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Chapter Seven
A SLY FOX
Over the course of the next few days, Jasper watched as Lady Edith continued to circumvent the dukes’ intentions of seeing their children get better acquainted. She flitted around like a fairy, always there, but at the same time almost invisible. Again and again, she secured moments for Lady Adele and Mr. MacKinnear to dance and speak and laugh together.
Jasper had to admit that they did look rather besotted. Neither one of them had eyes for another, and Lord Aberley did not truly seem to mind that his betrothed fancied another. In fact, he seemed rather oblivious, as though his eyes were not seeing what was right in front of him, but had strayed to something else entirely, making him rather blind.
One evening, Jasper sat down to dinner once again to find that Lady Adele and Mr. MacKinnear had been seated next to one another. Indeed, it was the third evening in a row for him to notice this occurrence, and he could not help but think that Edith had something to do with it. How had she done it though?
“What makes you think it was her doing?” Andrew inquired; Jasper had no doubt he had overheard his muttering.
Thinking, Jasper moved his gaze from the young couple to Edith, herself seated down the table, her blue eyes watchful and a beautiful smile upon her face; a smile that whispered faintly of triumph. “Oh, I know it was her.”
“But how—?” Andrew broke off, and as Jasper turned to look at him, he spotted a deepening frown coming to his friend’s face. “Quite frankly,” Andrew finally continued, his distant gaze clearing and once again focusing upon Jasper, “I saw her speak to my mother the other day, but that does not mean that Lady Edith—”
Jasper laughed. “Oh, it does!” Again, his gaze moved to her, and this time she turned to look at him.
The look in her eyes made him draw in a deep breath, and the smile she granted him was one full of shared secrets, as though she could read his thoughts and knew full well what he had just concluded.
And she did not mind.
Awed by her cunning spirit, Jasper continued to watch her. Indeed, she was a marvel, the way she spoke to people, always having a kind word to say to everyone. Sometimes it was a simple compliment on another’s wardrobe. Sometimes her words were meant to be reassuring and uplifting to someone in doubt or even crisis. And sometimes it was a sweet, amusing anecdote intended to make people laugh and bring them joy. Still, whatever it was, all those she spoke to smiled at her, their eyes shining with approval, with gratitude.
With thoughts of friendship, even.
Was this her secret? Jasper wondered. Indeed, after no more than a fortnight at Cumberton Castle, Lady Edith already seemed well acquainted with about everyone, guests and servants alike. Jasper could see it in the way people looked at her, nodded to her.
And so, Jasper was not surprised at all to see not Lord Aberley seat himself in the sleigh with Lady Adele and Lady Edith but Mr. MacKinnear instead. The two women sat side by side while Mr. MacKinnear took the seat opposite them. Clearly, this arrangement was to everyone’s liking, for Lady Adele and Mr. MacKinnear once again looked at one another in that terribly besotted way, almost oblivious to Lady Edith’s presence.
What surprised Jasper, though, was that Lord Aberley ended up in the sleigh with Jasper, his sister and mother. He gave no reason for it, but merely took a seat next to Jasper, greeting everyone in a kind, yet somewhat tense manner. While his mother seemed quite delighted to have the duke’s son seated opposite her unwed daughter, Mary instantly averted her gaze the moment Lord Aberley appeared. Her cheeks flushed a bright red, and Jasper could see how deeply uncomfortable she was.
For a moment, Jasper felt tempted to ask Lord Aberley to leave; however, that would have been beyond rude. Indeed, he had nothing against the man, for he was perfectly polite.
One horse-drawn sleigh behind the other, they made their way through the snow-covered landscape. Fortunately, Jasper’s sleigh came right behind Lady Edith’s, granting him a rather good view of the sleigh ahead. He saw Lady Adele and Mr. MacKinnear speak animatedly, now and then leaning closer to whisper to the other. At one point, Mr. MacKinnear even reached out and tugged a loose curl back into Lady Adele’s fur-lined hood.
And all the while, Lady Edith appeared fast asleep.
Since the two ladies sat in the seats facing forward, Jasper could not see their faces. However, he had taken note of the way Lady Edith seemed to have grown smaller in her seat, her head slightly tilting to the left, as though sleep was tugging on her, and she could no longer keep it upright.
Jasper grinned, for he would bet his entire fortune that she was not truly asleep.
Indeed, she struck him as a sly fox. She knew how to read people, understood their intentions and motivations. She knew their hearts and minds and used that knowledge to see her plans realized.
Indeed, if she wanted to, she could easily build herself a reputation that saw her propelled into the highest ranks of the Englishton. She could use her talents to deceive others, to gain favors, to manipulate, solely focused on her own advantage.
It was a thought, however, that had never occurred to Lady Edith. Jasper was certain of it. Yes, he loved her integrity, her devotion to others, her determination to see them happy. She used her gifts for the good of all, and Jasper marveled at all the many things she might still do throughout her lifetime.
He also marveled if perhaps some of her plans extended to him.
Chapter Eight
ON ANOTHER’S BEHALF
Keeping her eyes firmly closed, Edith listened as Mr. MacKinnear bid Adele goodbye, wondering why he would take his leave so quickly. Then, however, she heard approaching footsteps, a moment before Lord Aberley’s voice drifted to her ears. “Did you enjoy the sleigh ride, Lady Adele?”
“Very much so, my lord,” Adele replied, a touch of regret in her voice, no doubt caused by Lord Aberley’s sudden appearance.
Deciding that it was time to awaken from her nap, Edith drew in a deep breath before blinking her eyes open and appearing to stifle a yawn. “Oh, goodness, did I nod off?” She rose to her feet, her eyes sweeping over her surroundings, as though she could not quite believe what had happened.
