“Yes, she is Goldie’s sister-in-law.” Nia rolled her lips together and then hugged her arms in front of her. “Can I tell you a secret?”
“Of course.”
Nia hesitated, but then admitted, “I was jealous when I heard Goldie married Lord Standish. Not that I fell in love with him, or anything like that, but he was so very… normal. And he has all those sisters…” Nia’s voice trailed off as she imagined Goldie’s new life. Her little sister, the one her mother had declared too plump to attract a prominent husband, was now happily married to an earl. Yes, Nia was jealous, but she was also glad that Goldie’s life hadn’t been so ordered by their father.
She was glad Goldie had never been pressured to marry a man who disgusted her.
“You will see her soon,” Jasper said confidently. “After you and I marry, you’ll be able to carry on a normal life as my wife.”
Did that mean that the two of them were betrothed? Even so, she couldn’t imagine returning to society.
“I won’t count on that. Not many will forgive what I’ve done. Running out of that church like a madwoman.”
“If that’s the case, they won’t be worth the trouble.” He held her gaze. “Trust me.”
Those words again. And now, looking at his eyes, trying to decide if they were more green or brown today, her heart raced as her thoughts turned to the day before.
If running from the church hadn’t ruined her, Jasper had.
And she didn’t mind as much as she ought to.
They drove the remainder of the morning without incident, talking about seemingly insignificant things. Things that weren’t insignificant at all, though, because they gave her more insight into this man. Like the affection he had for Bard, and previous horses, along with anecdotes from his childhood. They’d read a few books in common, and his opinion of those showed compassion and intelligence. The more she learned about him, the more she realized that his confidence was not for show. It resulted from the self-assurance of one who cared little about what others thought of him.
When they stopped shortly after noon, it was relatively uneventful. Jasper assisted Coachman Will and Peters in watering the horses while Nia ordered replacement food for their picnic basket and cleaned up inside.
And as they continued on, sharing the food again and talking on and off, Nia could not forget that this extremely well-sprung coach drew them closer and closer to Gretna Green—to yet another potential wedding.
Despite an occasional flash of doubt, she found herself growing surprisingly content with the prospect. She nearly dozed off, in fact, and would have, if not for the sudden pounding of hooves coming up from behind them.
Followed by a few loud cracking sounds.
She jerked to sit up straight and found Jasper peering out the window. “What was that?”
“Gunshots.”
Her heart sank into her toes at the realization that the worst had happened. “My father’s men? Or Dewberry’s? Have they caught up with us?” She couldn’t imagine being returned to her father but hated that her circumstances had resulted in putting others in danger.
“I don’t think it’s either.” Jasper’s eyes narrowed. “We could do without the delay, though.” He’d moved off his bench, opened it, and stuffed his leather purse inside before lifting out a shiny black pistol. The metal flashed as he tucked it into the waistband of his breeches, hidden beneath his jacket.
Nia stared at him, horrified. “What are you going to do?” Even with a pistol, he suddenly seemed incredibly vulnerable.
“Nothing to worry about.” He winked at her.
Pulled over by highwaymen, under fire, and Jasper would be so irreverent as to wink at her! Was he mad? She didn’t want the answer to that question.
“What do we do?” she asked.
“We,” he said, “do nothing. I, on the other hand, will take care of them while you get down on the floor and stay put.”
The look in his eyes was now deadly serious.
“But—”
“Nia.”
Stay put. She nodded. “I promise. I’ll stay right here.”
The coach drew to a complete stop, and hearing shouts outside, Jasper pushed the door open and exited.
