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Chapter Nine
“Where can we walk that he won’t find us, Faith?” she asked in a low voice. Selina refrained from looking back. She knew how he would read it. She could feel his eyes, watching them walk away.
“Nowhere, My Lady,” Faith replied, glancing behind them. “He’s the type of gentleman who will stop at nothing to get his way.”
“You picked up on that, as well?” Selina murmured. Overhead, there was a flock of birds. She watched them as they dipped and then rose, as one. A cool breeze blew, causing her to shiver. Clouds were slowly moving in front of the sun, gathering like harbingers.
Faith sighed as though she were world-weary. “Hard not to, My Lady. I suppose we all have our own foibles. The Duke’s is that he doesn’t take no for an answer.”
“You’re right,” Selina replied. “It means that we’ll have to move on, won’t we?”
“It’s probably for the best, My Lady.”
“I’ll write to my brother. See if we can go to the Lakes District, as well,” she said, making her plans. She wasn’t in the mood to go to her parents in Paris. The city in springtime was too bright, happy. The Lakes District would be a little more circumspect. “After all, I can’t steal the groom. I’d never be allowed to come back.”
“It’s for the best,” Faith repeated, sagely.
“Yes, Faith, it is.” Selina knew the friend that Thomas was staying with, up in the North. Lord Merriweather was already happily married. There was no risk of her forming any disastrous attachments there.
* * *
Jasper was sitting in his study, going over the estate’s monthly expenses. Everything appeared to be in order—after selling several of Thoroughbred colts, he had made a handsome profit, which he planned to invest the next time he went to London to speak with his solicitor.
After leaving Lady Selina safely at home, he had returned to Gillingham Manor. His mind was still on her—her unfamiliar demeanor. She had seemed sad, contemplative. He wondered why. After all, they’d found each other—before it was too late.
The problem of his engagement still nagged him—he wondered how to end it in a way that didn’t sever any ties with Lord and Lady Kirby. After all, they lived in such close proximity. He had known the family all his life, and the two families often mixed. Unfortunately, the engagement with Lady Leah had always seemed a matter of course, given how close their families were.
There was an abrupt knock at the door, bringing him out of his ruminating. He immediately recognized Sotheby’s heavy-handed knock.
“Yes?” he called out, wondering who could be visiting today.
“Lord Sandbourne, Your Grace,” Sotheby, his butler, announced as he opened the door.
“Stephen!” Jasper said with a smile, closing the ledger in front of him with a loud thump.
“Jasper,” his friend replied, entering the room. Stephen was dressed for riding in a trim navy-blue coat and riding breeches with tall boots. He carried his top hat in hand.
“Have a seat, my friend,” Jasper said, gesturing toward the empty chair that sat on the other side of his massive wooden desk. “To what do I owe the honor?”
“Just thought I’d drop in,” Stephen replied. He was often over at Gillingham Manor. There was rarely any true reason for it. He sat, crossing his legs, then gently tossing his hat on top of the desk. “So, have you heard the news?” Stephen raised an eyebrow.
“What news?” Jasper folded his arms as he leaned back in his chair, causing the leather to creak.
“Lord Langley has made me a most generous offer for one of his young bulls.”
“Interesting. Do you think it’s because he means to have you marry his eldest daughter?” Jasper raised an eyebrow, trying not to grin and failing. He could have said more, but he refrained. It wasn’t often that Lord Langley sold off any of his young breeding stock. Stephen had been trying to convince him for years. This was life in the country—livestock and marriages.
“The thought may have crossed my mind,” Stephen said.
Jasper laughed at the sour face his friend made. “To own the truth, it would be a good match.”
“She’s just so young,” Stephen replied seriously, frowning.
“She’s sixteen, is she not?” Jasper asked. Many ladies were married at that age. Lady Ella was as happy and lively as Stephen was. And she was very pretty, too.
“I was thinking of hosting a small supper at Sandbourne,” Stephen said, changing the subject. “I was going to extend an invitation to Lord and Lady Kirby since they hosted that wonderful dinner the other evening. You and yours are invited, as well.”
“We’d be happy to come,” Jasper said, already looking forward to seeing Lady Selina again. When he thought of her, there was a great glowing light in his chest.
