She swallowed a threatening sob. Because she, at least, was a person of her word.
“Please don’t take me back,” she begged. Every bone in her body ached. She wanted nothing more than to close her eyes and hide from the world. And yet, she would refuse to allow Jasper to send her home. She’d return to the Domus Emporium on foot if necessary.
She could not, she would not return to her father’s house.
“I’m not taking you back to your father,” he said.
“Then where…? Are we going to your townhouse?” All she wanted was answers.
"West House is the first place your father will look. I’ve no doubt he has men watching it now. Where else do you think he’ll look for you?"
A glint of moonlight slanted across his face, and his gaze held hers.
Her heart dropped into her ruined satin slippers.
The only person in England who might be willing to assist her was the same one who had defied her father only a month before. "He will go after Lord Standish."
“Yes.”
"But my sister—"
"Is his wife, and therefore, the earl’s legal responsibility." Jasper narrowed his eyes. "You are not."
Which meant that even if Lord Standish was willing to take her in, which of course he would be, as it was reported he was besotted with her sister and Goldie would insist, Standish would find himself in trouble. The earl had only recently narrowly escaped a sentence at Newgate and the last thing the newly-wedded couple needed was for him to attract the wrath of the Duke of Crossings.
But they were not traveling back toward Mayfair. As far as she could tell, they were traveling in the opposite direction. They were traveling north.
The moonlight shifted, and Nia could no longer read Jasper's expression.
But she’d determined not to be a pawn, so she persisted in her interrogation.
From this point going forward, she would take charge of her own fate.
It was not too late to demand Jasper turn the carriage around, or simply have the carriage stop so she could get out and walk—if she so chose.
"What is this plan?” Silence followed her question, but this time she didn't prod him to answer. It was a trick her governesses had used on her. Sit quietly until the other person grew so uncomfortable that they felt compelled to fill it.
Jasper cleared his throat, but Nia waited. She very nearly had to bite her tongue to keep from speaking.
"The thing is,” he began…
Silence.
"The thing is...?" Nia couldn’t help herself.
"The only way that I can continue to protect you is to... marry you." He didn’t look all that happy about it.
“I beg your pardon?” She shook her head, sure she must have misheard due to the ringing which had started fading in and out.
“Your father has the legal right to decide your future until you are either married or have reached the age of five and twenty. I have no standing to protect you unless I’m your husband.”
“My husband?” Apparently, she had heard him correctly the first time.
"Your only other alternative is to leave everything you know and start a new life under a new name.”
“But… I don’t want a husband.” She was so very, very tired.
“I’m not all that keen on taking a wife.”
