He bowed. “I must leave you to enjoy your tea, ladies. My regards to Lady Kinsey.”
Jason left the house with the certainty that Helen would be there to admit him. She had not agreed, but she would not leave him kicking his heels outside in the dark garden. Walking home, he considered his response to her question. Why did he care so much? He was only too aware of the feelings he had for her, which he was struggling to ignore, that grew stronger each day that passed. Heaven help him, he neither wanted the responsibility of another vulnerable female nor could he walk away from her. The guilt at his failure to prevent Phoebe from risking her life had never left him. Nor when he’d led his men into battle knowing he was taking many of them to their deaths.
Did he really want a peaceful life? After all it was he who wanted to continue with the investigation. He could hardly blame Parnell for that. He might well be wasting his time. But time was something he had plenty of lately, and for whatever reason, that no longer suited him. And while he was being entirely honest, he admitted that he was drawn to Kinsey House because of Lady Helen.
As he entered his front door, Lizzie, her eyes alight, ran to greet him. “Jas! I am engaged! Bianchi requests an interview with you.”
He fought to hide his consternation. “My felicitations, Lizzie.”
She eyed him speculatively. “You’re not pleased.”
“I have yet to form an opinion of Baron Bianchi.”
“But you will not prevent the match?”
He sighed. Hard enough that he would lose her from his life, the man responsible was not his choice. He could not in all conscience prevent her taking a chance at happiness, however. “No, invite Bianchi to dinner on Friday.”
“But that’s days away.”
“If he wants you, he will wait, Lizzie.”
Jason retreated to his library, where he poured a liberal portion of whiskey into a tumbler, wrestling with these new feelings that almost overwhelmed him. Taking a deep sip, he leaned back in his chair and savored the blend of oak and peat on his tongue. After Phoebe’s death and he’d left his angry father to join the army, he’d grappled for control of his emotions. And during the war, he succeeded. A man in charge of men could not afford to be emotional. It would get them killed. But it was as if from the moment of Parnell’s accusation, that he was sleep walking through life, that he’d begun to thaw. He released a long breath, forced to admit he was greedy for passion and meaning in his life. With a faint smile, he understood. Jason put down his glass. Well, that was all going to change.
***
“Did I interrupt something between you and Peyton when I came in?” Diana asked, arranging the flounced skirts of her blue and white dimity gown as she joined Helen on the library sofa.
“No, of course not.” Helen settled her features into what she hoped was a relaxed smile while trying to banish the disturbing vision of spending a night alone with Peyton. “Peyton has now turned his inquiries to an inn Bart used to frequent. It’s possible the tonic was tampered with there.”
“Then Bart’s death has nothing to do with us?”
“Maybe not.”
“I must say I’m relieved.” Frowning, Diana put down her half-eaten muffin. “Still, the way Peyton looked at you did not seem impersonal.”
Helen’s nervous fingers found the cameo brooch at her neck. “We are merely trying to unravel this mystery in Papa’s absence. Mama wants it settled before the ball.”
“He must have said something. You do not appear to be your usual composed self.” She tilted her head. “He wasn’t flirting with you?”
“Surely a man and woman can spend time together without a romantic involvement?”
“But you must admit he’s terribly attractive.”
Helen began to stack the tea tray. She could not allow herself to even dream of a future with Peyton. “You are such a romantic. It’s true that I do find him personable. But that’s all there is, so, please, do not embroider on it.” Helen yearned to be left alone to plan the evening. Could she manage somehow to remain dressed without Diana becoming suspicious? It seemed doubtful, and that would ruin everything.
“I don’t know how you remain so remarkably unruffled, Helen. It is your nature, I suppose. Well, you may not want him, but I’m sure many women would. He has an air of authority, which fascinates, apart from being handsome. The combination of green eyes and dark locks is quite compelling. I could fall under his spell very easily.”
“I’m sure he’d be pleased to hear you think so.” Her chest grew tight. Jealousy was so unbecoming. She’d never considered herself capable of such a lowly emotion.
Diana smiled. “I might flirt with him if I could gain his attention.”
“At the ball, you mean?”
Diana snorted. “When we dance, perhaps. But with you in the room, I tend to become invisible to him.”
“What nonsense you talk.” Helen stood, wishing to put a stop to the conversation, which made her nerves jangle. “What’s that commotion in the hall? Has Mama arrived home?”
The door flung open, and Mama hurried in waving a letter. “This has just come from Walcott. Alexander has fallen from a tree.”
