He sighed. After meeting with the magistrate his positive feelings of that morning had dissipated. No matter how satisfying the evening had been.
Despite not having apprehended his cousin the previous night—and the decided lack of sleep—he’d awoken feeling significantly lighter than he’d thought possible. That, of course, was due to Maria—Duncan.
He hadn’t, however, continued his discussion with Maria to disabuse her of the notion of his interest in afalseengagement. He needed to tell her how he felt.
His emotions continued to war within him, but irritation took the fore once more. Bloody Vaughn and his curst optimism.
The carriage rolled to a stop in front of his town house. He leapt down before the step could be lowered and jogged up the front steps.
He nodded to the footman who had just taken his morning post into the foyer. “Good morning. Would you be so good as to have a half bath brought to my chambers, please?”
“At once, Your Grace.” He bowed deeply and hurried from the foyer.
Jasper trotted up the stairs and strode to his chambers. He’d only wiped himself off after making love to Maria earlier, and he needed to get in a proper cleaning before going back to sleep.
A swift grin stole over his lips as memories flashed through his mind.
He reached his bedchamber, but froze in the act of shucking his coat, his gaze riveted on the knife protruding from his opened door.
“Harris!” he bellowed, hoping that the man was still in residence.
His harshly uttered curse echoed in the room as he searched the room for a pair of gloves. His heart thundered in his chest. Francis had been here! But how? They had searched every room and locked every entrance!
At last he found two used neckcloths. He freed and unfolded the letter.
Come notbEtween the dragon and his wrath…
“Sodding hell,”Jasper muttered, his stomach all but entirely in knots. “Harris!”
Christ, but his skin was slick with icy perspiration, and yet his home felt too warm.
* * *
A pleasurable humtingled just beneath the surface of Maria’s skin as she donned her cloak, grabbed a newspaper, and dashed out of doors.
She’d scarcely gotten any sleep for replaying her night with Jasper through her mind; the warm flicker of firelight that wavered over Jasper’s skin, the way he looked as she gave him pleasure… A smile spread across her lips. He’d been markedly encouraging of her feelings, almost entirely liberating her from any concern she had regarding their engagement.
Does he wish for afashionablemarriage?
A pang shot through her belly.
Her friends frequently teased her about having amorous feelings toward Jasper, but while there had always been some spark of truth to their words, she’d never truly believed them.
Love.
Her heart skipped, and she placed a hand over her chest.
Blimey.
A quavering huff of breath escaped her, which betrayed her nerves. It was time to stop thinking about Jasper.
“To the apartments, Jonah,” Maria whispered to her favoured coachman as she entered her familial carriage.
“Right away, Miss Roberts.”
She shut the door quickly and leaned back, her stomach buzzing with nerves as the carriage jolted into motion.
Focus, Maria.You’re about to defy Grace’s orders.
