Page 36 of Adeline

Adeline’s driver, Maxwell, opened the carriage door and put the steps into position.

Adeline didn’t move.

No hand reached in to assist her down.

Neither George nor Maxwell came into view through the open carriage door.

Bloody hell, they stood back and awaited Jasper’s exit. It was his duty to offer his hand to Miss Adeline for departure. His plan for a quick escape crumbled before him.

Jasper pushed away from his seat and stepped down the waiting stairs to the cobbled drive, immediately turning and raising his hand to Adeline. She set her gloved fingers on his arm and hopped from the coach.

It could be explained as nothing but a hop—perhaps, a leap.

She completely eschewed the steps that’d been set for her.

A round of greetings ensued as servant after servant bowed to Adeline and wished her a joyous return to London. Unlike the hoyden he’d been used to while she was at Faversham, Adeline nodded to each servant, speaking briefly with a couple, and smiled the entire time. Her chin was held high, her hands smoothed the wrinkles from her skirts, and her eyes sparkled.

What stunned him the most was her ease with all the commotion and activity around her.

Her poise never faltered, her grace never slipped, and her smile—damnation—that smile!

Jasper took a step back into the shadows of his waiting coach as servants unloaded several trunks, and her maid stepped down, taking hold of Maxwell’s arm. With any luck, not that he’d seen any since before Adeline’s arrival, the servants, with Adeline in tow, would continue in to the house and entirely forget about Jasper…leaving him free to depart unnoticed.

Instead, she froze, and her back stiffened, her head whipping from side to side as if she searched for something very important. For a split second, Jasper feared she’d forgotten something at his estate—and he’d be made to see the object daily until it was returned to her.

“Lord Ailesbury?” She turned, her stare finding him in the shadows as a bashful blossom crept up her neck. She immediately lowered her gaze from him, and asked, “Shall we?”

Unfathomable terror coursed through him as his chest seized and his heart thrashed, causing blood to boom between his ears. Even his normally strong and solid legs shook with something akin to weakness. However, Jasper was not weak. He’d worked tirelessly since his youth to make certain he was never again seen as weak. His neck and side would be forever marred by the burn scars, but that did not mean he lacked in any other way.

Her brow pulled down in concentration before she gave him a subtle nod of understanding.

One thing he hadn’t prepared for, something that no amount of strenuous work or long hours poring over accounting ledgers could ready Jasper to conquer, was walking Miss Adeline Price into her family’s townhouse.

Jasper gave George one final look—his silent plea begging for his driver to do something to make the coming confrontation unnecessary.

“I will remain with the carriage, m’lord,” his servant said with a gentle tone. “Miss Adeline be a nice miss. I be sure her family be likewise.”

Very well, Jasper thought.

There was no need to turn tail and run. Even George had faith in him.

He moved from his place by the carriage and held out his arm. Adeline responded by placing her hand in the crook of his elbow. All he could think about as he stared at her hand on his arm was the feeling of her bare hand from the night before—and how he’d pulled away far too quickly.

All Jasper had need to do, was explain to Adeline’s guardian the irreparable damage that had been done to his carriage. Yes, the mechanics of it were simple enough to explain. Also, his presence in London was understandable. What gentleman of worth would send a woman off in a carriage alone when the risk of injury—or even possibly death—was great?

His carriage could have been set upon by highwaymen.

The coach might have thrown a wheel, or one of the horses suffered a lame leg.

Miss Adeline could have fallen ill during her travels due to her time in the storm at Faversham.

They were all valid concerns.

Jasper repeated these rationalizations in his head over and over as they started toward the front door.

“Do strive to become less tense, my lord,” Adeline whispered with a smirk.

At her words, his shoulders only stiffened more. It had been many, many, many years since he’d put himself in a position to meet strangers. While his aunt had seen to new tutors on a regular basis, they were well-informed by the time they arrived at Faversham Abbey of Jasper’s condition—his scars, as it were—and they never appeared affected or taken aback by his injuries. Even the villagers had grown accustomed to his appearance and rarely shied away from him. Though never did they seek him out or endeavor to gain his notice.