Page 5 of Holding Onto Love

Her resolve to quickly see him off crumbled. She owed him far too much to refuse him a cup. She pulled the bell for Madeline to return. “Tea, please, and biscuits for Lieutenant Taverston.”

“Just tea,” he said. “Please don’t go to any additional trouble.”

When Madeline left the room, Vanessa gestured to a chair.

“May I offer my condolences again?” She had written to him. To him, but not to Jasper.

“Thank you.” He sat with an officer’s straight-backed rigidity. That gave him away. He was uncomfortable too. Otherwise, he had a terrible tendency to sprawl. She sat in the nearest chair. With his long legs, their knees almost bumped.

“Why have you come? Did you think to rescue me again?”

“Do you need rescuing?” he asked in a flat voice, betraying no expectation and no condescension.

“No.”

“I thought not. Despite the difficulties at Corunna, I have always thought there was no creature in the world more resourceful than a British soldier’s wife.”

It was good of him to say that. To prop up her sagging pride. Even so, she knew if she were to have said yes, he would determine what she needed and provide it, without question.

He breathed deeply, then got on with it.

“I have a bit of news to share with you. Something I’d like for you to know first.”

He emphasized the word. So he knew of Jasper’s betrayal. Moreover, Jasper had evidently compounded the error by discussing it with his brother. Good God, Jasper! She shook her head.

“Whatever it is, I don’t care. And if you are carrying back a report, you may tell him that. Since apparently nothing between us was private.”

“I’m not doing his bidding. In fact, he would be furious at me for interfering. Nevertheless, I’ve come to give you this: the lady refused him.”

For a moment, his words made no sense. Then they did. Vanessa gaped. “Hovington’s daughter? Refused Jasper?”

Crispin was nodding, amused, but Vanessa was not. Jasper was the perfect catch. Titled, moneyed, courteous, and the most handsome man in the ton. By far. Strikingly blue eyed, with well-behaved, thick blond hair, and a dimpled cheek accompanying an array of beautiful smiles, he was almost a caricature of male perfection. It had taken her months to finally discover that one earlobe hung lower than the other. “What is wrong with her?”

The near-grin left Crispin’s face. His eyes narrowed, only slightly, but a darkness entered behind them. Her mouth dried. She recalled Henry saying that men under Lieutenant Taverston’s command claimed they would rather be captured by Boney’s soldiers than fall on the wrong side of their lieutenant.

“That was unworthy of me and, I’m sure, of her,” she whispered. How horrid to blame Lady Georgiana for exercising the one small concession granted to her: the right to refuse. If Vanessa had been allowed as much, how different her life would be.

The disapproval disappeared from Crispin’s expression. She would have thought she’d imagined it if she didn’t still feel a bit queasy.

He said, “Lady Georgiana is a gem. I gave you that information because I expect you will hear it soon enough elsewhere, and I wanted you to be prepared.”

Be prepared. Of course, he knew the rules too.

“Thank you. I will not gossip.”

“I know. I have trusted you with worse.”

She swallowed hard. Then, because she also trusted him, she let her hurt show.

“Nevertheless, your news has no bearing. I will not be here when Jasper returns. This lady may have rejected his suit, but the next will not. I won’t wait around to be discarded a second time.”

Crispin winced. She read in his expression that he knew she was right. Marrying well was Jasper’s duty. He would do it—once he got over the shock of being refused.

She tossed her head, still unbelieving. “How could she have said no? She may be a duke’s daughter, and beautiful, but Lady Georgiana has spurned half the ton! How much does she believe she is entitled to?”

“Love, I suspect.”

She sniffed. Lady Georgiana must have someone unsuitable in mind. She was testing her parents’ resolve. “I hope she does not plan on running off with a soldier.”