Something shifted between them in that moment. Andrea could not explain what it was for she felt it deep within herself, but it was there, nonetheless. Even when Lady Landerbelt came to interrupt them, to place herself there as chaperone, Andrea felt it still. A smile lifted both her heart and her spirits as she continued along the path, walking next to her betrothed and feeling more for him than she had ever felt before.
Chapter 8
Ten days later
“Good evening!”
Jasper turned away with relief as the last of his guests made their way into his ballroom. He had forgotten just how much was required of a gentleman when one threw a ball! It was, however, worthwhile, for it was entirely in Miss Truwin’s honor, and he could not help but feel delighted at the joyous smile on her face that was there at present. She was talking to Lady Landerbelt, who was then quickly joined by Lady Hawthorn. Jasper, a little hidden by the shadows that lingered in the corner of the room, leaned against the wall and watched Miss Truwin as her smile slipped just a little, revealing an edge of frustration at her mother’s overwhelming presence.
He chuckled softly, knowing full well that Lady Hawthorn would have ruled the conversation from the moment she had joined Miss Truwin and Lady Landerbelt. Lady Hawthorn had an intense presence that practically demanded that everyone regard her without hesitation, which he knew that Miss Truwin found very difficult.
His eyes lingered on his betrothed, seeing how she caught his eye and then went a delightful shade of rosy pink, blushing at his singular attention. His own heart lifted then, freed completely from the shackles from which he had forced it to be bound. How much had changed over the last fortnight! The shock of seeing Lord Islington’s injuries had been like a heavy blow to the head. He had been forced to reconsider everything, to look at himself with a cold harshness that left him feeling exposed and vulnerable.
But it had shown him the truth, at the very least. It had shown him that he had held Lady Cecily in an unblemished light, rather than seeing her for what she truly had been. Yes, he had believed himself in love with her, but now that he felt such an overwhelming affection and regard for Miss Truwin, he realized that it had not been love that had captured his heart when it came to Lady Cecily. He had admired her, yes, and thought her beautiful in every way, but had seen none of her flaws, none of her weakness in character. Even now, he could not recall when he had ever reveled in her conversation, when he had been struck by something she had said or entertained by her sharp wit. All he could remember was thinking just how beautiful of face she was.
That was not love. That was an infatuation, nothing more. It was like gold, which glittered so prettily and made itself an object of desire to so many just by its very appearance. Miss Truwin was more than just her outward beauty. He knew her well, for they had spent a good deal of time in each other’s company and he had found her utterly delightful. Had he not been clinging to his revenge, to his anger, and his fury, then he might have realized the depth of his feelings long before now!
“You are blessed indeed,” he murmured, as Miss Truwin gestured towards him, making him realize that she wanted to remove herself from the conversation and come to speak to him instead. He smiled at once, welcomingly, knowing that he wanted nothing more than to dance with her, to talk to her, to be in her company. That, he realized, was true affection.
“Lord Bastien.”
A low voice caught him by surprise, making him start as he turned around to see a small, dark-eyed gentleman bowing towards him. He did not recognize the fellow, which meant surely that he had not been invited to this evening’s ball.
“Who are you?” he asked brusquely, his eyes narrowing just a touch. “I do not believe we are acquainted.”
The gentleman lifted his head and fixed Jasper with a strong gaze. His eyes were filled with determination, his square jaw tight. “We should have been acquainted long before now, but I did not get back from the continent until earlier this year,” he said, rending Jasper even more confused. “My sister wrote to me of you and your frustration as regarding her choice for matrimony and, whilst I did not have the intention of seeking you out to ask for your help, I now have very little choice.”
Something heavy dropped into Jasper’s stomach, making him swallow hard as a faint buzz of warning raced up his spine.
“Come with me, sir,” he said, gesturing to the hallway that lay just beyond the ballroom doors. “I cannot understand what it is you mean, and we shall be better able to discuss matters here.”
The gentleman did go through the doors at once, thankfully, leaving Jasper to follow behind. Throwing a quick glance over his shoulder and seeing Miss Truwin’s eyes on him, her expression both curious and confused, he gave her a quick smile, a small shrug, and then quit the room, going out after the unknown gentleman.
“Just in here, if you please,” Jasper said, indicating a door to his left. “And you will begin, sir, by informing me of your name.”
Once inside the small parlor, the gentleman turned on his heel and faced Jasper again. His expression had not changed from the hard, cold determination that had been there since he had first come in.
“Lord Winthorpe,” he answered, as Jasper gave the door a shove but not shutting it tight behind him. “I come to you, Lord Bastien, in the hope that you might inform me as to the whereabouts of Lord Islington.”
Something unsettling rose at once within Jasper’s heart, making him all the more wary.
“I have heard that you dislike Lord Islington intensely,” the gentleman continued. “I have heard the rumor that he stole a young lady from you and that you have been at odds ever since.” He eyed Jasper with a sharp eye, making Jasper feel as though the gentleman was able to see into his very heart. “I can well understand such a feeling,” Lord Winthorpe continued, blandly. “I too have reasons to bring disaster upon Lord Islington. Therefore, I must seek your help in discovering him.”
A sudden realization crashed over Jasper like a thunderclap overhead. He had heard this voice before. He knew that the gentleman here was not a stranger after all, but rather was the fellow that Lord Islington had been speaking to on the night he had been attacked.
“You,” he whispered, filled with shock as he raised one hand and pointed it at Lord Winthorpe. “You were there with Lord Islington that night.”
Lord Winthorpe did nothing other than shrug. “It may be that you overheard Lord Islington and I speaking,” he suggested calmly. “But that does not have any significance, I assure you.”
“It does if you were the one to injure him!” Jasper exclaimed, his voice shattering the otherwise quiet room. “Tell me that it was not so!” He eyed the gentleman steadily, seeing how he shrugged and turned to idly pick up something from the mantlepiece. His heart burst with a sudden, furious anger that Jasper knew he had no right to feel, not when he had wanted to harm Lord Islington also.
“I would have thought that you would understand, Lord Bastien,” said the gentleman, quietly, not looking at Jasper but rather meandering about the room. “You, who cared for my sister and wanted to marry her also.” He turned his head and lifted one brow in question. “You feel a deep sense of betrayal, do you not? Why do you then feel such anger over my intention to bring about justice?”
Jasper’s heart was hammering furiously, sweat beading on his brow. This, then, was the gentleman who had attacked Lord Islington. A gentleman who claimed to be Lady Cecily’s brother. That would make sense with what Lord Islington had whispered about family, Jasper realized, swallowing hard as he returned his gaze to Lord Winthorpe. He himself had very little idea of Lady Cecily’s family, save for her parents. He had never known about a brother.
“Lord Islington swore to me that some of my sister’s dowry would be returned to our family,” Lord Winthorpe said quietly. “She died less than two months after her marriage, and my father’s holdings in continent began to do very badly.” His expression tightened. “I would not like to say that my father brought ruin u
pon our family name, but he was not wise in his dealings. Therefore, it was a promise that my father depended on.”
“And Lord Islington did not do as he had promised,” Jasper finished, knowing full well what was coming. “And so you sought him out.”
Lord Winthorpe nodded quickly. “I returned to the continent to aid my father. He is still in poor health, for it declined after hearing of Cecily’s death, and therefore it became my responsibility to seek out Lord Islington and demand that he do as he has promised. He refused, over and over, making as many excuses as there are stars in the sky.”
Jasper shook his head slowly, knowing that Lord Islington had been in the wrong but also fully aware that murder was not the way to deal with such difficulties.
“I did not intend to kill him, although it appears that I very nearly did so,” Lord Winthorpe continued, as though they were merely discussing the weather. Shrugging, he tipped his head and looked at Jasper. “Striking out in the darkness was a little foolish, I know, but I had to do what was required. Lord Islington now knows that I will do whatever I have to in order to secure what he promised.”
Jasper shook his head. “That is not the way to go about matters,” he said quietly, looking at Lord Winthorpe but seeing the man turn away. “You cannot nearly kill a gentleman in order to have what you wish.”
Lord Winthorpe let out a long sigh. “Then you will not aid me in my search for him?”
“That is what you want from me?” Jasper asked, a little horrified. “You want me to inform you as to where Lord Islington has gone?” He knew full well that Lord Islington had retired to a country estate to continue his recovery, for he had received a short note from the gentleman only two days ago, stating as much. The note had been short and in an unsteady hand but had begged Jasper’s forgiveness once more, along with the request that, perhaps in a few months, they might meet to discuss all that had gone on between them.
Jasper was not about to divulge such information to Lord Winthorpe however, no matter what the gentleman thought. In fact, he intended to write to Lord Islington at once and inform him that Lord Winthorpe was still seeking him out. “I will do nothing to aid you, Lord Winthorpe,” he said slowly, his voice low and his intentions purposeful. “You may very well have been wronged by Lord Islington, but to take what he owes you by force is not a good thing.”
Lord Winthorpe laughed harshly, only to slam one hand down on the nearby table, his hand flat and the sound sharp. “I will do whatever I have to in order to gain what is mine,” he said flatly. “And if you will not help me, Lord Bastien, then you disappoint me greatly. I thought you loved my sister. That is what I have heard, at least.” His brows lifted as though he were questioning what he had heard about Jasper. “And she chose Lord Islington, who pushed himself to the fore and made it almost impossible for her to turn away.”
Jasper shook his head, aware that his heart wanted to return to that familiar anger that had captured him for so long but refusing steadfastly to allow it to do so. “I will not help you, Lord Winthorpe,” he said stoutly. “And you ought to turn from this despicable intention.”
“It is my right!”
Shaking his head, Jasper held up one hand. “It is not your right to pursue what you believe is yours by force,” he said, firmly. “I have felt just as you do, Lord Winthorpe, and it has brought me nothing but sorrow. I have struggled against the knowledge that Lord Islington took from me what I thought was mine, what I believed what to be my own and no one else’s, but I have come to see that my intention to rip everything from him in order that he might feel as I did was nothing but cruelty itself. Turn from this, Lord Winthorpe. You have already done more than enough damage to Lord Islington.”
Lord Winthorpe laughed harshly, his lip curling in mockery. “You are weak, Bastien!” he exclaimed, walking towards the door and knocking into Jasper’s shoulder as he did so. “I came here to seek your help, so that we might find justice together, and yet I find that you are nothing but a coward.”
“No,” Jasper retorted, turning around as Lord Winthorpe made to quit the room. “I am not a coward, Lord Winthorpe. I am a gentleman and my own conduct has been nothing but shameful. I am a gentleman who knows that, even if another should treat me in the most despicable fashion, I should not seek revenge for it takes over one’s heart and mind until nothing is left but darkness.” He saw Lord Winthorpe hesitate, saw him glance back and prayed silently that the gentleman would listen. “Your father is unwell. Your sister is gone, and there is nothing that Lord Islington can give you that will soften the sorrow and the grief that comes with that knowledge. Go to your father. Comfort him, take care of him, and do all you can to bring his estate back into good health so that it is ready for you when it comes time to succeed to the title. Turn from this path, Lord Winthorpe. It will only bring you more misery, even if you manage to accomplish your aim.”
His words hung in the air between them for some moments. Lord Winthorpe’s jaw was working furiously, his cheeks a little red as he stared back into Jasper’s face. Lord Winthorpe’s eyes flickered with the same struggle that Jasper himself had been forced to deal with, warring between what he knew was right and what he wanted to do in order to gain the justice he felt he deserved.
And then, he was gone. The door flew open and Lord Winthorpe hurried out, not saying a single word in farewell. Jasper let out a long breath, closing his eyes and feeling utterly wretched as he did so. He had not managed to convince Lord Winthorpe, it seemed. The gentleman was still intent on following his chosen path.
“I think you did very well indeed, Bastien.”
His eyes flew open and he looked towards the doorway, seeing Miss Truwin standing just inside it.
“I heard every word,” she said softly, her eyes glistening with tears. “You meant everything you said, did you not?”
He nodded, standing stock still and not quite certain whether or not she wished for him to draw nearer.
“Lord Winthorpe was the one who attacked Lord Islington then,” she continued, taking a few steps closer to him and coming into the room itself. “Lady Cecily was his sister?”
Jasper nodded, a burning shame growing in his heart. “I did not even know that she had a brother,” he admitted, dropping his gaze. “I knew of her parents, of course, but not of her brother.”
“That is nothing to have any mortification about,” Miss Truwin said, quickly, as though she could see into his very soul and know what he felt. “I cannot help but feel both sorrow and joy at what I overheard, Lord Bastien. You have proven yourself entirely.”
His head lifted at once, and he found himself moving forward, wanting to capture Miss Truwin in his arms and crush her to him, only to stop just as he came close to her.
“He attacked Lord Islington because Islington would not give him what he had promised,” Jasper explained, stumbling over his words as he saw the way her eyes were shining with an emotion he dared not even begin to believe could be present within her heart. “I can well understand his distress. He has lost a dear sister and then to be robbed of this also, when his father requires it, must be a blow indeed.”
Miss Truwin nodded slowly, her face paling just a little. “I do not think that Lord Islington would have made me a good husband,” she said softly, looking up into his face with a small, wry smile beginning to spread across her face. “He was not wise with his money and certainly does not appear to be a man whose word can be trusted.”
“But I should never have sought revenge in the way that I did,” Jasper replied, fervently. “Just as Lord Winthorpe should leave Lord Islington alone. Seeking to harm the gentleman will not do any good. In fact, I wonder if it will only harden Islington’s resolve all the more.”
Miss Truwin let out a shaky breath, took a step closer, and put one hand on his chest, looking up into his eyes. Jasper felt his whole body quiver suddenly, heat rushing through him at her gentle touch.
“What shall you do, Bastien?” she asked, her voice so soft th
at had they not been standing so close together, he would have struggled to have heard her. “Will you inform Lord Islington of it?”
He nodded. “Of course. But I shall also inform him that he ought to ensure that Lord Winthorpe is given what has been promised. I doubt that Islington will take my advice, but it is the only thing I can do that might prevent any more difficulties between them both.”
Miss Truwin sighed, leaned forward, and rested her head on Jasper’s shoulder. Unable to prevent his arms from going about her waist, Jasper held her close, feeling the last of his burdens beginning to fall from his shoulders. He had done what he had intended, what he had promised. It had come to him instead of him seeking it out, but it was there nonetheless: the proof that he had not been the one to attack Lord Islington. What was more, he now knew that he could do something to ensure that Lord Islington was kept as safe as he could be, for he could tell the fellow that Lord Winthorpe was searching desperately for him, and whilst Jasper hoped that the gentleman might have listened to what he had said and have turned away from his dark intentions, he did not think that such a thing would occur. Not immediately at any rate.
Regency Engagements Box Set Page 45