Sir Asham,Jasper spat in his mind. The man was a fool, and entirely beneath Maria’s notice. Why would she bother to entertain the baronet’s attentions?
Marry… The word glided through his thoughts once more, and he bit back a growl.What the devil is happening to me?
Hell, he was still damp and chilled, it made no sodding sense that he’d remained at the Weatherby ball.Maria. His gaze floated away from blasted Asham and back toward Maria, and something in his chest squeezed. He couldn’t leave now. Indeed, since the moment he’d learned of her intentions, he couldn’t pull himself away. Butwhy, curse it? The woman held too much power over him.
“I see that you’ve become friendly with Sir Asham,” Heather drawled as Maria reached their group.
Maria hummed her confirmation. “He’s asked me to join him for a ride in his curricle on Wednesday.”
Jasper huffed. She’d never joinedhimfor a drive. To be fair, he hadn’t asked. But she was always off with Juliana at some event, or having tea for Christ’s sake, and he’d never been included in their activities.
Fuck.I’ve missed my chance.
He blinked.Thatwas an alarming thought. Maria had always justbeenthere; when had he begun to desire more from their acquaintance?
“And did you accept?” Juliana asked.
Maria’s gaze flicked sideways to meet Jasper’s, and a bolt of awareness skittered down his spine.
Maria shrugged one shoulder. “Of course. He’s charmingly biddable.”
“Though not beddable,” Heather put in.
Jasper’s gut clenched, and his throat nigh closed.Hell’s tits.
“Sadly not beddable, no,” Maria agreed. “But certainly virile enough to give me a child, which should be pleasing.”
“His virility?” Heather asked.
Jasper’s jaw clenched as an unreasonable tide of anger swelled in his chest. How could gentlewomen speak thusly? Surely this was not the norm. And surely Maria didn’t truly imagine herself and Sir Asham in such a way.
Maria gave one short, breathy laugh. “I should say not. I meant the child.”
Hell. The thought of Maria beingintimatewith SirsoddingAsham, of having a child with him, was unconscionable. Without Jasper’s consent, a low growl emanated from his chest, garnering the attention of the women at his side.
Shite.
“I beg your pardon,” he muttered, forcibly shaking the tension from his hands, though the devil knew his body was teeming with it.
They stared at him silently for a long moment as the cheerful music, shuffling of feet, and animated conversations around them filled the void. The skin at the back of his neck began to prickle at their scrutiny.
“Shall we come to yours for tea on the morrow, Maria?” Juliana inquired.
Jasper shook himself internally, relieved by the sudden change in topic.
“Of course.” Maria grinned at her friend. “But let’s schedule for the afternoon at my alternate rooms; I have a standing engagement in the morning.”
Jasper frowned in puzzlement.Alternate rooms?“What sort of standing engagement?”
Maria and her friends replied simultaneously, “Charity.”
CHAPTER5
Milky moonlight shone in through the master bedchamber’s window, illuminating the large bed and the sleeping form within. Francis glowered at his cad of a cousin.
The man’s mouth hung slightly open, his brow clear of worry—the bloody rotter—and soft snoring came from his bared chest. If Francis but wrapped his hand around the cur’s throat and squeezed hard enough, or pressed a pillow into his face…or fetched a knife from the kitchens and slit his throat, or tied him to the bed and cut?—
He shook himself. He could be rid of his infernal cousin right then, as could he have been countless times before.
