Page 48 of To Wager with Love

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Jasper took out his pocket watch and frowned at it. He’d had supper sent to Harriet’s room, but he’d imagined she’d be finished by now. Deciding there was very little point in bothering with propriety after this afternoon’s little escapade—especially given he could trust all the remaining guests—he went directly to her room.

He’d just raised his hand to knock when a commotion in the hallway downstairs drew his attention and he moved back along the corridor until he could look over the bannister. There were shouts and exclamations and Jasper frowned, moving towards the stairs and hurrying down in case he was needed.

“What is it, Temple?” Jasper called, and then stopped in his tracks as a footman carried something into the house. No, not something, someone. A woman.

Oh, God.

Jasper raced down the stairs, staring at Harriet. She was flushed, feverish, and wet through once again. What the bloody hell had she been doing?

“Harriet!” he exclaimed, putting his hand to her face and finding it hot beneath his touch. “Give her here,” he said, taking her from the footman. Harriet mumbled something and turned her face into his neck. “Temple, fetch my mother, and send for Doctor Haysom at once.”

“Yes, my lord,” Temple replied, barking instructions and sending the staff running.

Jasper carried Harriet back up the stairs. “What have you been playing at, you little fool?” he asked, wanting to shake her. “You were supposed to be having a bath and getting warm, not going out in the rain again.”

He kicked at her bedroom door, bringing her maid running to open it. The girl exclaimed with alarm as Jasper barged through, carrying Harriet in his arms. He deposited her on the bed.

“She needs these wet things taken off at once,” he instructed, taking off Harriet’s shoes and tossing them to the floor while the maid gaped at him in horror.

“Don’t just stand there!” he shouted. “Get her clothes off.”

“B-But, my lord,” she stammered, staring at him with wide eyes.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, girl!” Jasper snarled, too impatient to deal with such inanity. “We’re to be married, assuming she doesn’t catch her death whilst you’re dithering.”

“Jasper! The girl is quite right. Out with you.”

Jasper turned, at once relieved and incensed to see his mother arrive and take over.

“But….” he began, but his mother took his arm and gave him a warm smile, reaching up to pat his cheek.

“Just think how mortified Harriet will be when the gossip goes around the servants. Now, you leave her to me, and you can come in once she’s comfortable. Away with you, now.”

Jasper cursed, but the only important thing was that Harriet be cared for at once, so he waited outside. He paced up and down, wondering what had been so terribly important that Harriet had gone out again in such weather. What had been so urgent that she’d had to deal with it immediately, and risk making herself ill?

“Temple!” he shouted over the bannister. “Temple!”

He ran down the stairs to find his butler hurrying towards him. “My lord?”

“Where did Miss Stanhope go this evening?”

“I’m afraid I cannot say, my lord. Would you like me to ask the driver?”

Jasper nodded, frowning, before dismissing his butler and heading back up the stairs.

Chapter 15

Mr de Beauvoir,

It was so lovely to see you today, despite the odious Mrs Tate. I haven’t yet begun reading the book we spoke of, but I intend to start after dinner this evening… providing I can stop daydreaming about your eyes, and the piercing way you have of looking at me. How I wish you might remember me this time, perhaps even think about me, as I am thinking of you….

― Excerpt of a letter from Miss Minerva Butler, consigned to the fire.

2nd September 1814. Holbrooke House, Sussex.

Matilda hurried along the corridor towards Lord St Clair, who had just exited Harriet’s bedroom.