“Nice?” he snapped. “That was a hell of a lot better than nice.”
She ignored his outburst. “I didn’t realize I’d fallen asleep, nor do I recall changing seats.”
He shrugged. “When you started to doze, I helped you onto my side and easy as a cat, you curled up and fell asleep. However, we only have a couple minutes,” he continued. “We have just turned up the drive to my family’s estate. Hopefully, Mother has already gone to bed. She didn’t know when to expect me, so I see no reason why she would wait up, but if she has, we should agree upon what you wish me to tell her.”
“Jasper, we’ve had many hours. Why didn’t you bring this up before?”
“I hated to wake you, and I didn’t think about it until you were leaning on me, snoring like an old dog.”
“What!” She tried to push away from him, preferring the notion of being a sleek cat to an old dog.
“Calm yourself. I didn’t mind. The noise was almost musical, a low rumble followed by a short whistle. Actually, I drifted off to sleep because of it.”
Jasper released her and opened the short velvet curtain. Julia couldn’t see much except for moonlit trees, but soon, a grand house came into view. Lamps were in many of the ground-floor windows and a few in the upper chambers, as well.
“It’s magnificent,” she offered as they rocked to a halt.
“If my mother is awake, I shall tell her your sister was invited away for the winter season, and you were unfortunately left alone in London for the Twelvetide and needed a place to go.”
“Without my maid or a trunk of clothing?” His mother would think them both fibbers. “She’ll wonder if I’m a lunatic.”
“Hm. Perhaps you’re right. Quite on a whim, you came to say goodbye and discovered you were being pursued by an angry man. Naturally, I offered to help. That’s the truth. Mother will think your pursuer to be some rascal from the middle-class, no doubt, an unwanted admirer you’re trying to be rid of.”
“Why not a nobleman?” Julia asked, scooting to the edge of the squab so she could better peer out into the darkness.
“Because you’re a common mopsey.”
Without thinking, she turned and punched him in the shoulder, making him chuckle. He’d succeeded, however, in alleviating some of her apprehension over arriving at his country estate. Regardless, she hoped his mother was soundly asleep and would save her questions for the morning.
***
AWEARY RIGLEY OPENEDthe coach door, unlatched the step and set it down, then offered a hand to Julia. Although Jasper couldn’t see her well in the dim light, she glanced back at him, looking a little uncertain.
Something in the vicinity of his heart clenched. There was that sentimentality striking him again — he wanted to keep her safe, even if it meant hiding her there in Gloucestershire for the rest of her life.
Nodding with encouragement, Jasper grabbed his satchel and his discarded overcoat, before heading out after her.
When they entered the front hall, their long-time butler who traveled with his mother’s household, was there to greet them with a bow.
“It’s good to see you, my lord,” Mr. Jeffers said.
The dowager countess must be asleep after all. Elsewise, she would have pounced on them like a cat upon a mouse.
“Sorry to keep you up so late,” he said to the butler. “You shouldn’t have waited for us. I know my way around.”
The man’s impassive face hardly registered the apology, nor did his gaze flick even once to the unexpected guest.
“Her ladyship instructed me to await you, sir. She was certain you wouldn’t stay at a coach house, if at all possible. As usual, madam was correct.”
“Then you must take the day off tomorrow, and anyone else who is up past their bedtime.” Jasper included a yawning maid, waiting patiently for her next order. He thought the butler might argue, but looking dead on his feet, the man nodded.
“Thank you, sir.” Then Mr. Jeffers, with his sharp gray eyes never leaving Jasper’s, asked, “Would you like your guest put in the gold and green room or the blue and silver room, sir?”
Jasper was amazed at the butler’s astute enquiry. Considering he’d never brought a female to Marshfield Manor before, he was impressed by Jeffers choice of rooms.
“The blue and silver has a nicer view,” he said, choosing the room closest to his. As lord of the manor, he ought to defend her virtue. However, he couldn’t imagine Julia staying under his roof for the remainder of the Twelvetide without their ending up in a sensual dance upon the counterpane. There was no point in her being in another wing entirely.
“I believe my good friend, Miss Sudbury, will be most comfortable in that one.”
