Page 29 of To Wager with Love

“She’s not our sister,” he replied tersely, but at least looking less as if he would give Jerome a black eye.

“Well, no, not technically, but… but if she’s already engaged to this de Beauvoir fellow, and he doesn’t care what’s gone on, why are you fighting so hard to marry her?”

“Because he’s a cold bastard who only cares for what Harriet can do for his career. He’ll never give a damn for her besides whatever that terrifying brain of hers can do. He’ll never look to her comfort, never worry if she’s happy or not. I won’t stand for it. She deserves better.”

“Isn’t that her decision, though?” Jerome pressed, looking at his brother anew. “And since when do you care? The two of you have been at daggers drawn for bloody years. I thought it was your life’s work to antagonise her, and now you’re so worried for her happiness you’re ready to marry her? My God, Jasper, you’ll kill each other within a sennight.”

“Shut up, Jerome. You’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”

Jerome shrugged. “No surprise there, but I wish you’d explain it to me all the same.”

“I tell you what. I’ll explain what’s going on with Harriet, if you tell me what you’re playing at with Bonnie Campbell.”

The dinner gong sounded at that precise moment and Jerome let out a breath of relief and sprang to his feet.

“Saved by the bell,” he said with a smirk, and hurried out of the door towards the dining room.

Bonnie was not a subject he wanted to touch on with his brother. Jasper was reading far too much into it. Bonnie was a lively girl with a smart mouth and a nose for trouble. She was also a great deal of fun… more so than anyone he’d ever met. He wasn’t offering anything but friendship, though, and she knew it as well as he did. He’d been very upfront about it and she’d laughed and told him she knew exactly what he was offering and what he wasn’t. She’d even made a great joke about how scandalised the ton would be if he married a little Scottish nobody with no breeding and worse manners.

So, why shouldn’t they enjoy each other’s company? Especially now, when everyone was gone and there were no old tabbies disapproving of the two of them… well, apart from Jasper. Once upon a time, Jerome had idolised Jasper and very much modelled himself upon his big brother. He was the life and soul of any party, beloved by all—except the masters at school—and a devilish one with the ladies.

In recent years, he’d become increasingly circumspect, with only occasional glimpses of the outrageous young man he’d once been. On those occasions, Jerome had the unsettling feeling that Jasper was at his most unhappy. Not that they’d spoken about it. One didn’t talk to one’s brother about… about feelings. God forbid. Still, there was a nagging sensation tugging at him and Jerome wondered if it might be his conscience. He wasn’t entirely certain, because it rarely troubled him, but perhaps he ought to find out what was wrong with Jasper. After all, the fellow seemed to delight in sticking his nose into Jerome’s affairs.

He saw no reason at all not to return the favour.

Chapter 9

What on earth have I done?

Why on earth did I let him rile me?

I should never have agreed to this ridiculous… outrageous… scandalous idea.

Oh, heavens. What am I to do? I can’t back down, but if I go…

―Excerpt of an entry from Miss Harriet Stanhope to her diary.

31st August 1814. Holbrooke House, Sussex.

“Of course we’ll not say anything,” Ruth said, though her eyes were still wide with shock.

Minerva didn’t blame her. Harriet and Jasper? She thought Harriet loathed Jasper. Though, thinking about it now, she supposed that could be the spark of attraction.

“We’ll pretend we don’t know what’s happened,” Minerva agreed, giving Matilda a reassuring smile as they pulled on their gloves and prepared to go down to what was bound to be a very awkward evening.

“What on earth is the point of that?” Bonnie said, rolling her eyes. “They’ll all know we do know. How could we not? I’m not saying we should speak about it, but we can at least show Harriet our support, not pretend we’re blind to the mammoth-sized scandal sitting on the doorstep.”

Matilda nodded her agreement. “Yes, Bonnie is correct. There’s no point in pretending you don’t know, only do try to be discreet. Poor Harriet is so upset. I don’t think she’ll come down for dinner in any case. She certainly didn’t intend to when I saw her earlier.”

“Imagine, though,” Bonnie said, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “A night with Jasper Cadogan. Lucky girl.”

Minerva bit her lip as Ruth gasped with shock and Matilda glowered a little.

“Not entirely appropriate, Bonnie.”

“Sorry,” Bonnie replied, looking quite unrepentant. “But you said she was engaged to some other chap? Who is he? Do we know him? And why hadn’t she told us?”

“I believe she only accepted the engagement a few weeks ago, though he offered for her last summer. Apparently, they’ve been corresponding for almost three years.”