“I merely emphasized that upon marrying you, she alone was responsible for providing you an heir. This was not anything new to her. Who was to know she’d weaken and die at such an early age?”
Jasper had never in his life hit a woman, but in this moment he was close to striking his own mother.
Worst of all, he should have suspected her machinations all along. He’d wondered at times. But he’d persisted in the belief that his mother was a decent human being.
Damn his eyes. Was he to blame for Estelle’s decline? And he’d been irritated by her obsession to beget him sons. He’d practically hated her for her refusal to embrace their daughters. And all along his mother had been dripping her poison…
He needed away from the woman he’d spent far too much of his life attempting to please.
“Stay away from my daughters and stay away from me. The dower house at Warwick is yours and I expect you to make use of it immediately. If that is unacceptable, I’m sure we can make one of the northern estates available to you.” He scribbled a note of payment out. “Here is a draft to cover your expenses on your travels.” He signed it with a flourish.
Without another word, he pivoted on his heel and stormed out of his study. He didn’t stop until he was on the street. He ignored the manservant holding his mount in favor of marching along the pavement.
Damn Parliament.
Damn his mother.
And most of all, damn himself.
“Will you read us a story before nap?” Tilde snapped herself back to the present. She took the book Eloise held out. A cajoling expression danced on her little features.
“Of course.” Tilde took the book and settled into the same chair she’d sat in last night. Before…
“It’s Thea’s favorite.” Eloise explained.
“By all means then. Now lie down, both of you.” Peaches jumped up and joined Althea on her bed. “All three of you.”
Luckily Tilde had prepared her lesson plans for the morning far in advance, or she wasn’t certain she could have imparted any substantial instruction whatsoever.
She’d been made love to last night. It would likely be the only time she’d ever experience the act. The thought nearly caused her to burst into tears.
She’d been caught up in passion and lust, but she’d not been so out of her head that she had not known the ramifications of what she was doing.
Jasper.
She swallowed hard at the remembrance of him moving within her. He’d filled places inside that she’d never known to be empty. The feeling of being needed to such an extent by another person in this world, if only for a short while, was an overwhelmingly heady one.
“Miss Fortune.” Eloise’s voice jolted her again, for the umpteenth time that day. “You can turn the page now.”
Tilde shook her head, as though she could shake every unnerving emotion out of it. If only so that she could manage to finish reading a simple children’s story. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.” She forced her mouth to read the words and did not look up again until she finished the last page.
Her actions last night had been unforgivable. They had jeopardized the security she’d begun to provide for these two innocent children.
What if he hated her now? What if he sent her away?
And then she squeezed her eyes together tightly at a worse thought. What if he’d gotten her with child?
At eight and twenty, Tilde did not labor under any misapprehensions as to the possible ramifications of what they’d done. She had approximately thirteen days to wait before she would begin to have an inkling if she was to be spared such a punishment.
And then her gaze settled on Althea’s tiny arm draped over Peaches’ long back. But would it be a punishment? Society certainly would label it as such.
Jasper was an earl.
An earl for Heaven’s sake!
Earls did not offer for their children’s governess, especially one who had chosen to act indiscriminately with them.
Ah, but it had not been indiscriminate. The true tragedy in all of this was that she’d done the unthinkable and fallen in love with him. If given the opportunity to express her love and to experience his affection again, she could not say no.
