‘I can’t,’ Abi told her, dabbing at her eyes. ‘He still hasn’t come back from France yet and I don’t know when he will. He told me he wouldn’t be gone long.’
‘Then I reckon it’s time you ’ad a word wi’ that cousin o’ yours an’ got ’is London address,’ Maria advised. ‘You could go round there then. Just to check if ’e’s home.’
Abi nodded. She knew that what Maria was saying made sense and prayed that Jasper would visit the club very soon.
Her prayers were answered that very night when at about nine o’clock Jasper and some of his pals strolled in. Forgetting all about the elderly gentleman who she had just encouraged to buy champagne, Abi shot off across the club like a greyhound, catching Jasper at the bar.
‘Have you heard anything from Hugo yet?’ she asked.
He grinned. ‘That’s a nice greeting I must say, and no I haven’t as it happens,’ he lied as the rest of his group wandered off to the card tables.
‘Then I’m afraid I must ask you for his London address; I need to see him, or at least get in touch with him,’ Abi told him forcefully.
Jasper ran his finger around the inside of his shirt collar as he asked, ‘What for?’
‘That’s for me to know and you to find out. So unless you want me to cause a stink, I suggest you give me the addressrightnow.’
As he looked into her flashing eyes Jasper’s heart sank. Hugo would be none too pleased if he were to do as she asked, but then, as his parents had sent him to France, what did it matter? When Abi arrived at the house, the maid would probably simply tell her that he was not in the country and she’d have to go away with no harm done. That is unless she was .?.?. Jasper couldn’t even let himself consider the possibility. It was he who had encouraged Abi to run away from home and he who had introduced her to the club, and all for nothing as things had turned out. As well as the money he’d got for introducing her to Lilly, he had hoped that with Abi out of the way he would have more time to get Emmy to himself by sending the sisters down different paths but it hadn’t worked out that way, because Emmy had surprised him by moving here first, and despite following after her, he’d not managed to make any progress with her, thanks to his saintly brother. Today he’d received a letter from his father telling him he wanted him home and quickly, so it looked as if his little holiday was about to end without him managing to win Emmy over. And the thought of having to leave her in London cut like a knife. His liking for her had grown into an obsession, and the fact that she seemed indifferent to him made him all the more determined to press his case with her. And if it should ever come out that it was he who had encouraged Abi to run away, he would be in water up to his neck!
‘Very well. He lives at Medville Towers, Park Street, Mayfair,’ he told her grudgingly. ‘And now if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to go to my friends.’ With an icy smile he left her.
Abi watched him go with a thoughtful expression on her face. She had seen another side of Jasper since coming to live at the Black Cat. The attention he had once bestowed on her had disappeared and she correctly guessed that it was because she held no more interest for him now that he had introduced her to Lilly. She knew that he had run up a large debt at the club and that Lilly was very unhappy with him, which was hardly surprising. It was obvious now that Jasper’s drinking and gambling habits were out of control and she shuddered to think how his parents would react if they ever found out. But then, it wasn’t her problem, so she turned away and put him from her mind.
Abi was up bright and early the following morning but she had to wait for the sickness to subside before she was able to travel to Hugo’s parents’ London home.
It was one of the most imposing houses in the street and she stood uncertainly on the marble steps that led up to the magnificent oak front door, trying to pluck up the courage to knock on it. She had chosen to wear one of her prettiest day gowns, although it felt quite tight across the chest now. It was in a lovely shade of pale green the same colour as her eyes and with the matching bonnet she had worn with it she knew she looked her best, which gave her a little confidence. Finally she pulled the rope to the side of the door, which rang a bell inside, and swallowed hard when she heard footsteps coming towards it.
‘May I help you, miss?’
Abi found herself looking into the eyes of a stern-faced gentleman and realised that this must be Davies, the butler Hugo had mentioned.
Straightening her back, Abi refused to feel intimidated as she answered, ‘Yes, please. I wish to see Hugo.’
‘I’m very sorry, miss. I’m afraid Master Hugo is out of the country at the minute.’
‘Oh .?.?. I see.’ Abi was temporarily nonplussed. She had prayed that he would have returned by now, but then lifting her chin she made a decision. ‘Then I would like to see Lady Medville.’
The butler looked as if was about to burst a blood vessel. ‘And may I ask if you have an appointment?’
‘Er .?.?. no, but I’m sure she’ll see me if she’s in .?.?. it’s about her son,’ Abi gabbled as nerves got the better of her.
The butler tutted in annoyance but realising that Abi wasn’t going to go away quietly until she got whatever it was she wanted, he opened the door a fraction more to admit her and nodded towards a small gilt sofa. ‘If you would care to take a seat, miss, I shall go and see if Lady Medville is receiving visitors. Who may I say is calling?’
‘Miss Winter .?.?. Miss Abigail Winter.’
He inclined his head and strode away, his back as straight as a line prop as Abi began to sweat and wonder what she had got herself in to.
‘Her ladyship will allow you ten minutes,’ he told her pompously when he returned. ‘If you would come this way, miss.’
Abi felt as if she was walking through the foyer of a stately home as she followed the man across the glossy tiles until he stopped before double doors and threw them open to introduce her, ‘Miss Winter, ma’am.’ He ushered her ahead of him and she found herself in the largest drawing room she had ever seen. The butler then quietly closed the door and as her eyes ranged the room, she saw Lady Medville sitting beside a tea trolley in a large bay window.
‘It is customary for visitors to make an appointment when they wish to see me,’ the woman informed Abi icily. ‘But now you are here, what is it you want?’
It wasn’t much of a greeting and Abi felt herself shrinking as the woman looked her up and down, her expression scathing.
‘Well, girl? Speak up, I haven’t got all day.’
‘It .?.?. it was actually Hugo, your son, I wanted to see,’ Abi said in a voice husky with unshed tears. ‘I need to see him .?.?.desperately.’
