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Jasper swallowed nervously. Time marched on, and everyone else was making plans for the wedding. He needed to act soon.
The door opened. Jasper glanced up in time to see Lady Selina enter.
“Oh, Your Grace,” Selina said, slowing. She curtsied. Her aunt and uncle followed after her. He was there because of her—he was worried that she would be caught, alone and unarmed, on the road.
“I heard that you were seeing the new foal, My Lady,” Jasper replied, setting the paper aside.
“Yes, Your Grace,” Selina replied, turning toward her aunt and uncle, who were both beaming. “Narcissus is a dear little thing. He’ll be very big soon.”
“Quite right, my dear,” Uncle Latimer agreed proudly. He frowned at Jasper, curiously. “Your Grace! To what do we owe the honor?”
“I was just come to tell you about some news that I’ve recently heard,” Jasper said. “I was hoping that you’d have some time to discuss it.”
“Absolutely, Your Grace,” Lord Kirby said, nodding as he gestured toward the door. “Come, we’ll speak in my study.”
Jasper glanced at Lady Selina as he left the room. She had walked over to the seat by the window and was just then settling in and opening her book.
The two gentlemen walked down the hall, where Lord Kirby’s study was located. It was a dim room—a bit on the gloomy side. Jasper remembered the day that he’d arrived there—to ask for Lady Leah’s hand in marriage. What an enormous mess he was in because of it.
“Lord Quimby’s daughter, Lady Laura, was stopped by the brigands,” he said, settling into a chair. “While she was out walking.”
“Is she all right?” Lord Kirby asked.
“Yes. They took her necklace, and they held a knife to her maid’s throat, but they were allowed to return home, alive and well.”
Lord Kirby looked horrified. He stood behind his chair, his hands gripping it as he digested the information. “I—I hardly know what to say.”
“I’m sure you understand why I want your house to be a safe haven,” Jasper said.
“I do,” Lord Kirby said, smiling at him. “Never fear, Your Grace. All of my carriages have gone out with at least one of my grooms or manservants, carrying a pistol.”
“Very good, My Lord,” he said. “I do want to warn you—the other day, Lady Selina was out on the road, walking. Accompanied by only her maid.”
Lord Kirby sighed. “Thank you for bringing that to my attention, Your Grace. I had no idea that she’d gone out.”
“She seemed utterly unrepentant,” he pointed out.
“Seems like her, Your Grace.” Lord Kirby smiled.
“She shouldn’t be out like that,” he said. “It’s clearly not safe.”
“I quite agree, Your Grace,” Lord Kirby replied, smiling. “She’s so like her mother. Both of them are free spirits, who wander the earth like fairies.”
He smiled. That was an accurate descriptor of Lady Selina. “Well,” he said, relieved that Lord Kirby had everything well in hand. “I should be getting off.”
“Is that all, Your Grace?” Lord Kirby asked him, frowning a little.
Jasper stared back at him. He had no idea as to what else he could possibly need to discuss. “That’s all, My Lord.”
It seemed like Lord Kirby wanted to ask him something, but was thinking better of it. Lord Kirby opened his mouth, frowned even deeper than he was. But then, he closed his mouth, nodding.
“Very good, Your Grace,” he said. “I will speak to Lady Selina myself.”
* * *
Selina sat with her book open on her lap. She peered out of the window beside her, surprised to find that the Duke was in the drive, getting up and onto his horse’s back.
Uncle Latimer entered the room, not long after. He looked as though he’d aged in the time that he’d been gone. In her heart, Selina knew that the Duke had brought bad news.
