But as he’d sat patiently allowing his valet to shave him, he’d begun to form a plan.
Years before he had married a duke’s daughter and found a relative amount of contentment. But he later experienced pain he could not have imagined. He’d experienced guilt for not loving Estelle the way he’d wanted to.
He was determined to do things differently the second time around. He would fulfill his obligations in Parliament, make the requisite social appearances necessary to keep his mother happy. And he would marry Tilde. If she would have him.
Of course, she would have him.
Wouldn’t she?
And so, he’d determined to see her before leaving this morning. To reassure her. He’d kiss her again this morning if given the opportunity.
Jasper closed his chamber door behind him, intent upon a brief visit to the nursery. He often stopped in to see his daughters before leaving for the Palace, so such a delay would not seem unusual. At the top of the staircase, he was startled to see his mother standing unmoving, as though she’d been watching for him.
“Good morning, Mother.” He nodded and made to pass around her.
But she stepped in the same direction, effectively blocking his way.
“I’ve been waiting for you, Willoughby. Can you spare me a moment before leaving for the Palace this morning?”
With a glance in the direction of the nursery, Jasper sighed. “What is it?”
She too, glanced along the corridor. “I’d rather speak with you in private. May we go to your study?”
“Can it not wait until tonight?” He was already close to being late.
“It really cannot.” He noticed that she’d set her jaw, an indication that she would not give in easily.
Feeling resigned, he sighed. He would make every attempt to extricate himself from proceedings early on today. Perhaps the four of them could share another picnic if he came home soon enough. With Peaches. Mustn’t forget Peaches.
“Very well.” He conceded. Then gestured for her to proceed him back downstairs. Inside his study with the door firmly closed behind them, he settled behind his desk. His mother took her regular seat in the wingback chair facing him.
“I’d like to make arrangement to send Miss Fortune and the girls back to Warwick Place later on this week. She has them well in hand, and you really ought to focus on making a match with Lady Elaine.”
“For Christ’s sake, Mother, Lady Elaine is naught more than a child. And besides…”
“If you prefer another lady, there is always Pembroke’s gel. A bit long in the tooth but the Earl has posted an enormous dowry for her and that title is as distinguished as any. And of course, Lady Kathleen, Lemming’s widow, is available.”
“Mother, I’m not interested in any of them. And I most definitely have no wish to send my daughters away from me right now. With or without Tilde—Miss Fortune.” He corrected himself.
His mother sat for a moment with pinched lips. “She is not the one for you.”
Jasper drew himself up stiffly. Surely, she could not know…
“I believe that you think she is the one, with her pretty smiles and fine eyes. But you would quickly grow tired of her. Let us send her and the twins to Warwick Place tomorrow so that you can focus on a more equitable match here in town.”
He would not dissemble. In this regard, he’d already decided to make his intentions known anyhow. He would have preferred to speak with Tilde first, but his mother needed to be set to rights.
“Miss Matilda Fortune and my daughters are to remain here with me. And at the end of the season, I have every intention of making Miss Fortune an offer. Perhaps before then.”
At this declaration his mother burst from her chair. “That’s preposterous, Willoughby! She’s below us in every way. A governess? You obviously are not thinking straight. And if you were thinking with anything other than your nether regions, you’d have taken the time to investigate into her family. I wouldn’t allow you to associate with them eleven years ago, when her parents were alive. And I absolutely forbid you to have anything to do with such a family now, with her parents dead. You are Willoughby and you shall marry accordingly.”
Her back ramrod straight, Jasper blinked at what he was hearing.
“You interfered before?” How had she even known?
“Did you think I’d allow you to throw this family’s succession down the river by marrying a woman of such low birth. Because I know you. You’ve always been far too tender hearted for your own good. Even with Estelle, you would have allowed her to cease trying to provide you with an heir. Best for all of us that she’s gone. She was weak. Despite all my urgings, she failed miserably at carrying out her duty.”
The blood in his veins turned to ice. “Despite your urgings?” A sick feeling followed the icy cold. Was his mother’s interference to blame for Estelle’s fixation on a son and her inability to love and accept their daughters?
