Page 42 of A Secret In The Garden

“Yes, of course, Jasper. You’ve always been quite forgiving and level-headed with people. By the way, that ball sack with JV Plastics that you pulled a shotgun on went to the media and stirred things up. The news has been starved of entertainment, and this was, as always, exactly what the piranhas wanted. They have photos of you with the shotgun, even got some of Eliza and the conservatory.”

My temples throbbed painfully. Why did they always have to do this? My stomach turned. I was used to this game, but sweet, innocent, naive Eliza was not. I should’ve shot him when I had the chance. I hated that he’d involved her in this. For the rest of her life, she would never be able to get away from the Blackwood name now that they knew she was staying here. “I’ll get Gabriel to send out a legal warning to the stations that are including Eliza in their statements.”

“All right. Sorry, did you say you and Eliza made a card?” His bushy gray brows rose as if he’d just heard what I had told him earlier.

I glanced at the empty chair next to me. “Yes. I fucked around with a pen, but she drew something really thoughtful and she’s good…”

“That’s very kind of her,” he said stiffly. “You’ve surprised me with Eliza immensely. You enjoy her company.”

I opened my mouth to protest. I don’t know why; I did enjoy her company. My silent objection fell to the wayside as Sowerby continued.

“I’m pleased as can be that you finally agreed to restore the conservatory to your mother’s standards. Had I known that all it took was a headstrong young lady to do so, I would have adjusted my plan of action many years ago.”

“Yeah, I’m glad you’re happy about the conservatory,” I said absently. I was thinking about how quickly Eliza had leaped to my side when I was upset. “There’s something different about her,” I admitted as I turned my eyes to his, searching for the sage advice he always doled out to me, and I usually ignored.

“Yeah…” he said, looking suddenly unsettled by my admission.

“I like being around her. I enjoy her company. But what if⁠—”

“You have to get a different crew in the conservatory,” he said, standing quickly.

His sudden change in demeanor caught me off guard. Did he know something about her that I didn’t?

“How long have I been telling you to get people in to tend to that garden? Since we fucking moved into the main house and could afford it, haven’t I? Oh, for fuck’s sake. The one time you agree to it, it’s the nicest, sweetest girl, whom you like.” He continued to grumble under his breath, but I couldn’t understand anything else. He was normally crotchety and grumpy but not like this. This was something different. He was no doubt trying to protect me. But something felt off.

“What’s the big deal? I can help her. I know you said you didn’t want to be in there anymore; it’s fine. I already told you that you don’t have to be in the conservatory if it makes you so uncomfortable. I know you were in there when it was new, in its prime. I’ll do it. I want to spend some more time with her, get to know her better,” I said, standing up, hoping to calm him down and figure out what the fuck he was so riled up about.

“No. The deal was for her to do it alone. You can’t help her!” he shouted suddenly. His forehead had become damp with exertion, and his arms had developed a slight tremor.

For a second, my mouth clamped shut in surprise.

Sowerby hadn’t shouted at me since I was a kid, and just like back then, when I was a defiant teenager, I felt my irritation bubble up to the surface. He was being ridiculous. I had just told him that I liked her. Now he was trying to keep me away from her?

“Is this because you think she’s going to hurt me? Or that I’m going to hurt her?” I questioned, letting my annoyance with him ooze into my words. I knew she had grown to be quite well-liked by all of the staff, and it had dawned on me that maybe he wasn’t being protective of me but of her. Of all people, Sowerby knew the destruction I was capable of.

He made a face and rolled his eyes. “Jasper, listen to me. If you like the girl, she shouldn’t be employed by you. It’s not right to hold that power dynamic over her head; that’s all. Stop her work on the conservatory, and we’ll bring in⁠—”

“No, you listen,” I started but calmed my shout immediately. I wouldn’t raise my voice to Sowerby. “All I said was that I like her. If you had let me finish, I would have told you that nothing is going to happen between us. As you well know, I’m far too selfish to bother with anything serious and—” My voice faltered.

“And what?” Sowerby nudged, now growing calm. His gray eyes assessed me.

“And I don’t think she’s a girl I could have anything unserious with. She’s special and understanding. She’s intelligent and funny and⁠—”

“Jasper—” he began again.

“I know, okay. I know.” I cut him off sharply. “I’m going to stay away from her for the next couple of months until she leaves. As of now, there is nothing between us, okay?” I hated the feelings that hit me when I thought of her leaving. They had no right to be as uncomfortable as they were, but it made my following decision feel that much more important.

“You’re misunderstanding me, son; it’s obvious to everyone who sees the two of you that there’s a connection,” he said, looking forlorn and frazzled as he tried to recover the conversation.

I walked past him and slapped him on the shoulder, forcing my face and demeanor into something that might convince the man that I was already over the situation. “You and Katya take the rest of the weekend off. I’m flying into New York tonight.”

“Tonight? I thought you weren’t traveling until after the holidays?” Sowerby said as he followed me into the hallway.

“I need some distance, and no one’s been out to check on the vineyard in a while,” I mumbled, heading down the hall.

“Jasper,” he called out.

“I’ll bring Katya back a case of merlot.” My jaw steeled, and I continued walking.