Page 102 of Holding Onto Love

“My God!” Her face heated. “Could you be any blunter?”

“No. I think I stated my mind fairly accurately.” He leaned against the buffet and glanced over his shoulder at the cakes again.

“They are fine, Crispin. Delicious, really.”

“I’m sure they are. I ate earlier though.” He cocked his head.

“What is it?”

“Damn it. A carriage. Well.” He looked amused. “He must have risen before daybreak.”

She heard it too. She set down her fork and wrung her hands together.

Crispin said, “I suppose your choices are now limited to meet him at the door or greet him here.”

“Here.” Her voice was weak and choked. Her legs trembled too much for her to stand.

She heard the front door creak open, then a shuffling of footsteps that must belong to poor Badge, hurrying to welcome the new earl. She had no idea where Mrs. Badge was.

“What the devil?” Jasper said loudly. Angrily. Vanessa heard, or swore she heard, a female voice. Then she was sure of it when Jasper said, “No, wait here. Badge, where is Captain Taverston?”

She could not hear poor Badge’s response. Crispin sighed, set his cup down, and started for the door. He filled it just as Jasper’s shadow fell across the threshold.

“Crispin, what the hell? Why didn’t Reg say something? This place is a ruin!”

“Jasper—”

“Damn it. How am I supposed to woo Vanessa in a hellhole? Are you trying to sabotage me?”

“No, I think you are capable of fouling things up without my help.”

Crispin stepped aside as Vanessa stood up, her legs no longer wobbly. Jasper saw her. She watched his fury leak away. He stared at her. Stared.

“Hello, Jasper.”

“My God.” He stepped into the room. “I-I, my God. I wanted to do this right.”

His voice was shaking, and it made her heart quiver. Her mouth was too dry to speak.

“What is it?” A girl’s excited shout echoed down the hall, coming closer. “Is that Crispin?” Then she stepped into the doorway Jasper had just vacated. Tall, slender, pretty—a young woman, not a girl—she had the Taverston blue eyes, framed by extraordinary lashes for a blonde.

Crispin murmured, “Good show, Jasp.”

Jasper looked pained. “Mrs. Wardrip, this is Lady Olivia.”

The lady barreled into the room. She socked Crispin’s arm on the way past and came right up to Vanessa.

“You’re here! I’m Olivia. I hope I may call you Vanessa. I’ve heard so much about you.” She rolled her eyes. “All with my ears pressed against closed doors.”

“Only ever good things,” Crispin added.

“Oh, yes.” Olivia beamed at her. “I hope we will be friends. I’m great friends with Georgiana, even though she doesn’t like to ride. Oh.” She bit her lip. “I hope you do.”

“I…” She cast Jasper a helpless look. This was his sister.

“Vanessa prefers to ride in carriages,” he said. Then, “I’m sorry, Vanessa. If Olivia were a racehorse she would be disqualified for false starts. And I stumbled out the gate. May we please go outside and come in again?”

“I have a better idea,” Crispin said. “I will take Olivia down to see the lake.” He put his arm around his sister and steered her toward the door.