Natalie did not spare her so much as a glance. She took George’s arm and helped him straighten, and deliberately refusing to look in Jasper’s direction, she led him away. It was over.
Chapter 33
Oh, Miss Gilmore informed us correctly. We saw quite the tension between the Duke of Amsthorne and Lady Natalie Reeves at the ball. Perhaps the Duke knew of her history and it was why he rejected her. Our heart goes to the poor lady, regardless.
Jasper watched Natalie lead Clifford away with Miss Reeves behind them. Seeing her had torn him to bits. So much so that he had not been able to stand being in the ballroom for long.
He had escaped soon to drown his woes in his cups, only for her to follow him, and eventually leave him eviscerated by their conversation. And when he thought his night could not get worse, Jasper heard a commotion in the hall and hastened to the horrendous sight of a brawl between Oliver and Clifford. Two friends of his that he never had believed capable of such.
What appalled him more than anything was the fact that society just stood by and watched the two gentlemen practically try to kill each other.
"My study, Ecklehill.Now," Jasper said to Oliver before he walked past him. He saw how swollen Oliver’s face was when he entered the study, but Jasper was too angry to pity him at that moment. "What the devil was the meaning of that display?"
"You should have put in some thought before you invited just anyone to your ball, Jasper," Oliver hurled back, and Jasper’s brows rose.
"I beg your pardon?"
"The Reeves are bad society. I never liked your relationship with Clifford."
Jasper clenched his jaw, wondering if Oliver knew anything about Natalie’s plan. "Yet you never mentioned anything about this," he pointed out.
"Because I did not want to alarm you without cause," Oliver replied. “I intended to wait until I was sure they posed danger to you.”
"But why did you see it right to engage Clifford in a fight at my ball like a pack of wild animals," Jasper threw back. Oliver knew how much he hated fights.
"Are you seriously taking his side, Jasper?”
“I am taking no one’s side. Give me a damn reason!”
Oliver groaned. One of his eyes had already closed and the bruise around it was turning purple. “He started it. Cliffordstrangledme against the wall. I had to defend myself!"
Jasper recalled the tension he had sensed from the two gentlemen the night he hosted them. Whatever had pushed them to fight tonight was deeper than he thought. No one knew about Natalie’s list, and it was likely not the reason Oliver thought them bad people.
"If you are having trouble with him because of your business, I would appreciate it if you kept me, and most definitely my guests, out of it," Jasper said.
"You think this is about business?" Oliver scoffed.
"Then what the devil got you two beating up one another in my home?" Jasper asked, growing exasperated. Oliver was not answering his questions directly.
His friend reached into his coat pocket and removed a folded sheet. “I was going to show you this after the ball to warn you about the family. They want only your fortune.”
That did not make sense because Natalie had insisted upon giving him a hundred guinea from her winnings the first night he took her out. Not knowing what to expect, Jasper unfolded the sheet and read.
Natalie’s name was painted red by The Londoner. The news about the scandal sounded familiar but he still did not know what to make of it. His heart beat faster, and his gut clenched.Natalie compromised? How?
"Youstilldo not remember?" Oliver asked.
“What am I supposed to remember?”
“That night ten years ago when I dared you to kiss a debutante?”
The memories, as fragmented as they were due to him being drunk that night, rushed to the surface, and he tensed. “What? ...Was that Natalie?” He already knew the answer but he was anxious for Oliver to tell him that it was not her.
"Yes,” he confirmed, hitting the nail on the head. “Natalie was that lady I chose and dared you to kiss."
Oh God!Jasper could not breathe. She had been compromised by him that night, and because of it, no one wanted to marry her.
"Clifford was here with a motive against you tonight. When I found out, I tried to defend your honor," Oliver continued. “We did a harmless thing. You did not even kiss her. No one was there.”
