Jasper rubbed his eyes with his fingers. ‘Jane, be sensible.’
‘I am being sensible. A busy man must placate his wife and jewellery is an excellent way to do it. By selling ready-made pieces at the club we can save merchants a trip to the jewellers.’
Jasper peered at her through his fingers. ‘I hadn’t thought of that.’
‘Fine stationary for their contracts would also be good and the services of a private solicitor to keep things confidential.’
Jasper rubbed his chin. ‘Property agents might not be a bad idea, either, and we could take a cut of their sales.’
She laid her hands smugly on her knees. ‘See, I can help you.’
He snapped out of his interest. He was supposed to be putting her off him, not being drawn into a potential partnership. ‘No, you can’t.’
‘I can and you’ll see it and change your mind.’
He leaned forward, one elbow on his knee. ‘I promise you, I won’t.’
She matched his position, bringing her face close to his. ‘I promise you, you will.’
They stared at one another in challenge, so close together he could see each curling lash rimming her eyes. The temptation to kiss her again gripped him and he was certain she would allow it, but he held firm against the desire to lean in and claim her lips. He was here to discourage her, not trifle with her. The rattle of dice and conversation from the adjacent room drifted in despite the thick padding he’d paid builders to add to the walls. Her small breaths glided over the back of his hand where it hung between his knees, the need to resist her beginning to lose its urgency. He’d expected her to loathe him, not go along with him as if he’d invited her to a box at Drury Lane Theatre. Maybe allying himself with her wouldn’t be as dangerous as he’d first believed. She could help him and in deeper ways than mere negotiations and sales.
He sat back, putting distance between her and temptation. Revealing his involvement in a gambling hell was one thing, but he wouldn’t entice her into this life the way his uncle had enticed him. ‘I think it’s time to get you home.’
‘But we haven’t resolved anything.’
‘We’ll discuss the rest in the carriage.’ He checked the glass peephole hidden in a knot in the door to make sure the hallway was clear, then tugged it open. ‘We don’t want your brother to discover you missing and make you Sister Mary Saint Jane.’
She wagged one finger at him. ‘Don’t think you’ll put me off so easily.’
She strode past him and into the hallway, her confidence as alluring as her perfume.
* * *
Jane allowed Jasper to lead her out the way they’d come in and to hand her into the waiting carriage. The night chill made her shiver as she settled against the fine leather seats. She could pull the rug up over her knees, but the bracing air kept her on guard to continue her fight. Warmth might lull her into cosiness and make her forget what she needed to do on the ride home, her last real chance to change Jasper’s mind. She’d seen his determination waver when she’d made the suggestion about the jewellery and the solicitor, and again when they’d faced one another. He might outwardly protest, but inside he was weakening.
He settled across from her and with a knock on the roof set the conveyance in motion. They rode in silence as the carriage came around the building and passed the front entrance of the hell where a few vehicles waited for their riders while another pulled up to the front door to let off a new arrival. Then the building faded into the distance and the warehouses gave way to narrow streets and dark, ramshackle buildings. After a street or two, Jasper covered a large yawn with the back of his hand.
‘If you allowed me to handle things, you’d hardly have to do any work,’ she offered. ‘You could sleep in until noon as much as you like. Unlike some wives, I wouldn’t mind.’
‘I appreciate your offer, but I won’t have you lying to your family the way I’ve had to lie to mine.’
‘It wouldn’t be a lie, just an omission of certain details, which I have no issue with. After all, Philip and Laura don’t consult me on their affairs and decisions. There’s no reason why I should worry about their thoughts on mine.’
‘It isn’t so easy. It’s been hard misleading my mother about my exhaustion or lying to my father about why I can’t make morning appointments. If taking up residence in other lodgings while my town house is being repaired wouldn’t invite more questions from them I would. As it is, they think I’m tired all the time because I’m still recovering from Savannah and the crossing. Do you know how many times my mother has threatened to summon Dr Hale? They trust me and I’m deceiving them and it eats at me.’
‘What eats at me is continued failure and disappointment.’ She took a deep breath, working to settle herself. He was flustering her and she would lose the debate if she allowed her emotions to run roughshod over her reason. ‘I’ve managed the weight of those for the last few years, I think I can manage the bother of a few harmless fibs.’
‘I don’t doubt you can,’ he explained softly, ‘but I won’t let you.’
Her chest constricted. Those were the same words he’d used the night of his farewell party when they’d stood in his father’s study and said goodbye. She’d blurted out how she’d grown to care for him as more than a friend and would wait for him to come back. He’d been touched by her offer, but had refused to allow it, sure he wouldn’t return.
Except he had.
She stared out the window misted with dew. A few fat drops slid down the glass, catching others as they went before dripping off. This wasn’t about an old infatuation she’d put behind her ages ago, this was about establishing her future with him. Despite all his protestations against her, he was here with her alone in his carriage with enough faith in her to reveal his greatest secret. It was a more honest response than all his excuses against their marriage and it gave her hope she could still win his co-operation, if not tonight, then perhaps in the near future.
‘I’m sorry I didn’t keep in touch with you after I left,’ he offered. ‘More than once I wondered what you were up to here in London.’
‘Not very much.’ She smoothed her skirt with her hands, touched by his apology. It eased a great number of old disappointments. ‘There were dances and picnics, shopping and dinners, and the weddings of all my friends. No one took a fancy to me, at least no one who didn’t bolt.’
‘I’m sorry for what Milton did.’
‘Don’t be. I wasn’t in love with him as much as I was in love with the idea of my old friend being my husband.’ The possibility still held more appeal to her than waiting for some future romance. She didn’t need love, not if she had Jasper, her friend, for a husband.
‘I’m surprised Philip allowed the engagement. He of all people should have recognised Milton’s weakness.’
‘He did, but I didn’t listen.’ She’d ignored every warning thrown in her path until the morning Milton had left her. ‘I wish I had. It would’ve spared me a great deal of embarrassment.’
‘You’re better off without him.’
‘I am and his eloping spared me from having to wear the thin little ring he purchased. His poor wife has it now.’
‘Milton always was miserly.’ Jasper grinned and so did she, glad to find some humour in her misfortune.
‘What about you? Did you impress the ladies in Savannah?’
He reached up to grab the strap above the window. ‘I had my share of amusements.’
‘Did you now?’