“You know,” Jasper said with a slight smile. “After today, I’ll be your uncle.”
Dodger cast him a quick look. “I never had an uncle before.”
“Nor I, a nephew.” As he said it, he wondered when his half-brother would wed. Would Jasper know Matthew’s children? In the past months, they’d spoken twice. Not much, but for them, a rather large step.
Jasper caught sight of Madelina as they drew near. His heart stuttered in his chest, the way it always did, no matter how often they met. In the days to come, when he had the privilege of waking beside her every morning, would his heart still skip? He hoped so.
She smiled, quicksilver eyes alight as they met his gaze. Jasper didn’t restrain an answering grin. They’d waited six long months for this day, for him to be properly out of deep mourning and for London to somewhat forget about the scene they’d made in the street.
“Dodger, could you tell my driver to meet us at the church?” Jasper asked. “I think I’ll go with Madelina. You can ride in my carriage, if you like.”
“Is that proper like?”
“Do you really care?” Jasper asked.
Dodger grinned. He trotted away to Jasper’s carriage. Jasper climbed in with Madelina.
“My lady,” he said, settling into the seat beside her.
Her smile faltered.
“What is it?” Jasper captured her hand.
“We’re to wed today.”
He tried not to let the tone of those words dampen his joy. “And that makes you frown?”
“I have one more secret.”
Jasper’s brow furrowed. “Another secret?”
The carriage rumbled forward, headed to the church.
Madelina bit her lip and nodded. “I know I’ve had months to tell you. It never seems like the right moment. It’s difficult to bring up, because I don’t wish you to think I’m ashamed, or there is anything wrong with it, but it is….” She shrugged. “There’s no shame,” she reiterated firmly.
He shook his head. “In what?”
Madelina drew in a deep breath. She met his eyes. “I was born out of wedlock. I am not a lady.”
Jasper blinked. “So?”
“So, I thought you should know before you marry me.”
He squeezed her hand tighter and slumped against the seatback. “You frightened me. I thought something was amiss.”
“No, not amiss. Just…I thought you should know. In case.”
He studied her, eyebrows raised. “In case what?”
She flushed. “In case you no longer wanted me.” She bit her lip again, looking down.
He used gentle fingers to tip her chin up. “And if that made me no longer want you, would you still want me?”
She let out a sigh. “I’d like to say no, but I cannot.”
He grinned.
“That’s not very nice,” she muttered. “Grinning at me.”
