Hannah stared on in horror throughout this exchange, and Natalie felt the grip on her hand tighten. The fear she sensed in her cousin broke her heart, but it gave her the strength to maintain a brave stance before Oliver.
“You will regret saying that.”
“No one will regret anything, Ecklehill. Now, get out of my house!” George bellowed, but Oliver was unmoved. He held Natalie’s defiant gaze.
"You have always been a reckless one, Natalie. One's fortune is a thing never to be taken lightly. I have given you all a second warning, and there shan't be a third," he threatened before storming out of their house in a gust of exasperation.
Hannah broke into tears the instant they were alone. Natalie and George tried their best to comfort her, and after this, none of them could eat any more food.
“I need to know if this house was truly given to him,” George vowed, and Natalie silently agreed with him.
Chapter 28
The Comtesse De Villepin is everywhere! Every theater, tavern, park, and gambling hell has a woman dressed as the Comtesse. We know the real Comtesse has never been seen without her Masked Rogue, but with every woman in London wishing to be her, our task of unmasking this mysterious woman has grown more difficult by a hundredfold.
It was the night that Natalie was going to fence with Jasper, at last, and Hannah was sitting on the bed while she dressed. George had sent word to Gloucestershire to her father’s former solicitor, Mr. Alcott, and they had done all they could to comfort Hannah, but there was still a deep sadness in the depths of her eyes.
Natalie had felt guilty for going out to indulge her desires, but her cousin had encouraged her, telling her that she deserved to chase happiness no matter if Oliver was at their door like a bloodhound.
She wrapped the luxurious cloak around her shoulders and smiled at Hannah. “Have a grand time tonight,” Hannah said.
“I will.” Natalie slipped out of the house, and as soon as she stepped into the alley, a hand circled her wrist, and she gasped, her heart racing; not from fear but excitement, because it was Jasper.
He took her face between his palms and kissed her deeply. She still had questions to ask him, and she was still filled with jealousy, but Natalie allowed herself to melt in his arms for that moment. His mouth was warm in the icy night, and he sent sweet heat throughout her body.
“You cannot know how long I have been waiting to do that,” he murmured against her lips before wrapping an arm around her shoulders and ushering her to the carriage while she smiled.
He helped her into the carriage, and after giving the driver instructions, he joined her, opening a small chest beside him on the rear-facing seat. “You need to be properly attired for tonight,” he said, removing a jacket and a pair of breeches from the chest.
“You want me to wear that?” she asked as she took the fencing garments and examined them.
"Yes," he replied, quirking an amused brow at the surprise on her face. “The gymnasium we are going to admits men only. Although there is no one there at this time, I do not want anyone to suspect anything.”
Natalie had overlooked the fact that she would need the proper outfit for the occasion. “I did not think of that.”
"Never say you planned to fence in your dress, my darling." The endearing tone in his voice soothed some of her jealousy.
"You never know, Jasper. It could become fashionable for women to fence and do it in their dresses. After all, we live in an utterly fickle society," she giggled at his jest.
When she made to stash the clothes away, he held her hand. “You must wear them before we arrive. I should have sent them to you earlier but I forgot.”
Suddenly feeling self-conscious, Natalie took off her cloak before reaching for the column of buttons on the back of her dress. As she fumbled with them, she felt Jasper sit behind her and his long fingers join hers. She sucked in her breath and closed her eyes momentarily, relishing his touch as her heart beat ever so quick.
Patiently, he helped her undo each button and unlace her stays. When he pushed the dress down her shoulders, the heat in the carriage rose. Her mouth dried, and her core pulsed sweetly. She looked at him over her shoulder, and his desire was evident in his gaze.
Jasper kissed her shoulder, and she sighed, turning. He stopped her and shook his head. “I might ravish you if you turn.” His tone was light but she caught the small strain in his voice. He passed a white satin sash over to her. “You might want to bind your bosom with this for the jacket to look right.
“You wish for me to look like a man,” she murmured, and he laughed.
“Never.” He kissed her bare shoulder again. “You are more womanly than anyone I know. Look how you bewitched the entire town.” This was her chance to ask him about the false Comtesse but then he asked, “Do you want me to help you?”
“Yes.” Natalie handed the sash back to him and lowered her dress all the way to her waist so she could get out of it. Her stays, chemise, and petticoats followed before he began to carefully wrap the sash around her bosom. The silken fabric touching her breasts caused her nipples to stiffen, and she closed her eyes.
Natalie was glad she had her back to him, because his touch and closeness were making her color up. She did not need him to see her thusly.
"There." He reached for the jacket and helped her into it, and she wore the breeches herself before he returned to his seat, regarding her under-hooded eyes that told her a little about his thoughts. They wanted each other, but they would have to wait until after their sport, otherwise, they might never arrive at the gymnasium.
“I read about another Comtesse in The Londoner,” she said, and he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
