“Of course not, Your Grace, but you see, I, ah . . . well, perhaps I should have told you this sooner, but I didn’t like to betray Her Grace’s secrets, and—”
“Secrets?” Loftus was in possession of Prue’s secrets? Why hadn’t he said so at once? “What secrets?”
“I don’t like to tell tales, Your Grace, and . . . oh, dear.” Loftus wrung his hands. “Perhaps it would be best if I didn’t say.”
Not say?Not say?Jasper clenched his fists to keep from shaking poor Loftus until all of Prue’s secrets fell from the man’s lips. “It’s quite alright, Loftus. Whatever it is, you may tellme.”
“Yes, Your Grace. This morning, before Her Grace left for Montford Park, I found her . . .” Loftus hesitated, biting his lip.
“Yes? Found herwhat, Loftus?”
“In your bedchamber, Your Grace. Alone.”
“Prue was in my bedchamber?” And he’d missed it? God above, he was the unluckiest husband alive.
“Yes, Your Grace. I found her at your dressing table, and she was . . .”
“Yes, yes? What was she doing?”
“Your cologne, Your Grace. She had a handkerchief, and she was scenting it with your cologne.”
Jasper fell back against his seat, stunned. Prue had stolen some drops of his cologne? But why would she . . . oh.Oh. “That would seem to imply, Loftus, that she was . . . that she thought she might . . .”
“Miss you, Your Grace?” Loftus smiled. “Yes, that was my impression, as well.”
“Did she say so?”
“No. The duchess was a trifle embarrassed, I think, Your Grace.”
“And what did you say to her, Loftus? What did you do?”
“I didn’t say anything much at all, Your Grace. I simply helped her to a few droplets of your cologne, and she went on her way.”
Jasper shook his head, a smile rising to his lips. “Good man, Loftus. Good man.”
“Thank you, Your Grace. You do see why I’m persuaded that the duchess does wish for your presence at Montford Park, despite what she said, Your Grace?”
“I do, yes. I’m glad you told me, Loftus.”
The carriage continued to make its way up to the drive, and God above, it seemed to take forever. Who had decided they must have such a long drive leading up to the house? Not him, that was certain. The shorter, the better—
“My goodness, isn’t that . . .” Loftus frowned, his gaze on the window. “Isn’t that her Grace, just there?”
“Where?” Jasper leaned past Loftus and pressed his nose to the rain-streaked window. It had grown dark quickly once the rain began to fall, but he could just make out a lone figure in a brown cloak running around the side of the house, her skirts caught in one hand and the other holding on to the droopy, sodden straw hat on her head.
By God, itwasher. He slammed a fist on the roof of the carriage. “Stop at once, Farnham.”
Farnham brought the horses to such an abrupt halt, both Jasper and Loftus nearly toppled from their seats to the floor of the carriage. “Second coachman,” Jasper muttered, giving Loftus a hand back into his seat.
“I’ll be pleased to see Norris again, Your Grace.”
Jasper hardly heard him, nor did he wait for the carriage to come to a full stop before he wrenched open the door and leapt out, running to catch up to his wife. “Prue! Wait!”
She froze for an instant, then turned, her mouth dropping open when she saw him. “Jasper? My goodness, Jasper! What are you doing here?”
Jasper ran up to her and seized her hands. “I came to . . .”
To tell you the truth about Lady Archer. To reassure you that I didn’t betray you. To fetch you home with me.
