Theo…Alistair…I love him.

Adeline might have said more, but Jasper heard none of it as he stood in the foyer down the hall from where Lord and Lady Melton, along with Adeline’s other friends, stared at the woman; a mixture of shock, apprehension, and pride on their faces.

All of those emotions were coursing through Jasper in that moment, as well, along with at least one more he was able to identify: love. Jasper could not remember feeling such for anyone other than his aunt and uncle. Certainly, he’d loved his parents, but he’d been a mere child, taking for granted he’d been blessed with a caring family, an adequate home, and fine things. In time, Jasper had come to respect and care for his servants and a few men who allowed him close at the plant.

But love? True, unconditional love…for a woman?

There was no mistaking that was the type of love Adeline spoke of. No woman, especially a lady born and bred to be above reproach, would jeopardize her status in a society she cherished if she did not wholeheartedly love another. And she’d stood before all of London, her family’s closest friends, and all but proclaimed her love…for him.

Jasper watched as Adeline threw her arms wide, her back to him. Lady Melton was the first to spot him over Adeline’s shoulder.

“My heart is solidly telling me Jasper is the only man for me.” Her shoulders shook with her words, as if she kept her sobs inside but had no control over her body. “He is fair and kind to his servants and staff at the plant, he has a shrewd business sense, he is empathetic to the plight and misfortune of others, he is trusting and selfless“—she ticked off the list on her fingers—“and he is, above all else, loyal and compassionate.”

She stumbled on the last words, and Jasper longed to go to her, wrap his arms around her, and tell her everything would be fine. He desired nothing more than to put a stop to her ramblings. He was not the man she described with such passion. He strived each and every day to fit those characteristics, but attaining them had been difficult and, more often than not, out of his reach.

Jasper started in her direction, but her shoulders tensed and her chin lifted.

“Honestly, dear brother, I cannot imagine that I deserve a man such as Jasper, or that he would ever think to take me to wife.” She whimpered when no one made any move to respond to her. “I am his complete opposite in nearly every way. I have a vanity that runs far too deep, I am critical of others, I am petty and selfish, I demand things I have not earned, I cause so much trouble for you and Theo, and I am overly harsh with Josie. I do not deserve his loyalty…or yours, my flaws are so great.”

Jasper could not, would not, believe any of those things to be true or that they represented who Adeline was. This was not the woman he’d gotten to know in Faversham. That woman had been confident to a fault. She’d been undaunted by the storm, hadn’t hesitated to assist him in providing food for his people, and she rode across the meadow to the plant to make certain Jasper was not injured, and Emily’s husband was rescued.

He’d retreated into himself after the fire. Yet, Adeline’s own father had died the previous year, and she’d stepped forward to take her younger siblings all the way to Canterbury. She hadn’t hidden in her room and wallowed in her grief.

Adeline had met Jasper head-on and refused to balk or back down from him. And neither had she turned away from him due to his scars and the villagers’ ramblings proclaiming the beast.

It had only been she who’d taken the time to recognize that his beastly appearance had not rotted his insides.

“Besides,” Adeline began again, her voice strong once more. “I will be twenty-one in less than a fortnight. I will not need your approval or blessing to live my life any way I see fit. I will wed any damned man I choose, or I will never marry at all. But it will be my choice, my decision, and my cross to bear if I muck everything up.”

Lady Georgina let loose a loud snort of laughter while Lady Melton fell into a light, feminine giggle. Lady Josie appeared ready to faint on the spot as her eyes settled on Jasper as he walked slowly down the hall. He was uncertain when his legs began to move, but move they did—toward Adeline.

Jasper hadn’t the nerve to meet Lord Melton’s stare, yet he could visualize the viscount’s narrowed glare.

He only kept his attention on Adeline’s back. Ten more paces and he’d be to her.

Someone must have alerted her to his presence because her chin lowered and she pivoted to face him.

Her cheeks were streaked with tears as they continued to roll down her face and off her chin, turning her light blue gown to a darker hue from the moisture.

“…not that I am to wed Lord Ailesbury, or that we’ve even spoken of mutual affection,” she stammered, her eyes locking on his as all color drained from her face, leaving her skin pale—almost green.

“And what if I desire to speak of marriage?” Jasper’s brow rose in question.

“Then I would think this is a subject better discussed in private.” Lord Melton stepped forward, gesturing back toward the foyer. “If you will follow me, Lord Ailesbury, we can discuss this in my study.”

“I will have Adeline present,” he said without thinking. He could offend Melton as women were not usually present during business negotiations, and Jasper was not fool enough to think this was anything but a business and a negotiation—even if it was a matter of the heart for him.

“Oh, have you not met my sister?” Lord Melton asked, his smirk hard to hide. “She would beat down the door—or climb down the hearth flue—if I did not allow her in. It is safer for all involved if we invite her straight away. Besides, this is her future as much as yours, Ailesbury. I do hope you’ve thought this through.”

“There is naught to think through, my lord, though I appreciate your warning.”

Jasper glanced in Adeline’s direction. She’d remained quiet during Melton’s and his back and forth; however, her eyes swelled with a fresh round of tears, and they spilled over her lids and down her cheeks.

Without thinking, Jasper took the final steps to her, brought his palms to the sides of her face, and brushed the tears away. If they’d been alone, he would have placed a kiss to each cheek where the moisture had left matching trails.

If they wed, he silently vowed she would never have need to shed another tear—unless it was in joy.

That was one promise he could make her.