Page 16 of The Burning Passion of a Fiery Lady
Gilbert had gazed at her like that, once. It had been so long ago, she had forgotten what it felt like. She had forgotten it entirely.
Jasper Stone was so very handsome. She would have noticed that masculine beauty even if she had still been married. She would have acknowledged it, but not done anything about it, of course. Gilbert had constantly accused her of flirting with other men; he had watched her like a hawk at dinner parties and balls, but she had never given him cause to doubt her fidelity. It had pained her greatly that he had so little trust in her.
But Gilbert was gone, now. He was gone forever. She was alone and could make her own choices about who she associated with. She could even choose to marry again, one day … if she so desired. Her life was her own.
She didn’t have to make it a shrine to her late husband.
Guilt flared up in her chest at the very thought. How could she contemplate such a thing? And yet, she was. Sitting here, with this fine man, glowing with the good food, wine, and pleasant conversation of the evening, she was contemplating that perhaps her life could veer in a totally different direction to what she had anticipated.
At that moment, David Bragg interrupted her reverie, his jovial voice shattering the tension between them. She turned her head to him, where he was sitting across from Amy.
“Can either of you settle an argument?” he asked, smiling broadly. “Mrs Lambert believes that Tom Cribb is famous for fencing, but I believe it is boxing. Do either of you know?”
Jasper smiled indulgently. “Tom Cribb is a boxer. You are correct, David.”
“I knew it!” said David, shooting Amy a triumphant look.
Amy laughed. “I am not very good with sports, Mr Bragg. I thought that you were probably correct, as well.” She paused. “Now, if we had have been talking about art, I am sure I would best you.”
“Hands down,” said David, smiling broadly. “I know nothing about art.”
Susannah watched as they kept smiling at each other. They seemed to be getting along very well indeed.
“Does your husband work at The Willows as well, Mrs Lambert?” David suddenly asked, staring at the housekeeper intently.
Amy blushed. “I have no husband, Mr Bragg. It is a courtesy title, as housekeeper. I cannot be addressed as miss in my position.”
“Really?” asked David, his smile broadening further, if that was possible. He looked as pleased as punch at the news.
Jasper suddenly stood up. “It is getting late,” he said. “We should retire for the evening, David, and let these lovely ladies get their beauty sleep.” He turned to Susannah. “Thank you so much for the fine meal and wine, Mrs Drake.”
Susannah stood up, too. She felt ridiculously disappointed that he was leaving. And yet, it was perfectly appropriate for him to do so. It was already past ten at night, after all.
David and Amy stood up, too.
“It has been a pleasure,” said Susannah slowly. “I cannot remember the last time I had such a pleasant evening.”
Jasper gazed at her, with those arresting blue eyes pinning her to the spot. He bowed slightly, in farewell. For the second time that evening, she felt like she simply couldn’t breathe.
The next minute, they were both gone, and she and Amy were alone.
“Mr Bragg is an interesting man,” said Amy, in a high pitched voice. “I must admit, I did not think he would be so intelligent and charming. He is well versed on a variety of topics.”
Susannah gazed at her warmly. “The horse master and his apprentice are both surprises, Amy. Did you know that Mr Stone is from the landed gentry? He does not have to work for his living at all. He only does so because he is passionate about horses.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to tell Amy about the heartbreak that had spurred his decision, but something stopped her, at the last second. It seemed somehow a betrayal of confidence.
Amy looked surprised. “I did not know that. How peculiar! Most men would not choose to work if they did not have to. It says something about his character, does it not, that he has made such a choice.”
Susannah nodded. Amy was absolutely right. Jasper Stone was a man of integrity. Handsome, charismatic, and intelligent … but so much more than that, as well.
She shivered slightly. His story of his betrayal at the hands of his fiancée had only increased her admiration for him. He had suffered, the same way that she had. Somehow, they understood each other, in a way that others who had not experienced such pain could ever hope to.
Chapter 7
Susannah stirred restlessly on her bed, throwing off the blankets. She couldn’t sleep. She had been lying here for over an hour, since retiring, and her mind was a constant whir of conflicting thoughts, about the evening that she had just spent, in the company of Jasper Stone.
Sighing, she got up, approaching the window. In the sky, the moon was full, hanging low, almost touching the mountains in the distance. White light streamed through; it was almost as bright as day.
