Page 44 of A Gifted Earl

“I… thank you for your concern. The answer to your question is yes – when we were in London, we stayed at Hardenwell House – which, when my father was Marquess, was our home, but which is now my uncle’s home, and hence Jasper’s. My uncle and aunt were in the country, but Jasper was in London. He was… extremely disparaging of my appearance, since the scar… and made the assumption, as did so many men, that it meant I was utterly ruined, and thereby open to their advances. He was… improperly persistent, and it was only by the application of my knee in unmentionable places that I escaped his grasp. I do not trust him, at all. But there is nothing to be done about him, so long as he is behaving appropriately – you could not send him from your home without good cause, much though I might wish you to.”

Lord Templewick frowned, then reached out and took her hand, almost as if unaware of what he was doing. The warmth of his touch thrilled her, and her breath came short.

“I commend your courage in dealing with him. That is something which should never have been necessary. Be assured that I will watch him, and, if he does anything at all which I dislike, I will send him away. I have not been impressed by his manner, so far. I do not, in fact, quite understand why he came here with Wilborough, for this is not the sort of house party which I would have thought him likely to find appealing.”

Venetia nodded, acutely aware that his hand still held hers.

“I would not have thought so either. Unless he hoped to find someone to gamble with – he has many debts, we have discovered, and perhaps he hoped to win enough from some unsuspecting person to defray some of those?”

Lord Templewick’s expression cleared.

“That sounds likely. And if that is what he hoped, he will be disappointed.”

Venetia tightened her fingers on his, and he started slightly, apparently only then realising that he held her hand. But he did not release it, and a small bubble of happiness exploded within her because of that.

“Thank you. Just having someone other than my mother and myself know of Jasper’s… attitudes… makes me feel safer.”

His hand tightened on hers again for a moment.

“I promise you that I will do my utmost to keep you safe, should Lord Jasper do anything untoward.”

Those words carried a freight of meaning, in a way that she did not understand. But she had no opportunity to discover more, for Amelia came scrambling back through the ruins at that moment, and Lord Templewick rapidly dropped her hand, and turned away a little to address Amelia.

“Did you discover the view that you hoped for?”

“I did – it really is lovely, and worth having torn my hem getting to it. My maid will be unhappy, but it’s only a little tear.”

Venetia laughed, hearing the echo of herself in those words. Lord Templewick smiled too, with gentle amusement.

“We’d best be getting back, ladies, or everyone will be up, and doing who knows what in my house in my absence.”

They mounted up, Amelia accepting a boost by stepping into Lord Templewick’s cupped hands, and set off along the ridge, to where a trail followed a stream down from the spring that gave birth to its waters.

“This is beautiful! You are lucky to have such a wonderful estate.”

Venetia spoke impulsively, captured by the beauty around her. He turned in the saddle a little, and met her eyes.

“I am indeed lucky to have it, for I was never in the direct line of succession.”

“Often, the most unexpected things happen, to change one’s life.”

She said it, thinking of her fall, and the scar. He shrugged.

“All I can do is accept what is, and manage it as best I can.”

“Indeed, that is all anyone can do.”

*****

Morgan had been thoroughly enjoying the ride, and watching just how well Lady Venetia rode, until that moment up at the ruins, when she had told him of Lord Jasper’s past perfidy. Anger had boiled through him, for a moment near blinding him to where he was. That her own cousin could have treated her so! And that she spoke of it so calmly, with such resignation, spoke to just how strong she was, but also to how sadly resigned she had become to being treated badly.

He resolved in that moment to send a message to his man of business, as soon as they were back in the house – a message requesting that he investigate, and take certain actions with respect to Lord Jasper’s debts. A man like that should not be permitted to continue in his wastrel and rakish ways.

He ached for Lady Venetia - to suffer such treatment, all because of an accident - and, a trickle of guilt slid through him, because his repair of her face had not, in the end, been good enough.

He had thought upon the matter of Lord Jasper, even as he watched Lady Venetia riding ahead of him, all the way back down through the valley. He was barely aware of the beauty around him, unless one of the women drew his attention to something, but by the time they rode into the stables, he was no further forward with respect to what he might do to help – for Lady Venetia had been right in what she’d said – he could not summarily eject Lord Jasper from his house without good reason.

Which simply meant that he needed to watch the man like a hawk, and find a reason to remove him as soon as possible.