Page 14 of The Burning Passion of a Fiery Lady
“David is a tough one,” said Jasper, gazing at him fondly. “He knows how to look after himself. But it was one reason I decided to apprentice him to my trade. The lad needed looking after, just a bit.”
“Lad?” shot back David. “I am only five years younger than you!”
Jasper grinned. “You look and act like you are ten years younger, my friend. Why don’t you eat up your meal? You obviously need the sustenance.”
David scowled in a mocking way, picking up his knife and fork again. Susannah laughed. She was having a great time this evening. She was so glad that she had spontaneously decided to invite them both to dinner. Usually, she ate alone, sitting at this long table by herself, hearing her knife and fork echoing in the space as they scraped against her plate. Itwasrather lonely.
For a second, she remembered when Gilbert had been here, and it had been the two of them at this table. At the start, it had been lovely; romantic dinners, under candlelight, as they had gazed into each other’s eyes. She flinched slightly, remembering how it had been, at the end. The poisonous glances he would shoot her, across the table, as they ate in strained silence.
She closed her eyes for a moment. When had it all gone so terribly wrong? If only she could pinpoint the second. But it had happened so gradually she could not even recall the time and place when the man she had adored had started changing into the man he had eventually become.
“Are you quite alright, Mrs Drake?”
She opened her eyes. Jasper Stone was staring at her, his brow knotted in concern. She forced a smile onto her face.
“Perfectly fine, Mr Stone,” she said slowly. “Just a slight headache. It is gone now.”
He nodded, but she could see that she hadn’t convinced him. He knew, somehow, that she remembered something traumatic. His pale blue eyes grew suddenly warm with concern, as he gazed at her.
She felt herself blushing again.
It’s just the wine, she told herself.It makes me flushed if I have two or more glasses with dinner.
But she couldn’t quite convince herself. There was more than wine at work here. Her eyes rested on his large hand, gripping his wine glass. Suddenly, she felt his hands circling her waist again like they had that day when he had caught her after she had been thrown off Blitzen. She had barely been able to breathe, at being so close to him. Something had shifted, deep inside her. Something that she had thought she wouldneverfeel again, as long as she lived.
She had thought all of that had died, along with Gilbert.
“So, Mr Stone,” she said, to distract herself from that alarming thought, “how did you come into your profession? Is it a family one?”
He shook his head. “No, Mrs Drake. It is not in my family.” He frowned slightly. “My family actually own a lot of land near Shrewsbury …”
“His family are landed gentry,” interjected David, as he took a deep sip of wine. “Jasper is quite wealthy, madam. He does not need to work for his living at all.”
Susannah stifled a gasp of surprise, gazing at Jasper intently. How very unusual! And how fascinating! She had never before met someone whochoseto work when they didn’t have to. It was almost unheard of.
“I cannot fathom why you choose to work,” continued David, his face flushed. “You could be living a life of luxury, going to parties, meeting beautiful young ladies …”
“That’s quite enough, David,” said Jasper sharply. “I am sure Mrs Drake does not want to hear all the details of my life.”
David smiled slightly, but complied, taking another deep sip of his wine. It was obvious to Susannah that the younger man’s tongue had got away from him, courtesy of the wine. Jasper Stone obviously didn’t talk about his background that often, and it wasn’t something that he felt very comfortable doing.
She covertly stared at him, over the rim of her wine glass. Handsome and charming. And now, she had discovered that he had a secret double life: horse master by day, but landed gentry by night. She shivered. He was simply fascinating, but she shouldn’t pry into his reasons for leaving his old life behind. Perhaps it was simply a matter that he loved animals, just like she did.
***
They moved into the parlour when the meal was finished. Susannah prepared the glasses of brandy herself, staring hard at the bottle.
Gilbert bought this, she thought suddenly.I haven’t used it since he has been gone.
For a moment, her mind whirled, and she gripped the drinks cabinet tightly. Would sheeverstart to feel normal again? These thoughts assailed her, gripping her like vertigo, when she least expected it.
The door opened, and Amy entered, smiling broadly.
“My dear!” said Susannah. “Please, sit down, and make yourself comfortable. I will pour another glass.”
Amy nodded, sitting down opposite David Bragg, who looked amazed that the Housekeeper had joined them.
“Amy Lambert has been my closest companion through my grief,” she said quietly, bringing over the drinks. “I know that it is unusual, but we spend time together just as friends, not mistress and servant.”
