Page 47 of Holding Onto Love

“Father. May I introduce to you Mrs. Henry Wardrip?”

He turned to her. She curtsied and he waited, then said, “Mrs. Wardrip. My condolences on your loss. Jasper tells me your husband served on the Peninsula.”

“He did, my lord.”

He glanced down the long grassy path. “The gauntlet, eh?” Then, to her surprise, he offered his arm. Of course, she took it, and he began to walk. And to talk.

“I don’t suppose you’ve met General Wellesley, no? Strange chap. Strange. I don’t deny his military brilliance.”

“Crispin wouldn’t let you,” Jasper said, falling in alongside.

“Ha. No. But when I was in Ireland…” He paused and bowed to the couple who were walking towards them, unavoidably. “Whetherby. Lady Wetherby. Lovely day to be about, isn’t it? My son and his friend, Mrs. Wardrip, invited me for a stroll.” He chuckled. “He says I don’t walk enough. I think my physician pays him.”

They laughed politely. Then they were obligated to include Vanessa in their goodbyes as they moved along.

And so it went, with a succession of aristocrats out for a stroll, all yielding to the Earl of Iversley. It was not arrogance, she decided. Or only partly arrogance. It was power. And she could see where Jasper had gotten his charm.

He didn’t require much from her. A word or two here and there. He pointed out a few brown stubs of plants lining the way and she obligingly sniffed them. Although there were no flowers, the dormant twigs had a fresh scent of their own. Jasper added his part, but he was deferential. It was nice to see him deferential for a change. And Vanessa was acknowledged. Not warmly. Certainly not with a lovely-to-meet-you-you-must-come-to-tea. But she was acknowledged.

They reached the end of the path. They paused. The earl looked over his shoulder.

“And down again?” He sounded faintly winded.

Jasper said, “I don’t think that’s necessary. I had my carriage sent around to meet us here. We can drop you back at yours.” He touched his father’s arm and smiled. “And thank you.”

The earl nodded. “Well, it was…fun. Haven’t done anything like that in a while.”

“Thank you, my lord,” Vanessa said.

She saw Jasper’s carriage pulling towards them. The earl relinquished her, and she took Jasper’s arm.

“Ah, wait.” Jasper gestured with his chin to a young lady hurrying in their direction. Hurrying. Hand on her hat, skirts billowing behind her. It was possible that she was running in public.

“Oh,” she said, patting her heart as she reached them. “I’m glad I caught you.”

She was a curious woman, perhaps Jasper’s age, with pale eyes and a square jaw that made her interesting rather than pretty. Vanessa’s first reaction was petty: that the lady was hoping to catch Jasper. But she turned her pale eyes on Vanessa.

“You are Mrs. Wardrip? You followed the drum?”

Vanessa nodded, perhaps gaping a little. This was not how introductions were done.

“Rose Posonby,” the lady said.

Vanessa could not have been more surprised if the woman had stuck out a hand to shake.

Jasper said, “Lady Posonby, permit me to introduce Mrs. Henry Wardrip.”

“Slow out the gate, Lord Taverston. As usual.” Then she smiled at Vanessa. “Please call on me. Or permit me to call on you. I have so many questions, I could burst.”

*

They arrived home. Jasper could not stop smiling. Vanessa found herself smiling too.

“Your father is…exactly what I would expect your father to be.”

“I’m very fortunate. I knew he would agree to help, but in truth, I thought I would have to apply more pressure than it took. My mother, a wonderful woman in her own right, don’t misunderstand, will not be pleased.”

“No. Of course not.”