Page 88 of Waiting for Love

“Do you know how easy it would be to embezzle from you?” he said, hearing the scratch in his own voice.

Jasper glanced up with an expression of mild annoyance. “I know it would be easier if you would simply sign these drafts with my name.”

Benjamin snatched up the papers. This trust was killing him. He turned to go.

“Benjamin, wait.” Jasper pulled his hands through his hair, then rested his elbows on the desk. Head in hands. He looked up. The blue of his eyes appeared dulled.

“You have known us a long time. You’ve known Olivia…” He flushed as if remembering Olivia’s obvious youthful infatuation, but pressed on. “How have I gotten this so wrong?”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know what I mean.” He brushed aside the papers he’d been looking at. “Only that I wanted her to have a perfect Season, especially after waiting so long for it. I thought I could do that for her. But I don’t understand females and I certainly don’t understand Olivia.”

“I don’t…” Don’t what? Understand Olivia? He understood her too well.

“I’m sorry. This is not…I’m sorry. I dump everything else on you and now, Olivia.”

Benjamin pulled his usual chair over to Jasper’s desk and sat down.

“I can’t help. But I can listen.” And then go drown himself in the Thames.

“Maybe hiring Boring was too much. Maybe it’s all too much. Olivia isn’t happy. That much is obvious. I don’t know what makes Olivia happy. I still think of her as our giddy Livvy-pet. She isn’t.”

“No. She isn’t.” He hesitated, then asked, “Why do you think something is wrong? I thought she was—what did the countess say—a rousing success?”

Jasper sniffed. “I thought she was. She danced every set. Everyone said she was beautiful. Isn’t that the definition of success? But she is moping, and Olivia does not mope. She droops around bored, and Olivia is never bored. And now, have you looked…” He stopped and muttered, “No, of course you haven’t. What am I saying? Benjamin, if you were to look in the parlor today you would see two floral arrangements. Two.”

Benjamin’s heart sank. Every man she danced with, if they were interested in pursuing her, should have sent flowers.

“Do you know what that means?”

Benjamin said, “Only that two admirers sent her flowers.”

“Only two admirers sent her flowers.”

“She has had mountains of flowers.”

“Fewer each day. After last night, the room should be full. It was her first waltz at Almack’s!” He shook his head. “This must all seem ridiculous to you.”

The rules did. But given leave, he would fill her rooms with flowers every day.

“Who sent the bouquets?”

“Ebersom and Lythe.”

“Lythe? I thought…”

Jasper raised an eyebrow. “Thought?”

“I thought that your mother might forbid him to call.”

Jasper sniffed. “She told him she would not permit Olivia to go riding alone with him in the wee hours and that he should know better than to ask. I think she even rapped his knuckles.” He didn’t laugh. He glowered. “If he had asked to pay court, I would have said no. But he didn’t ask. He just came. I couldn’t turn him away at the door.”

Benjamin didn’t challenge him on that. He merely said, “And Ebersom? He is a marquess?”

“Yes, and he would be perfect. That is, I think he would. Olivia seems…”

“Seems?”