Page 55 of Dangerous Games of a Broken Lady
Love may not be selfish, but it can be envious. If I were to marry another, would you be jealous? I do not ask in a capricious way, I am simply curious. We cannot always have the things that our hearts desire. It is the fault in the human condition.
Now, I should be interested to hear your responses to those questions. Tell me of your childhood. Tell me of the things you adore. Tell me of the things that make you happiest. Tell me everything. I would know the love story of your parents, if there is one? I do so love the fantasy of romance. Don’t you?
Thank you for kindness regarding our interaction the other day. You are far more gracious than you ought to be, having been faced with such a cold disregard. I realize it may have appeared as though I was insincere about my affection towards you. Indeed, you likely thought me a fortune hunter. Sadly, I was not one then… although my mother would now see me one. She has suitors awaiting me, upon my return to London. I am not looking forward to it.
I am looking forward to your reply, however. May it arrive swiftly and safely in the hands of Lady Adelaide, who has been instructed to deliver all these letters to my residence in London. Please allow a day or so for any responses from me, though I shall endeavor to be as swift as possible.
You are in my thoughts also.
Fondest regards,
Miss. L. Green
Adelaide set down her quill and waited for the ink to dry. She had used memories of her own in her responses, though she prayed they would not be poignant enough to stir up Jasper’s remembrance. The countryside recollections of bridges and streams had been hers. She had spent hours and hours sitting in the peace of that wood. Indeed, in a fortnight, she would return there.
Although she disliked the echoing expanse of Kiveton Hall, she found she had a sudden eagerness for the country. After a full season, she was tired of London. Besides, she reasoned it might be the last Christmastide that she spent there as a proper resident. As soon as she was married to Reuben, they would move to his seat at Weston Park in Staffordshire. That would become her home.
Her mind drifted back to happier thoughts of her childhood. Jasper had also been the friend in the tale of the snowman. It had been his scarf that they had wrapped around the sparkling creature’s neck. Still, she did not believe he would be able to piece the truth together—lots of people adored Christmastide, and lots of people built snowmen.
Sealing it with a plain wax stamp, she slipped it into the top drawer of her bureau. She would hand it to Jasper tomorrow evening and say it had come via express rider.
Just then, there came a knock at the bedchamber door. “Come in,” Adelaide replied.
One of the younger maids, an unusual creature named Angelica, poked her head around the door. “There is a gentleman in the hall for you, My Lady.”
“Oh?”
“The Duke of Bradford.”
Adelaide nodded. “I shall be down presently. Please, may you ask him to wait in the drawing room?”
“Certainly, My Lady.” With that, she disappeared.
Adelaide experienced a bristle of anxiety as she rose to follow. It had been several days since she had last seen Reuben. Although their last exchange had been somewhat comforting, she could not shake the deep-rooted feeling that she was walking into a huge mistake. Reuben admired her, yes, but did he love her?
Not in the way she wanted to be loved.
Chapter 21
Astorm lashed down upon the city as afternoon turned to evening, on the day that Ephraim had received the letter from Lord Rowntree. He had yet to respond to it, though he knew the villain required urgency. He had not been able to reply, for he did not know if it was plausible. It did not seem so, but his heart refused to surrender. He would not give up his daughter to that devil.
Ephraim ducked into the public house with his collar turned up and the brim of a flat-cap covering his face. He had worn drab clothing, so he might blend in better. No one would expect an Earl to come into an establishment such as this. Indeed, hardly any of the clientele bothered to look at him as he entered.
Moving through the throng of warm, pungent bodies, he made his way to a table in the far corner. A barmaid took his order and brought over a flagon of ale. He drank half before he had even removed his coat. The bitter swill did little to calm his nerves. Instead, it left an even sourer taste in his mouth.
Presently, another figure appeared in the doorway of theTap and Spile. Red-cheeked and blowing into his hands to chase away the cold, Jasper scoured the room. Ephraim raised his hand in a wave, alerting Jasper to his position.
Retrieving a flagon of ale from the bar, Jasper made his way over and sat opposite. Ephraim had not wanted to drag Jasper into this again, but there had been little choice in the matter. Stealing a golden scepter was not something he could do alone… if at all. Still, he knew he was about to ask something enormous of Jasper. He could not quite find the words, for they stuck in his throat like honey.
“Lady Adelaide told me you were unwell, My Lord,” Jasper rudely broke the silence first.
Ephraim, uncaring, nodded. “A trifling cold.”
“Are you certain it was not something else that kept you to your chambers?”
He sighed. “You can read me like a book, Jasper. I confess, in the aftermath of our endeavor at the Houses of Parliament, I could not face my family.”
“But it is done with, is it not? I received your package of money with the letter you sent.”
