“I never got around to thanking you. So, well. Thank you.” But then she touched her left ear and winced.
Which meant the earl had hit her twice. Once across the face and a second time on the ear.
Jasper forced his fists to relax on the leather reins. "Is it ringing?” In school, he’d been on the receiving end of more than his fair share of slaps. In fact, he’d been the favorite target for a group of bullies in his class.
"A little," she answered. "It's nothing."
If Crossings were standing directly in front of Jasper in that instant, Jasper would have given the villain a dose of his own medicine. He didn’t give a damn if the man was a pauper, a duke, or the king himself, any man who abused his own daughter who was also a grown woman needed a special kind of correction.
And by correction, Jasper envisioned a sound beating. But instead of taking that route, Jasper would bide his time. There were other ways…
“I’m not normally like this.” She spoke so quietly, he nearly missed it.
“You don’t normally throw yourself into strange carriages? Or climb out third story windows? I’m shocked.” Jasper wouldn’t have thought he’d see it as an admirable quality in a debutante, but glimpsing her plight from a different perspective adjusted his opinion. “Not many young women would stand up for themselves as you have.”
“I’ve never lacked for anything. And I’ve done my best to make my mother proud. But the way he looked at me, I’ve never felt more helpless. Or afraid.” It was as though she were arguing with herself. “And marriage is for life.”
“He didn’t deserve you.”
“My father?”
“Or Dewberry.” And he meant it. In fact, Jasper couldn’t think of a single man deserving of this feisty young woman. She may have been raised to be dutiful and meek but had burst free of her cocoon at that altar. Most men of the ton were too busy entertaining themselves to consider their wives’ needs.
Jasper’s own father, unfortunately, had proven to be the exception. The man who’d sired him had lacked any ability to say no to a pretty face.
So he’d married far too many of them.
“You are a man,” she said. “But you don’t seem to sympathize with him.”
“He doesn’t deserve it.” Jasper didn’t even hesitate. And then he responded to the first part of her statement. “Not all of us are monsters.” Although, why would she believe him, with Crossings for a father?
“I hope I never have to see him again.” She lifted her chin.
Jasper would do his best to ensure just that but refrained from offering any promises. Because as matters stood, his actions today could no longer be dismissed as innocent.
No, he’d definitively overstepped his bounds. At the same time, he’d not done enough. His gaze flicked to her cheek, and then her ear. He’d sent her right back into danger. He’d do better moving forward.
"You haven’t told me where we’re going," she reminded him, ducking a low branch.
By now, he had a destination in mind.
"I have a friend who can be of assistance. We’ll drop by his establishment," Jasper said.
A visit to the Duke of Malum’s Domus Emporium would kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. He’d inform Malum that the Neptune now sat on the ocean floor but also discuss Crossings’ possible involvement in the opium trade for tea.
And the possibility that the two were connected.
Three birds, really. Because if anyone knew the best way to deal with a woman in need, it would be the owner of a brothel.
But he wouldn’t mention that detail to Lady Gardenia. Despite her sudden bout of recklessness, she was still a lady.
For now, anyhow.
“What kind of establishment?” she asked.
“One that caters to gentlemen.”
Jasper could practically hear the thoughts racing around her head.
