Page 29 of The Rake’s Convenient Bride

At that, Bess gave a laugh. “Oh, well, if that’s all.” She patted his back. “Any woman would be lucky to call you their husband. Put any of those fears from your mind.”

Jasper nodded, pretending to be reassured, when in fact he was anything but. Those fears would never leave his mind. Especially with a woman like Elizabeth.

7

The following morning, it was not merely Lady Darington who waited for Elizabeth and her mother in the drawing room, but also Jasper.

Elizabeth drew up when she saw him, her heart pounding.

She had scarcely slept the night before for thoughts of him, the way he had gazed down at her, how he had studied her mouth. As if he meant to kiss her.

Stupid little fool that she was, she had wished that might happen.

Of course, it didn’t. And it wouldn’t. Not when they were not truly engaged. Not when all of this was simply a façade.

But the way he’d looked at her then with that lopsided smile on his face made every rational thought in her head melt into a pool of hope.

“I say we make it the event of the season,” Lady Darington declared.

Elizabeth tensed. “I beg your pardon?”

The event of the season would mean a considerable number of guests. And she would be the sole focus alongside Jasper. Everyone would notice each wobble, every stumble, as well as any possible small stain or rip. “How many attendees did you have in mind?”

Lady Darington folded her gloves in her lap as she took a seat, completely oblivious to Elizabeth’s distress. “I want to have at least one hundred people there. Perhaps more.” She beamed at Jasper. “My grandson is getting married, and I want the world to know.”

Mama clapped her hands together, her eyes sparkling. “This will be such a delight!”

But Elizabeth did not feel delight. She felt dread, the icy darkness of it twisting her gut and leaving her stomach roiling. And while she was perfectly capable of speaking up to protest the idea of such a publicized affair, she could not bring herself to dim the joy on the faces of her mother and Jasper’s grandmother.

A hand touched her arm, pulling her attention to where Jasper stood at her side. “May I speak with you in private? And by private, I mean a quiet corner of the room.” He nodded toward the rear window where Grace had read her book when he came to call on Elizabeth after the announcement of their engagement.

She nodded and followed him to the corner. Both Mama and Lady Darington paused in their chatter for a moment to watch them walk toward that back corner and shared a smile that seemed to say “ah, young love.”

“You don’t appear overjoyed,” he said in a low voice.

“They’ll hear you.” Elizabeth shot a glance back to where Mama and Lady Darington had their heads together, both talking excitedly.

Jasper scoffed. “They won’t. Look at them.”

Elizabeth glanced over as both women laughed in shared joy, and Mama gave a merry little clap of her hands again.

“They’re so happy.” Elizabeth smiled to watch them, these women reveling in what they had wanted for so long.

They would be heartbroken when the engagement came to an end.

Jasper took in Elizabeth’s downcast expression. “I know you do not want the event of the season for our engagement party. Likely you do not even want the party at all.”

“There is no real engagement to celebrate,” she whispered. “But no, I do not want a party at all.”

“Then all you need do is say as much.” Jasper turned toward the women, opening his mouth to speak, but Elizabeth stopped him by grasping his hand. Neither of them wore gloves and the warmth of their naked fingers touching was like a jolt through her.

As if hit with the same sensation, Jasper looked down at where she still held his hand in hers.

“Let them have this,” Elizabeth said.

“But you don’t want a large party.” Jasper shook his head. “You should not have to endure something you do not want. It is, after all, our engagement and not theirs.”

“They won’t have a wedding,” Elizabeth said softly. “Let them have this.”