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“Thank you, Uncle Latimer.”
Her uncle laughed. “Of course. Then, you can both travel to Staunton together at the end of your stay.”
“That was my thinking, as well,” she agreed. She refolded the letter, frowning. Her uncle looked at her, expectantly. “I just want to apologize to you, Uncle. I’m sorry for going out. It was reckless and thoughtless of me.”
“The most important thing is that you’re safe, my dear,” he said. “I can’t imagine what we’d do if we lost you.”
“Thank you, Uncle. Your kind concern means so much to me.”
“Yes, well. Let it be a lesson learned,” he said, taking her hand, and patting it.
“Agreed,” she said, squeezing his hand. She waved her brother’s letter. “I’ll write to my brother and let him know that he’ll be hearing from you soon.”
“Yes, yes,” Uncle Latimer said. “I’ll write to him this evening, so that we can get our dear Viscount out of Lord Merriweather’s hair. I wonder what he’s done this time.”
“I do too,” Selina agreed, curtsying and then leaving the room. Her brother was often hot tempered. He got himself into disagreements frequently. He was also a known flirt with the ladies, something which got him in trouble with the gentlemen.
He was a good brother, though. He and Selina were very close. She was dying for him to meet Jasper, so she could find out what he thought. If Thomas approved, then her parents would approve.
* * *
The brandy was making Jasper feel more relaxed. Reuben was a gracious host, refilling his glass as soon as he emptied it. The two brothers talked of their plans for capturing the individuals responsible for the recent robberies and the murder of Lady Langley.
Jasper’s mind was still racing, making plans. He looked over at his brother and smiled. “I should come over here more often.”
“You’ll have to,” Reuben said.
“Why is that?”
“Your wife will be in Gillingham Hall,” Reuben replied, smiling at him warmly. He took another sip.
“Mmmm,” Jasper groaned, shaking his head. That would be the case—if he had been planning to marry Lady Leah…however, that wasn’t the case. He knew that once he married Selina, he would never want to be away from home for very long. He looked at his brother. “Can I tell you a secret?”
Reuben smiled. “Of course, brother.”
“I’m in love,” he said, his heart thundering in his chest.
“Good!” Reuben said, clapping his hand on the tabletop. “It took you long—"
“With Lady Selina.”
Reuben’s eyes widened, and he sputtered, setting his glass down with a loud thunk. “What?”
“The moment I first laid eyes on her, at my own engagement party, no less, I have been hopelessly in love with her. We’ve been meeting in secret for weeks now. I cannot marry Lady Leah. Not when I know what love feels like.”
Reuben blinked at him. Jasper sniffed, waiting for him to say something. He’d never before seen his brother rendered utterly speechless, but it had happened.
“So, you’re planning on ending the engagement, then?” Reuben said very carefully.
“Yes.”
He eyed Jasper. “Does Lady Selina know of this?”
“Yes, she does,” he said beaming.
“And she loves you in return?” Reuben looked concerned, as he sat there, tapping his glass with his fingernail.
“Yes, she does.” He smiled even wider. It felt so good to tell his secret. Reuben wouldn’t tell a soul.
A slow smile spread across Reuben’s face, and he laughed. “Aren’t you a lucky gentleman?” He lifted his glass. “Congratulations, brother.” They clinked their glasses. “Good luck telling this to Lady Leah.” After taking a sip, Reuben tilted his head to the side. “Do you know what you’re going to say?”
“The truth,” Jasper said. “I’ve thought about it for the past two weeks, and as difficult as it’s going to be, I’m going to have to tell her the truth.”
Reuben nodded. “The truth will set you free,” he commented sagely.
