Page 89 of Holding Onto Love

Vanessa shuddered. “Why would someone do this?” Crispin had said not to speculate aloud. She needed to end this conversation. Quickly. But Freddy paled.

“Never mind,” he said. “I suppose I know. Father—” His voice caught as if he might gag. “The marquess won’t bother you again. Not anymore. I don’t know—” Freddy looked increasingly terrified. “I don’t understand. But Father must have wanted…” He shuddered.

“Freddy? What is it? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“What did Father want?”

“Nothing.”

He tore up the letter and dropped the pieces into the muck of the road.

“I’m sorry, Nessa. I’m sorry. I wanted to make it up to you somehow. Show you…” He clenched his fists. “Well, now he knows. I’ll deal with that.”

“With what?”

“Father. Don’t worry. Here.” He pulled a ring from his finger. “Send this. If you ever do need to write to me, send this. So I won’t be fooled again.”

“Freddy—”

He hugged her hard again, suddenly, before she was ready to return the embrace. Then he turned away and fled.

As she stared after him, her heart hurting, Jasper drew up beside her. “Your brother?”

She nodded. Jasper let out a long sigh.

“Is this something we need to worry about?”

“No.” She looked up at Jasper. She pretended to smile. “No, I think we are done with worrying about brothers for a while.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Jasper wanted to take Vanessa to bed. No. He wanted to want to take her to bed. But he’d eaten nothing all day and his stomach was still sour. He felt unwell.

After seeing her settled into the drawing room, he gave her an apologetic smile and said, “Would it be terrible of me to go meet Crispin at Tattersalls? I suspect he’s sailing out soon and I don’t know when I’ll see him again.”

“Go. Of course, go.” She exhaled a long, tired breath. “Jasper, I didn’t sleep last night. What I want most is a nap.”

“Oh.” How deflating. “All right, then.”

He fussed about for a few more minutes, then took his leave. He’d bring her something. Maybe not jewelry. Flowers, perhaps. Or gloves.

Despite his penchant for walking, he had the groom bring the carriage around to take him to Tattersalls. The horse market was vast—with labyrinthine covered alleys and expansive stables—yet he found Crispin fairly easily. His brother had apparently bypassed several prime horses and was examining one that was long in the tooth.

“Crispin?”

“Jasp.” He frowned at the nag. “I don’t know.”

“Well, not that one.”

“I don’t need speed. I don’t do all that much darting about. I need a horse that can plod all day long.”

“Still. Not that one.” And Crispin knew better. “Come. Let’s look for something bred for stamina.”

Crispin patted the horse’s flank and followed Jasper, scuffing his feet in the straw, but he glanced over his shoulder for another look.

“Why?” Jasper said. “You said you wanted a mount like Firebrand.”