She’d believed the love behind his gaze when he’d held her, when he’d kissed her.
When he’d buried himself inside of her.
Yesterday afternoon, Tilde had been happy. She’d seen real progress with both the girls. She’d had what she considered a mutually respectful relationship with her employer, a man she’d considered something of a friend. She’d had fulfilling employment.
She’d woken each day with the knowledge that she would see him. That she could watch him with his daughters and know that all of this mattered.
Yet today…
After one gloriously passionate night—everything had been torn away.
She would not grieve over the loss of her dog. Peaches would be loved and spoiled. Lady Althea and Eloise would have a loyal companion by their side.
He would not take that away from them.
Another sob rose in her chest.
Magic was not to be trusted. It was a cheap illusion. Madam Zeta’s words echoed in her head. "Your First Kiss holds the answer to all that you desire."
This time, instead of laughing out loud, silent tears rolled down her cheeks.
Once away from the townhouse Jasper’s thought cleared somewhat. He’d known of his mother’s manipulations for years—he’d just not realized the extent of them.
He had been unwilling to consider how far she was willing to go. In his naivete, he had believed his mother had visited Estelle to offer feminine support and comfort in the absence of his wife’s own mother.
Quite the opposite. She’d been building Estelle’s doubts even higher. Damn his eyes! He’d never questioned any of it. He ought to have seen his mother for what she was. He now recalled that when the terminal nature of Estelle’s health had become apparent she had departed Warwick Place and returned to London. She abandoned them, rather than remain to offer comfort to a dying woman, to her granddaughters, to her son. And now he remembered receiving letters from her during that time, hinting of women who, he now realized, she’d wanted him to consider as replacements for Estelle.
While his wife lay in bed waiting to die.
He’d been a clueless ass.
A sick disappointment replaced his anger as he strode unseeing through the streets of Mayfair. Had his mother always been this way? His father had been a mild–mannered gentleman. Upon examining his memories from a different perspective, he wondered if she hadn’t taken advantage of his nature.
This morning Jasper had banished his own mother from London.
Was that really what he wanted?
He’d made love to Tilde the night before. He’d loved her.
She was the one. He had no doubt. What Jasper really wished for was to return to his country estate with his family. There, unencumbered by societal expectations of the ton, he could take Tilde as his wife. The girls would have a mother. He smiled for the first time since storming away from his house. His girls would have a pet.
He…
He would finally have his magic.
Tilde.
He did not wish to have his mother living nearby, in the dower property there.
Upon glancing up and realizing he’d made his way to Bond Street, he decided he’d meet with his solicitor. Stuart and Lords, the firm who’d handled his grandfather’s affairs, his father’s and now his own, housed offices just a few blocks down. He would meet with one of the solicitors and charge the man with finding a suitable residence in Mayfair for his mother. That way she would be no threat to Tilde. He’d not done well by Estelle. Although he could never change the outcome, it would be his burden to carry for a lifetime.
But—he vowed to himself–– he would protect Tilde and his daughters with his own life if necessary. He’d not allow his mother to poison their opportunity for happiness. He wanted that. Happiness, contentment. A life filled with love and laughter for all of them. And yes, there would be pain. There was always pain, which made it all the more imperative they embraced joy when it was in their midst.
He’d experienced joy last night. A piercing, all-encompassing joy that only comes with love.
Warmth filled his heart. She’d given herself to him so freely, with so much trust.
He should have believed the magic all those years ago. She had been the one for him then, she was the one for him now. But then he would not have the little lights of his life, Althea and Eloise. And he had loved Estelle. For a time.
