“Shush!” Aunt Ginny insisted. “Jasper, where the Duchesses of Winshire and Dellborough go, the rest of society will follow. If they see fit to welcome Mr. Sanderson, then you had better do likewise. We are very fortunate their graces accepted my invitation, and if you offend them, it shall be your sisters who suffer for it when the great ladies withdraw their favor.”
“They cannot be such great ladies if they don’t recognize a cur when they meet one,” Jasper muttered.
“You are jealous of Mr. Sanderson,” Livy realized, but she would have done better to stay silent, for her cousin glared at her and stalked away.
His mother sighed. “You are no doubt correct, Olivia, but it was not helpful or kind to say so.”
“It seems so odd, though.” Livy could not understand it. “He is wealthy and titled, and accepted everywhere. Why should he resent Mr. Bane Sanderson? It is not as if Mr. Sanderson’s friendships with Lord Andrew and Lord Thornstead threaten Jasper in any way.”
“My dear Olivia,” said her aunt, “Bane Sanderson is an adult, and successful. Jasper is still more boy than man, and he knows it. Of course he is jealous.” She sighed. “Perhaps marriage will help him to grow up.”
Jasper, married? Livy could not imagine that happening any time soon, nor making any difference to his behavior when it did.
