“Don’t go marrying him,” Julia said, trying to lighten the discussion. “However, I should be the one to do it,” she protested, thinking how relieved she would be to get her own ring back. “Let me go to the party with you.”
“Would you promise not to take anything else?” Sarah asked.
“I would never put you at risk.”
“Then I’ll see if I can secure another invitation. I had to play the lonely widow who desperately wants to get out of London for a bit. Perhaps you can come along as my companion with whom I can’t bear to be parted.”
“Dear God, we sound like a couple of maiden aunts — a lonely widow and her companion! But what about Father?”
Sarah gave a little shrug. “We shall see him in the new year instead.”
***
“CAN YOU ACTUALLY BEangry at me?” Jasper looked bewildered by her expression, as they stood by the tall windows of Apsley House, overlooking Hyde Park.
Looking as ridiculously handsome as ever, he’d come to collect her along with Mrs. Zebodar. Behaving perfectly, he was in a good mood, smiling and charming, as they rode the short distance to the Marquess of Wellesley’s gracious home, and it had grated on Julia’s every last nerve.
The grand home was situated in a prominent place beside the main southeast gate to Hyde Park. That night, the red brick house was lit from the many oil lamps around its exterior. Inside, shuffling slowly with the other guests through a grand entrance hall into a smaller chamber, Julia and Mrs. Zebodar changed into their dancing slippers while Jasper dropped off their coats. Then Julia placed her hand on Jasper’s arm, and they ascended the U-shaped staircase, her chaperone trailing behind them.
Upstairs, the main reception room had been transformed into a glittering ballroom for the event. Julia tried to enjoy her surroundings, but felt increasingly in a snit, as Jasper smiled at one lady, nodded to another, bowed to a duke, and shared a quick word with Lord Wellesley, their host. His wife, the former French actress Hyacinth-Gabrielle was not evident. Instead, the marquess’s young mistress Elizabeth Johnston played hostess, offering Jasper a warm welcome and her hand to kiss.
All this before they’d even made it across to the ceiling high windows on the other side of the grand room. So much for Lord Stridewell’s threat over Jasper being cut from society! The man could get away with anything, it seemed.
Julia considered her emotions. After being shocked by the distressed state of Lord Neville, she had been angry with Jasper at first, but then she’d realized her true anger was at herself. She’d known better than to invest even the smallest part of her heart in a rake.
Known better and done it anyway!
After the Stridewells’ dinner party, her anger had doubled — after all, he’d cost her the ring, which she’d heard no more about from Lady Stridewell. Moreover, Julia couldn’t deny feeling miffed at the ease with which he’d moved on to Lady Violet. But that was the very essence of the man.
Now, seeing him in his element, her pettish expression had prompted his charming tilt of his head and his silly question.
“Can you actually be angry at me?”
What a waste of a dashing man!He was like a woebegone dog who stole a chicken from pure instinct yet meant no harm, nor even knew what he’d done wrong. She might as well be angry at the sea for being wet.
“No. I’m not angry,” she lied, at once leaving Mrs. Zebodar, who was busy lining up potential dance partners, and striding away through the next drawing room into a third at the back of the house. Julia knew Jasper would follow.
When he did, she said over her shoulder, “I know I have behaved badly where you are concerned, and you did nothing I didn’t let you do, and freely, too. However, I am still sane enough to feel ashamed of my behavior and yours, for that matter! And I don’t wish to be treated like I do not matter. Like a courtesan.
“A courtesan?” he echoed.
She stopped in front of a window overlooking the garden. He came to a halt beside her, regarding her with his dark-brown gaze with the slightest of frowns upon his forehead.
He still looked infernally dashing.Devil take the man!
“We’ve had a waggish good time, have we not? Whenever we’re together, be it riding or for dinner or whatever else we’ve managed.”
“Yes,” she agreed.How many more good times had he experienced with other women in the past few weeks?
“Ah, I see.” His frown disappeared. “You’ve missed me, and it’s put you into a case of the blue devils.” His face broke out in a sensual grin that made her stomach twinge with yearning.
Shehadmissed him, but she wouldn’t tell him such. Besides, it seemed terribly hypocritical of her to be annoyed that he’d take up with other women and done the honorable thing by leaving her alone.
A rake’s honor, to be sure, one that suited his fickle way of life!
Jasper leaned close, causing her to take a step back, eventually pressing herself flat against the gold-and-green wallpaper. He put a hand up beside her head, standing most inappropriately, holding her captive in the corner of the room.
Bending down, he nuzzled against the side of her face and then lower, placing a searing kiss just above her collarbone.
