Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

" T he family will be with you in a moment, Your Grace. They were just about to sit down to breakfast," the butler informed Jasper as he led him to the sitting room.

Jasper frowned, perplexed. They had not yet eaten breakfast? This was strange indeed, though truthfully, he should have expected no less of the Merton family. He had heard that they were peculiar people. But to eat breakfast a full two or three hours later than most people in the ton was downright eccentric.

"I will not stay long," he informed the butler. "I shall take up only a few moments of their time."

The man nodded and quietly retreated from the room. Glancing around, Jasper made note of the strange objects scattered around the drawing room. There were signs of people of every age in this room – books for all ages and interests, stitching work and a little writing desk.

Before Jasper had much time to try and make sense of this, an excited cry brought him back to the doorway. A young man strode into the room followed by a young woman and what Jasper could only assume was their father.

The young man was the first to reach Jasper. He came up to Jasper's shoulder, but Jasper thought it safe to assume that the young man had not finished growing yet.

Staring up at Jasper in awe, the young man glanced over his shoulder at the others. They too, Jasper realized, were regarding him with cautious expressions as if he were some wild animal that might suddenly break loose of his cage.

After a moment, the young man turned back to Jasper. "You are the Duke of Gysborne?" he asked warily.

Jasper nodded.

The young man's wide eyes flashed with curiosity. "What is that like? Being a duke? It must be brilliant! No one to tell you what to do, no one to scold you. No one to tell you'll turn into a horse if you don't stop riding so much," he added, turning back to his father and sticking out his tongue.

The older man cleared throat, stepping forward to pull his son back toward him. "Forgive him, Your Grace. He speaks without thinking." The father gave his son a pointed look.

Jasper glanced between father and son. He had been taken aback by the son's forwardness but was not at all surprised by the father's reaction. Most people found themselves intimidated by his presence, apologizing for each and every misstep.

Arabella's father and brother looked almost exact copies of one another. They had high foreheads and sandy blond hair that held just a hint of curl to it. Though Arabella did not overtly resemble her father or brother, Jasper spied the same nose on all of them, a small, almost delicate button-nose. While it did not draw much focus in comparison to the men's other bold traits, Jasper thought it suited Arabella quite well.

"Father, we are making him uncomfortable," the young woman whispered after a moment. Jasper realized he had not given Arabella's father a reply.

Watching this newest member of Arabella's family, he realized that the young woman bore a striking resemblance to her older sister, though she appeared to be several years younger than Arabella.

Lord Clement opened his mouth to reply, but the young woman continued, lowering her voice and leaning closer to her father. "He is very handsome, isn't he?" she whispered, but the room was small enough that, unfortunately, everyone in the room could hear.

Jasper cleared his throat, and the earl immediately went red. He shot his daughter a stern look and, as the poor girl realized what had happened, she too began to blush.

Just as the duke was wondering whether or not he should come back another time, Lady Arabella finally appeared. She was followed by an older woman whom Jasper had briefly caught sight of at the masquerade last night. Her mother, he assumed.

"Your Grace," Arabella breathed, looking around as she realized that half her family had beat her to welcoming him. "I am sorry to have kept you waiting."

"He has not been waiting long," Arabella's father replied. "No one waits long in this household," he explained to Jasper, clearly trying to lighten the mood. "We are ever eager to greet our guests. We cannot truly enjoy this manor unless it is filled to the brim with our friends."

"I am happy," the earl added hopefully, "to finally count you as one of them." He nodded appraisingly at Jasper. "I believe it has been some time since we have crossed paths, Your Grace. Has it not?"

A little taken aback by this family's frankness, Jasper nodded. "Yes, I believe so."

"To what, may I ask, do we owe the pleasure of your visit today?" Lord Clement asked, now smiling pleasantly.

Jasper glanced from person to person around the room, realizing far too late that he was going to have to say his piece in front of the entire family. When he locked eyes with Arabella, he could see that she too was putting the pieces together. At least , he thought, she has the sense to look embarrassed.

Her mother, however, bore an entirely different expression. She was watching him with hushed awe, as if she expected him to say or do something thrilling.

This was certainly not what Jasper had expected when he had made his way to Clement Estate this morning. But he was here. And he would do what he had come to do.

Jasper bowed his head slightly. "Lord Clement, I have come to ask for your permission to marry your daughter, Lady Arabella."

The youngest Merton girl let out a gasp as the rest of the room went even more quiet – if that were even possible.

"Madeline, Thomas, go and wait for us in the dining room," Lord Clement carefully instructed his youngest children, sharing a glance with his wife as he spoke. "We will join you shortly."

Though the younger two groaned and pouted, they did as their father asked. A moment later, Jasper found himself facing Arabella and her parents.

"I must admit that I am surprised," Lord Clement said after a moment. "I had no notion that you and my daughter were acquainted."

"We have been…recently acquainted." Jasper's gaze went to Arabella. She caught his eye, and he could see that his gaze did something to her. She could only hold his gaze for a moment before, blushing, she ducked her head.

"Recently? I see that she has made a strong impression in a short time, then." Lord Clement chuckled. "I would expect no less of our Arabella."

His brow furrowing ever so slightly, the earl seemed to consider Jasper's proposal. "Though I myself can find no reason to stand in the way of such a marriage," he mused, "I fear that my opinion cannot be the only one taken into account on the matter."

Then, to Jasper's amazement, the older man turned to Arabella. "What do you say, my dear? Do you wish to be married to His Grace?"

Jasper watched as Arabella hesitated. His astonishment growing, Jasper could only wonder why the man had asked such a thing of his daughter. Surely, given the precarious situation she now found herself in – and the fact that her scandal might now affect the entire family – surely Lord Clement would give his daughter no say in the matter.

Then Jasper remembered the man's words from only a moment earlier. Lord Clement, it would seem, knew nothing of what had transpired last night at the masquerade.

But Lady Clement, it would seem, was perfectly aware of the dire situation. She reached out and took hold of her daughter's hand. Arabella turned and met her mother's gaze. Emily nodded comfortingly to her daughter, smiling as if they both shared a happy secret.

But when Arabella turned back to the earl, she did not look quite so joyful. "I do, Father," she murmured.

At that, Lord Clement let out a jolly laugh, clapping his hands together. "Wonderful!" he exclaimed. "A tremendous start to the day, is it not?"

"We shall soon hear wedding bells, my dear," he added, moving to take his wife's hands in his. "Two daughters married in two years," he chuckled, his eyes beginning to shine.

Was the man about to cry?

At a loss for words, Jasper shifted his weight. The company of this family was quickly growing tiresome. Now that the matter was settled, there was no need for him to stay to stay any longer. Clearing his throat, he offered the family a curt bow. "I thank you for your time. I believe I must take my leave now."

"Of course," Lord Clement replied. "We have detained you too long already. You have great matters of business to attend to, no doubt."

Lord Clement stepped forward and offered Jasper his hand. Jasper glanced down at the offered gesture but could not make himself take the earl's hand. If he did, he would be sure to give himself and his condition away.

An awkward silence filled the room. Finally – his smile having slipped only a little – Lord Clement turned to his daughter. "Arabella, see your fiancé out, would you?" he added with a grin.

Whether he was forgiven his transgression, or the earl was merely moving past it, Jasper did not care to ask. Most people knew better than to question a duke's actions.

He watched as Arabella's face turned red in response to her father's teasing. She glanced at Jasper quickly and then, nodding, she turned toward the door. A moment later, Jasper followed.

Marriage. Arabella could not breathe. In a matter of a moment, she now found herself engaged. And not only that but promised to a duke! The very man whom she had met only last night under rather unfortunate circumstances.

Now she found herself leading him to the front door, having promised to marry this stranger.

Numbly, she stopped before the door and turned back to the duke. "I, I should apologize for my siblings," she stammered, trying to find something to say. "They are as yet unskilled in social civilities."

Jasper nodded but said nothing. Arabella swallowed. As she gazed up at him, she found herself strangely breathless. His eyes were trained on hers, stealing away the air from her lungs. "I suppose you will inform me of how you wish to plan for the wedding?" She could hardly believe what she was saying.

The man before her nodded curtly. "Indeed."

Arabella forced herself to study him for a moment more. She had witnessed his disregard for her father's polite gesture. Peter had offered the duke his hand, but Jasper had snubbed him.

Her gaze went to the gloves that Jasper now wore. If she was not mistaken, she recalled the other man in the library last night saying something about the duke's gloves.

But the duke had not worn his gloves when he had touched her last night.

Shivering against the sudden heat of the memory, Arabella pushed such thoughts from her mind. He might be doing a good deed by offering to marry her, but it was clear that this powerful man cared very little for her family's good opinion.

Jasper's treatment of her father had given Arabella pause. So, she decided to pursue the matter. "Is my father so unsavory a character that you cannot even shake hands with him?" she asked, the words sounding even harsher than she had intended.

Jasper's eyes widened ever so slightly. Then he turned his head away, scanning the hall with detached annoyance. "I have asked for your hand, have I not? I cannot detest the man entirely if I have decided to marry his daughter."

Something about his tone set Arabella's nerves on edge. "I see. But it is strange…you seemed happy enough to touch his daughter last night," she added, unable to resist another jab.

As Jasper turned back to her, glowering down at Arabella, she was overcome with another wave of heat. "And whose fault was it that we ended up touching?"

"Fault? Is your future wife truly so detestable that you wish to blame someone for having had to touch her?" Arabella did not know why she suddenly felt hurt. She knew the man was arrogant and aloof, but his words had cut deeper than that. Particularly when she remembered the look in his eyes last night as he'd placed a gentle hand on her cheek. The man then was entirely different to the one that now stood before her.

"How I feel about my future wife is neither here nor there," Jasper replied coldly. "You and I are entering into a business arrangement. Nothing more. A marriage of convenience brought about by mutual need. Something I would think that you would be grateful for."

"Grateful?" Arabella's blood boiled. "Do you speak to remind me that you are stooping to the depths of inconvenience to marry a woman like me?"

To that, Jasper did not reply. And that was the most infuriating answer he could have given.

Arabella knew, somewhere deep down, that she should be grateful to him. He was sparing both her and her family from scandal. But for him to act as if he was doing her some grand, selfless favor by marrying her? And acting as if she were a punishment bestowed upon him? It was insufferable!

"Well." It was all Arabella could do to hold her tongue before she said something she would truly regret. "Thank you for your visit, Your Grace."

Jasper nodded curtly. "I shall be in touch regarding preparations for the wedding."

Arabella bit her lip but nodded. As the man took his leave, she stood in the doorway watching him go.

He was far more arrogant than she had initially imagined. The duke no doubt imagined himself the gallant hero, marrying a woman of sullied reputation and name all for the sake of duty. It was a wonder he had not asked her to refer to him as ‘His Highness', so overblown was his ego.

And what did he get out of the arrangement?

Arabella frowned as Jasper climbed into his carriage. Last night she had heard the duke and his male companion discuss marriage. There was something about the woman whom Jasper had dismissed, sending her from the library with a thinly veiled threat. The man who had come into the library after that seemed angry that Jasper had gotten rid of her.

Was there some reason that the duke was in a hurry to be married? She supposed that he was getting older – he had to be at least five years older than her. Perhaps six or seven even. A man in his position could afford to stay single for a little while longer, but the ton would begin to gossip about why he had remained unmarried for so long.

But was he in such a hurry to be married that he would propose to a woman he had known no more than ten minutes? He had made it clear that it was a sacrifice on his part to take her on, so why put himself through the trouble?

"My dear, I am proud of you."

Emily's low, honeyed voice cut through Arabella's thoughts. As she turned to face her mother, she found herself being regarded with a mixture of gratitude and pity.

"You have done well," Emily assured her.

"I did not expect to be married so soon," Arabella admitted. Though, if she was being honest, the proposal could not have come too soon. She was getting older. And, after the failed courtship last year, Arabella could not afford to be unmarried for much longer. Still, to be married to such a cold man…

"I imagine that this is how Peggy felt when she thought of her upcoming marriage," Arabella added brightly, trying to look far more hopeful than she felt.

Emily smiled and reached out to pull Arabella to her. "Your sister will be overjoyed to hear that you have found the same happiness as she."

"You may not be marrying a man that you have loved for years, as your sister did," she added, brushing a strand of hair out of Arabella's face, "but that does not mean that you will not find the same depth of love in your own marriage. Give it time. Do not force such things. As one married woman to another," she added, her smile squeezing the corners of her eyes tight, "my advice is to get to know the man better. You already find him handsome and amiable. Everything you learn about him now will only solidify your feelings for him. And his for you."

Emily gave her daughter a cheeky wink. "I saw how he was looking at you. It is difficult to misinterpret such a look."

Her mother could not be more wrong. Though she knew she shouldn't, Arabella could not help but point out his one glaring error. "He did not take father's hand," Arabella murmured. "I had not expected such a slight."

"I do not think he intended any offense," Emily countered kindly. "Perhaps you misinterpret his actions."

Arabella nearly laughed at that. Misinterpret him? She doubted that very much. No, he had made his feelings all too clear.

With a heavy, conflicted heart, Arabella allowed herself to be led back inside and toward the dining room.

"I shall write to Peggy immediately," her mother exclaimed as they joined the others for breakfast. "She will be thrilled to hear the news!"

At that, Arabella perked up a little. She might not know what to feel about her upcoming nuptials, but if it meant that she might see her elder sister at the wedding, then she would be grateful.

But no sooner had she thought that, than she had another more dismal realization. Would her future husband even allow Peggy to attend, surrounded by scandal as she was? Would he allow Arabella to invite friends to the ceremony? Would he be inviting friends and family? Did he have many?

Nervously, Arabella silently admitted that she knew next to nothing about the man she had just agreed to marry. He was wealthy, reclusive, and arrogant. That was as much as she had gleaned over the course of just under a day. And none of those traits seemed very encouraging.

No, she knew nothing about the Duke of Gysborne. Nothing at all. And she was not entirely sure that she wanted to learn more about him.