned on his heel and strode away.

Arabella stood in the library alone. Her face was burning, her hands trembling at her sides.

Something had been about to happen. And Arabella could not understand why it had not.

Jasper – the man she had believed to be as self-centered as he was arrogant – had sought her out in order to apologize . She might not have believed it if she had not witnessed it for herself.

Not only that but he had made sure that she knew she was free to visit her family at any time she wished. He did not care how they behaved or what was thought of them in the ton . This had come as an enormous surprise to Arabella.

But what surprised her even more was the sudden change between herself and her husband. Had he been teasing her?

Arabella's face grew warm again at the thought. He had. She was almost certain that he had. And he had drawn closer to her than ever before. She had watched him raise his hand to…she did not know what. And, in that moment, she had not cared.

No. It was more than that. She had wanted him to do something. To touch her.

Arabella put a hand to her forehead. She could not understand what was happening. All she knew was that something had changed between them. Even though Jasper had left only moments after the change had occurred, she knew that he had felt it too. Something was different.

And Arabella, despite her efforts, couldn't help but hope.