A dreamy look entered her gaze and a small smile spread across her lips. Jasper wanted to kiss her. He wanted to make her smile always.
“I can understand that. I have never really been anywhere other than Wiltshire and London, but I like the idea of visiting other places. Paris perhaps, or even America.”
He shook his head. “I do not think you will ever fail to surprise me.”
“I surprise myself, in truth. I had not realised I wanted these things until very recently.”
Jasper reached across the table and twined his fingers with hers. “And there are other things you want too?”
“Yes, I believe there are.”
“Then I look forward to showing you the world, Hettie.”
She tilted her head and eyed him. “We are very different, Jasper.”
“Indeed. And would it not be so very dull if we were the same?”
“That is true, and as we know, you loathe anything dull.”
Glancing at her mangled sandwich, he signalled for the bill. “I take it you are not going to finish that.”
“No, I can’t find the appetite.”
“Well, we have several more women’s charities to visit now. The next one is just around the corner.”
“What if we’re searching in the wrong place?”
“In spite of her choices, Emma is no fool. She will have sought help once her funds ran out, I’m sure of it.”
“You seem to have much more faith in my sister’s intelligence than I do.”
Jasper considered their meeting and how she’d come to him knowing of his friendship with Brandon. Well, what used to be a friendship. Now he had ideas of at least breaking his nose if not calling him out for a duel. But, anyway, Emma had been clear and concise in her needs, and not at all flustered.
“She is related to you, is she not?” he said to Hettie as they left and forewent a carriage in favour of walking around the corner.
Shoppers and a few beggars crowded the streets. Carriages moved slowly in this part of town, winding between the tall buildings and clogging up the roads. Jasper offered her his arm and took a moment to glance down at her. His admiration for her grew with every second and, with that, his attraction to her. Were it not for their important mission, he’d be sorely tempted to take her back to the hotel and see what other ways they could make love without risking her innocence.
The next charitable institution was one for destitute mothers and children. No one guarded the doors so he entered with Hettie. Though the building was elegant and the charity likely well-funded by society ladies, there was an air of abandonment to the place. Somewhere in the distance a child cried and several ladies in severe clothing hurried back and forth. He tapped his foot and waited by a walnut desk that lined the marbled reception hall, but he was thoroughly ignored.
Hettie tried to get the attention of one of the women. “Excuse—” She paused and narrowed her gaze at the steps leading upstairs. “Emma?”
A young woman froze on the stairs and a burst of relief rushed through him. Hettie hastened forward and marched up the steps to drag Emma into her arms. Jasper allowed himself a small smile. Once they were settled, he would speak with Emma about what she wanted to do and if she still wanted help from him, but for now he’d let them enjoy your reunion.
“Emma,” the word came out on a sob from Hettie, but Emma remained stiff in her arms. Hettie eased back to cup her face and even from where he was, he saw Hettie’s face drop. “Emma?” She skimmed a finger over a dark mark on her cheek. “What is this?”
Jasper clenched his fists when Emma extracted herself from her sister’s grasp and walked down the steps. She swung a surprised look at him. “Lord Jasper? Whatever are you doing here?”
“I was helping your sister find you.” He glanced at the dark mark on her face. “Has someone hurt you?”
She put a hand to her cheek and shook her head. Hettie gripped her arm and urged her sister to face her. “Emma, that mark...” She peered around and dropped her voice. “You’re with child?”
He didn’t know how she’d figured that out from a dark mark on her sister’s cheek, but at least the truth was out. He hadn’t been happy that Emma hadn’t wanted to share her secret with her family, but he couldn’t very well force the girl.
Emma nodded slowly.
“With that man?” Hettie prompted.
“Yes.”
“Why did you not tell someone? Why run away? Emma, I’ve been frantic. Aunt has been riddled with guilt.”
“You did not tell Mama and Papa, did you?”
“Of course not. But you’ll have to tell them now.”
“No, I cannot. I’m going to stay here and give birth to the baby. They can arrange for an adoption. I’m sorry I couldn’t come to you, Lord Jasper. There was no time.” She glanced his way but he kept his mouth shut. He doubted Hettie would take well to the news that he had intended to adopt the baby.
Hettie swung her gaze to him, her eyes wide. “You knew of this?
Jasper drew in a breath and edged closer to Hettie. “Emma came to me when she discovered she was with child. I offered her assistance.”
Her face grew ashen and she darted her gaze between them. “You cannot be serious?” She turned to Emma. “Why did you not come to me for help? Why would you give away your baby, Emma? I could have taken care of it. You could have given it to me or the orphanage.”
“How could I tell you?” Emma declared. “You would have scolded and lectured me. I know well that I’ve been a fool but I didn’t need to hear it from my perfect sister.”
“I would not...” Hettie’s shoulders dropped. “You should have told me,” she said softly. “It was so dangerous running away.”
“When this—” her sister gestured to her cheek “—began to show, I knew I wouldn’t be able to hide it. Aunt Margaret had one with Rupert and I know Mama said she had a mark when pregnant with us. Everyone would know what I’d done.”
Hettie wrapped an arm around her sister and Emma relaxed into her hold. As determined as she’d been, Jasper could see the toll doing this alone had taken on her.
“We’ll return home. We’ll face this together, Emma. Everything will be well, I promise.”
He motioned to the door. “Yes, let us get you both home.”
She shot a look his way. “We do not need your help.”
“I beg to differ.”
Hettie released her sister and closed the gap to jab a finger in his chest. “You should have told me. You had so many chances. She’s my sister, Jasper. I had a right to know.”
“I’m sorry, Hettie. It wasn’t my secret to tell and I didn’t want to worry you unnecessarily.”
“Unnecessarily? Who are you to decide what is best for me?”
“Well I had thought—”
“You thought you were this big, important lord who could dictate my life to me. You’re so used to manoeuvring women around, playing with them however you see fit, that you thought you could do as you wished with me and my sister.”
“Hettie—” Emma tried to interject.
“You lied to me, Jasper.”
Jasper scowled.
“I was trying to help,” he said through clenched teeth.
“You’re an interfering arse, Cynfell,” a voice Jasper recognised all too well said. “Damn, it’s taken me the better part of a day to track you down.”
They all turned to see the man entering the building, and Jasper balled his fists.
“Brandon!” Emma declared and raced to him, wrapping her arms about him. “You came.”
“Yes, to stop you from making a huge mistake,” the man said, working his arms free. “You need to get rid of the child,” he said in low voice. “If my uncle finds out I’ve sired a child, he’ll cut me off. Rumours are already circulating London.”
Emma took several steps back, her hand dropping protectively to her stomach. “You cannot mean that.”
Hettie wrapped an arm around her shoulders and urged her behind her,
while lifting her chin and eyeing Brandon with a look that would have made Jasper’s toes curl had it been directed at him.
“You are the blackguard who seduced my sister, I presume?”
“And you’re the starchy older sister.” Brandon smirked. “I would say it’s a pleasure but, well...” He swept his gaze over her dismissively.
That was enough to have his blood boiling in his ears. Jasper hadn’t quite realised what he’d done until his knuckles ached and Brandon was sprawled upon the floor. Blood dripped from the man’s nose and he groaned. Jasper couldn’t help but give a grim smile. He’d been wanting to do that for a while.
“Come,” he said to the ladies. “Gather your belongings, Emma, and we’ll leave. This bastard does not deserve any more of your time.”
Emma glanced at Brandon, then at him and her sister before nodding. “I shall be but a moment.”
Hettie avoided his gaze. “This does not change anything. I’m taking my sister home. I do not want you interfering again.”
“Hettie, come now...”
“No, I will not be charmed by you.” Her dark gaze flew to his, bright and determined. “You lied to me. How am I meant to trust you again? I suspect I was a fool to in the first place. Once we are home, I don’t expect to see you ever again.”
“Hettie—”
“I mean it, Jasper. I do not ever want to see you again.”
Chapter Thirteen
Seven months later
Hettie grimaced at the feel of wetness spreading across her shoulder. She shifted the linen cloth under the baby’s mouth but it was too late for her dress, she feared. The little one would need a feed before long if its fidgeting was anything to go by.
“Hush now, little one. I shall get you a bottle.”
She took the steps down, narrowly avoiding being knocked into by two children who were playing chase. “Slowly,” she scolded lightly. “You’ll get hurt.”
Heading into the kitchen, she began to prepare a bottle one-handed. She lowered her nose to the infant’s head and drew in the soft scent of her. Her heart ached. How she longed to claim this child for her own, but her parents wouldn’t allow it. Her sister had been sent away as Jasper had planned but to a place of her mother and father’s choosing. Then the baby had been installed in the orphanage. Emma took an interest in the child and had grown in maturity and wisdom after her pregnancy, but she still wasn’t ready to be a mother. It might have been Hettie’s duty to look after all the children at the orphanage but she couldn’t help feel a strong attachment to Penelope.
“Hettie, Mama wants to know if you’ll be coming home for supper?”
She turned to see her sister in the doorway. Hettie put a finger into the baby’s mouth as she began to wriggle some more and her heart expanded as the baby suckled on her fingertip.
“I’m not sure.”
Emma approached and ran a finger over the baby’s hair. “I wish Papa would let you have her. You’re so good with her.”
“Do you not regret that you cannot keep her?”
“I do, but I know that you are much more suited to motherhood than I am. One day I should like children but not for a long time. Daniel says he will not even begin to consider courting me until he has enough money to support me.”
Hettie smiled at the mention of the local blacksmith. He was a good man and far better than that Brandon man. One day, they would be very happy together.
“You know,” Emma said as she helped Hettie fill the bottle with the warm milk, “Lord Jasper offered to adopt Penelope.”
Her heart sprang into action at the mention of the man. “When?”
“When I went to him for aid. He said that once I’d had the baby, he would adopt it. It deserved a good start in life, he said.”
“B-but Jasper, adopting a baby? Surely not?”
“I think, in spite of the gossip, he’s a good man.”
She was right. And Hettie had begun to realise that. He was a good man, but she’d been so hurt by his lies, convinced that if he lied to her about that, he could lie about anything, including his feelings for her. Unfortunately time had done nothing to dampen her own feelings. In truth, it had only increased them. He had written her a letter of apology shortly after her return home, but she’d been too embarrassed to reply. How could she let herself be fooled by a rogue? Then she had watched for news of him in the papers with a mix of relief and sorrow when she found nothing. Jasper Cynfell had disappeared from society by all appearances.
“How would he have even looked after a child?” she asked. It seemed too farfetched, so...well, she supposed it was Jasper-like behaviour. Unexpected, a little crazy.
“Why do you not ask him yourself?” Emma slipped a look toward the doorway, forcing Hettie to look that way.
Silhouetted in the doorway, Jasper leaned against the frame, looking a little mussed but as handsome as ever. His hair had grown since the last time she’d seen him and now touched his collar. His shirt sleeves were rolled up and he wore no necktie. The V of flesh visible at the collar of his shirt did strange things to her stomach.
“Whatever are you doing here?”
He stepped into the room, giving Emma a quick peck on the back of her hand as she passed and left them both.
“I came to see Penelope.” His warm gaze locked onto hers. “And you.”
“I told you I didn’t wish to see you again.”
“Well, we both know I never do as I’m told.”
“No, you don’t.” She shifted Penelope as she wriggled. “Why are you here now?” Why did you not come to me sooner? she wanted to ask.
“I thought it best to give your family time to adjust to the new situation but I couldn’t stay away any longer.” He dropped his gaze to the baby and a tender smile edged across his lips. “So this is Penelope. She is beautiful.”
“Did you really intend to adopt her?”
“I didn’t like the idea of the baby ending up in an orphanage.” His smile grew sad. “I’ll admit, I’d been rather excited by the idea. Someone to teach and watch grow. I’d even gone as far as to buy a few things for the townhouse for the baby.”
“B-but it’s a baby! What do you know of babies?”
“I would have learned. I am not an imbecile,” he said dryly.
“But what would everyone have thought?”
“You forget I do not care. I could weather the scandal far better than your sister. The gossips would have thought I had been careless and was paying the price for it. But I could have given Penelope a better start in life than most and my brother’s status would carry her through anything she needed to face.” Any hint of a smile vanished. “I still could.”
She instinctively held the baby closer while she sucked on her bottle. “She needs to be with her family.”
“But it seems she is to stay here, is that right?”
“Papa wouldn’t let Emma keep her.”
“And he will not let you have her either, I am told.”
“No. It is too scandalous to be an unwed mother.”
“What if...” he leaned in close, “you were married?”
Hettie’s heart near leaped into her throat, forcing her to take a big swallow. “How could that be?”
“Why, you would marry me of course.”
She forced her jaw shut and stared into his eyes. “Why should you wish to marry me?”
“You are a demanding woman, are you not?” He gave her a flash of a grin. “Because I love you, Miss Henrietta Foster. I should very much like to make you my wife. And I should very much like to give Penelope here a proper family.”
Swinging her gaze between the baby who had stolen her heart and the man who had forced his way into it, she drew in a shuddery breath. How would it work? She was a country girl, he was the son of a marquess. She was staid and dull and he was...well, he was Jasper.
And yet, the prospect didn’t fill her with uncertainty. Instead, a flutter of excitement whirled through her. If she said yes to Jasper, one
thing was for certain, her life would never be dull again.
Epilogue
Jasper saw Hettie approach the house through the window and went to greet her at the door before the butler could get to it. He waved the man away, having every intention of giving his wife an inappropriate kiss having thoroughly missed her as she visited with her family. Hettie might have only been gone a few hours but it felt like a lifetime.
He drew open the door of their new country home and stood under the shelter of the porch. Grey clouds hung thick and heavy in the sky and the rain created tiny streams along the road leading to the house.
Shaking his head at her sodden appearance in spite of her umbrella, Jasper grinned. “I told you to take the carriage,” he said as she approached and offered him a sheepish grin.
“I did not think—” she fumbled to lower the umbrella “—it would be so torrential.”
She finally won the battle with her umbrella and stepped forward to kiss him. Jasper released a hiss as her umbrella met his gut with a painful jab.
Hettie stepped back, her eyes wide. “Oh, Jasper. I am sorry.”
He rubbed his stomach and chuckled. “No more umbrellas. You’re lethal with them.” He kissed her. “How is your family?”
“Very well. Emma should like to come and stay once we are more settled.”
“Of course. The decorating should be finished by next week.”
He ushered her inside and helped her with her jacket before hanging it on the stand. The front of her shirt was slightly see-through. That very predictable thread of heat began to work through him while he admired the way her skin sheened and tiny curls of darkened hair stuck to her face. He couldn’t resist leaning in and giving her another quick peck.
She beamed at him while she removed her hat and hung it on the hat stand. “Is Penelope asleep?”
“Of course.” Jasper had quite relished fatherhood. It presented a new, and enjoyable challenge. He considered that one day he might write something on the experience from a father’s perspective. Lord knows there were many fathers who could do with the insight.
“There is no need to look so smug.”
“I cannot help that she adores my touch.”
Sinful Cravings (Cynfell Brothers Book 4) Page 10