Page 51 of The Rake’s Convenient Bride

Fear shot through her, so cold, the breeze felt suddenly balmy by comparison. “What are you talking about?”

The four women shared looks, appearing far more guilty than Elizabeth cared to admit.

“What have you done?” Elizabeth demanded.

“Umm…” Amy cringed and looked over Elizabeth’s shoulder.

She turned just in time to see Jasper walking up the path with his grandmother at his side.

“We may have set something into motion we cannot stop,” Jillian answered quickly. “And we’ve only done it because we love you.”

“And we want you to be happy,” Hannah added.

Jasper and his grandmother walked up the path toward the picnic. They were nearly upon them when Jasper looked up, his gaze going past the spread of confections and tea and finding Elizabeth.

His stare held hers and the entire world seemed to stop. The wind no longer played at her hair, the chill no longer pinched her cheeks, the sun no longer glinted blindingly overhead.

There was only her and Jasper and the world of unspoken longing that pulled at her like an anchor.

“Oh my,” Lady Darington cooed. “Imagine finding you ladies here.”

Jasper broke off his gaze from Elizabeth to cast his grandmother a withering look. “Yes, I imagine the idea of ‘needing some time away from the bustle of London’ to come specifically to this park was entirely coincidental.”

Lady Darington ignored him. “Lady Elizabeth, you do look lovely today.”

Elizabeth had seen herself in the mirror that morning and knew she most assuredly did not look lovely. The shadows under her eyes stood dark against the pallor of her skin, and she’d only barely scraped herself together to appear presentable with as minimal effort as possible.

“Please, the two of you ought to join us,” Amy offered.

“Yes, please do,” Hannah added. “There’s plenty of food.”

“That is kind of you,” Jasper started, just as Lady Darington beamed and spoke over him, “Don’t mind if we do. Jasper, go sit by your fiancée.”

Jasper only hesitated for a fraction of a moment, his jaw tight as he complied with his grandmother’s request. After all, they were supposed to still be engaged.

Elizabeth sat down and he sank down beside her on the blanket. She cleared her throat. “Would you like some tea before it gets cold on this blustery day?”

“You mean a day that is most definitely not suited for a picnic?” he asked with a lift of his brow. “By all means.”

Tension quickened in the air between them.

“Oh goodness, what is that?” Hannah exclaimed. “I believe it’s a rabbit!”

Elizabeth looked toward the bushes nearby, but didn’t see a rabbit.

“Indeed, it is,” Lucy said. “And it’s adorable.”

Lucy never said words like ‘adorable.’

This charade was truly ridiculous.

In fact, this charade was reminiscent of a near replica with a cat, when Lucy lured Hannah out so she might speak to Lord Brightstone when they were at odds with one another during their marriage.

“I should like to take a closer look,” Lady Darington announced. “I do love rabbits.”

“Of course she does,” Jasper said under his breath, but even as he did, a smile pulled at his lips and he shared a look with Elizabeth.

She couldn’t help but laugh and he chuckled, the wall of awkwardness crumbling as Jasper’s grandmother and Elizabeth’s friends hastened away after a nonexistent animal in an effort to force them together.