Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17

" A rabella!" A chorus of her name went up as soon the door opened. Beaming, Arabella hurried forward to embrace her family. Behind her, Jasper waited politely.

Her husband had agreed to join her when she visited her family and, strangely, Arabella had been glad. Strangely, she had wanted him to join her.

As Emma released Arabella from her embrace, she moved on to Jasper. To Arabella's astonishment, Emma pulled the duke into a hug. "We are honored you have come to visit," she told him, smiling as she pulled back to look up at him.

Arabella watched as, though he nodded politely, Jasper's entire physicality changed. He stiffened as soon as Emma had put her arms around him, his eyes staring straight ahead of him as if he were looking for something to steady him.

Even when Emma had moved away, allowing Madeline to greet the duke next, Jasper stood as if he had been frozen to the floor. Then, to Arabella's horror, Madeline also embraced Jasper.

Embarrassed, Arabella hurried to interrupt the greeting. "Madeline, you must show us what you have been playing on the piano of late," she said, taking her sisters arm and beginning to lead her further into the hall.

This, thankfully, seemed to work. The family was instantly distracted by the suggestion, leaving Jasper to follow them as they all started into the music room.

As Madeline excitedly began to search for her sheet music, Thomas came to stand beside Arabella. "Have you been riding?" he asked her eagerly. "What are the duke's horses like?"

Hesitantly, Arabella glanced over at Jasper. But he did not seem offended. In fact, he crossed toward them and addressed Thomas himself. "Your sister has told me that you and she used to ride nearly every day together. Is that right?"

Thomas nodded eagerly. "Yes. Though I usually beat her," he added, straightening his shoulders proudly.

As Jasper flicked a glance at Arabella, she shook her head, grinning. The duke smiled. "You out to be careful if you challenge your sister to another race," he told Thomas. "She has been practicing of late. She just might beat you this time."

"Has she beaten you?" Thomas asked, wide-eyed.

"We have not yet raced," Jasper informed him. "Though your sister was quick to challenge me to one."

Next to Jasper, Emily let out a little surprised gasp. "Arabella, you did not!"

Smiling embarrassedly, Arabella nodded. "I did."

"You should not be surprised, dear wife," Peter added, chuckling. "Even as a young girl, Arabella was quick to test her skills. Do you remember when she challenged Lord Ramsbury to a race?"

Peter turned to Jasper. "The poor man was nearly sixty-five at the time."

As the rest of the family burst into laughter at the memory, Arabella reached out to playfully strike at her father. "You make me sound heartless."

"You were," Peter laughed. "Trust me, Your Grace, our daughter has quite the competitive streak in her. Be wary of challenging her to anything. If she wins, she will never let you forget it. And if she loses, she will mope about the house for a week."

Gasping, Arabella turned to Jasper. "He is exaggerating. I only did that once. And I was eight years old!"

"She was angry with me for two days the last time we raced horses," Thomas piped up. "And that was only a few months ago."

"Enough!" Arabella cried, half mortified, and half amused by her family's shared laughter. "We must let Madeline play."

As the family continued to chuckle, turning their attention to the piano, Arabella risked a glance at Jasper. Though she could not quite tell what he was thinking, there was a small smile on his lips. He was not, at least, utterly miserable.

They listened to Madeline play for a little while, Arabella sharing amused smiles with her parents as Madeline insisted on playing another song for them just as soon as the first had finished. But, before long, it was time to adjourn into the dining room for supper.

At the table, Arabella was seated next to her husband, with Peter on Jasper's right and Madeline on Arabella's left. Across from them sat Emily and Thomas.

Here, too, Arabella became aware of how differently her family lived their lives in comparison to everyone else. The family insisted on sitting close to one another during mealtimes, often rotating who sat where so they could enjoy one another's company equally.

She found herself watching Jasper closely as he took his seat beside her. Was he judging them because of their strange, uncultured habits? Was he uncomfortable? She realized that it was asking a lot, throwing him into the dynamics of this family. Anyone might find it overwhelming to say the least.

But, thankfully, Jasper seemed to be following the conversation with ease. He even smiled a little as Peter began to tell a joke, informing Jasper of how nervous he was to approach Emily for the first time when they were young.

"I knew she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen," Peter grinned, watching his wife with pride. "But I hadn't the foggiest notion of how to tell her that!"

"What did you do?" Jasper asked, glancing between the couple.

"You will never believe it!" Peter laughed, reaching out to place a hand on Jasper's shoulder. "She approached me!"

While the rest of the family laughed, Arabella's stomach dropped. She could almost feel Jasper stiffen beside her. He was uncomfortable with her father's touch. Just as he had been uncomfortable when Lord Fitzroy had taken his hand at the ball. Arabella had noticed it then, too, how Jasper kept glancing down at his hand afterwards, looking at it as if it had been stained somehow.

Thinking quickly, Arabella spoke up. "Father, will you pass me the peas?" she asked, gesturing to the small bowl at his elbow.

To her relief, this worked. Peter let go of Jasper as he turned to comply with his daughter's request.

Though Jasper seemed to relax only a little, Arabella hoped she had intervened quickly enough.

Thankfully, the rest of the meal passed by without further incident. When they finished, Madeline hopefully asked if they would like to hear her play some more.

Though Peter chuckled, he made a different proposition. "I believe, my dear, that our guest may wish to continue conversing a bit more before he hears more of your lovely music."

"Shall the gentlemen retire for a drink?" he suggested to Jasper. "Madeline can play for the ladies and Thomas in the meantime."

Arabella nervously watched Jasper. She was about to suggest that they all retire together when Jasper nodded. "I would be honored," he told Peter.

Though Arabella was still not convinced, she joined her mother and the others as they returned to the music room. She could only hope that her father behaved with Jasper.

"Well, we are certainly glad to have you," Peter told Jasper, pouring him a drink as Jasper settled into a nearby chair.

The room that Peter had taken them to was nicely and moderately furnished, clearly a secluded place for Peter to come to when he needed a moment or two alone.

Not for the first time, Jasper wondered why this family was so scorned by the ton. Aside from their eldest's choice of husband, and their sometimes overt shows of affection, the Mertons kept a respectable home. They surrounded themselves with nice things, but nothing that seemed to be trying to make them out as wealthier or more important than they were.

All in all it left Jasper feeling warm and cared for, though a little empty inside. How different was this place to his own childhood home?

"I am glad that my wife could visit her family," Jasper replied. "It is clear that you all are quite close."

"Perhaps closer than you might have expected," Peter chuckled. "We are very lucky to have one another."

"I can see that."

Jasper accepted his drink and Peter settled into a chair opposite him. The older man sighed a little and sipped his drink. "There is nothing like a stiff drink after a long day, is there?"

Jasper nodded. "Has it been a long day?"

"Very." Peter chuckled dryly. "I was approached about an interesting business venture. I was in conversations about it nearly all afternoon."

At this, Jasper hesitated. It was none of his business to ask after the nature of the venture, but he had heard tell of Peter's less than successful history when it came to such matters. Indeed, he was deemed to have a very bad eye when it came to knowing what he should and should not invest in. The man, from what Jasper had heard, could be easily taken advantage of, as affable and trusting as he was.

"May I ask who the venture involves?" Jasper asked, trying to sound unconcerned.

"I was first approached by Lord Morton," Peter told him, taking another sip of his drink. "Though I believe he has spoken with a Mr. Barrow about it."

"Mr. Adam Burrow?"

"Yes. Do you know him?" Peter asked hopefully.

Jasper hesitated a moment, trying to think through what he needed to say next. "I do, unfortunately."

Peter's face fell. "You do not think favorably of the man?"

"I have only met him once," Jasper cautioned. "But I know several men who have gone into business with him. And none of them came away with any money."

"None?" Peter's eyes widened in astonishment.

Jasper shook his head. "Mr. Barrow has claimed that they were all failed investments, but I am not convinced. I think the man is fleecing his business partners and pocketing their investments."

"Have you any proof?"

"No. I cannot therefore tell you not to engage in business with him. But," Jasper added gently, "even if he is not acting falsely, the business endeavors are clearly risky. He does not exactly have a history of success."

Peter was silent for a moment. "No, no indeed," he murmured. Then, sighing, he downed the rest of his drink. Jasper waited for the older man to tell Jasper that he had no right to advise him in this manner.

But, to his great surprise, Peter broke into a sad smile. "I do not exactly have an admirable history in business either," he admitted. "I am very grateful for your advice, Your Grace. Lord Morton will not be happy to hear that I must pull out of the enterprise, but I shall try to convince him to give up the investment as well."

Relieved, Jasper finished his drink as well. "If you are in need of another venture, I myself have invested in once recently. I would be happy to inquire if there is need of another financier."

"I would be most grateful," Peter said, his smile widening. "Thank you."

As laughter carried down the hall to them, Peter rose. "I think it is time we rejoin the others. What do you say?"

Nodding, Jasper stood. As he followed the older man out into the hall, he found himself strangely warmed by his praise. Jasper had never really known his father. The man had passed when he was a child and he had very little memory of the man.

Though he had never experienced the praise and admiration of a father, Jasper wondered if it might not feel a little like this.

In the music room, Madeline was finishing a song. As the music faded, Peter began to clap, leading Jasper further inside. "Brava," he called out. "Well done my dear."

Madeline beamed. At their approach, Arabella hurried toward them. Jasper thought she looked a little anxious as if she were worried that something had gone amiss, or that, perhaps, her father had misstepped somehow.

"Arabella, I must thank you for bringing your husband along today," Peter said to her, grinning back at Jasper. "He has saved me from a potentially dangerous business endeavor."

"Indeed?" Arabella looked at Jasper with surprise.

Peter nodded. "This young man certainly has a good head on his shoulders." Laughing, he reached out as if to playfully land a fist into Jasper's upper arm. But, before he could, Arabella stepped forward. "Father! Stop that!"

Her sharp tone stunned both Jasper and Peter. As Peter's arm fell at his side, the rest of the room went quiet.

Arabella, seeming a little surprised at herself, hung her head. "I – forgive me. I did not mean to speak harshly. It is just that His Grace might have considered that impertinent."

For another moment, everyone was silent.

Then, Peter began to chuckle. "You are lucky to have such a considerate wife, Your Grace," he said after a moment. "She is by far the most sophisticated member of the family. Sometimes she has to step in to keep the rest of us in line. Forgive me," he added kindly. "I meant no offense."

Jasper, watching all this with fascination, shook his head. "None has been taken."

With the air cleared, the family began to chat happily again. "Is he lucky, father?" Thomas asked, moving closer. "To have Arabella as a wife?"

Peter frowned slightly. "Why wouldn't he be?"

"Well, for one," Thomas replied, "she is going to beat him at a horse race. I doubt he will like that."

Now it was Jasper's turn to laugh. "We have not yet had the race," he reminded Thomas, catching Arabella's eye. "And whether or not she can beat me remains to be seen."

Arabella chuckled and Thomas grinned. "True," Thomas mused. "But in order to beat her, you will have to practice. I know, I could teach you my tricks!" the boy added excitedly. "That way she'll have no chance of beating you."

"Indeed?" Jasper could not wipe the smile from his face if he tried. "Then I humbly accept your offer. I should be grateful to learn from the master."

As Peter and Emily laughed at this, Jasper caught Arabella's eye again. She was looking at him strangely, but approvingly. As if she could hardly believe what she was seeing and hearing.

Jasper himself was amazed. Never once had he enjoyed an evening so much. Never once had he felt a part of such a small tightly knit community. But, though this family was not his, they had taken him in and treated him as one of their own.

Despite himself, Jasper found himself hoping that this was only the beginning. That, in time, he might truly count them all as the family he never had.

Then, as he watched Arabella teasing her brother about his riding techniques, Jasper found himself wondering something else.

Arabella had stepped in to stop her father from touching her husband. She had purposefully intervened. And that meant that she knew something about his condition. Whether she had observed something, or begun to suspect, Arabella had grown wise to Jasper.

And now, armed with this information, Jasper could only wonder what she was going to do with it.