“What did you say to her, Adelaide?” Jasper asked sharply, bursting into the room unannounced.

Adelaide sat up with a jolt. Ink skated across the crisp vellum, ruining the letter she had been halfway through writing. “Jasper, what is the meaning of this? You cannot simply stride in here like this.”

She felt groggy from the previous evening and was in no mood for an unwanted altercation. Especially as she had her own troubles to contend with. Reuben was supposed to have been at the Assembly Rooms last night, but he had not appeared. Many people had offered their congratulations, but it had felt somewhat awkward without Reuben there to support the news.

“What did you say to Miss Green?”

Adelaide set her quill down. “I did not say anything to Miss Green. It may have escaped your notice, but I was busy with my own endeavors.” She frowned. “Why, what appears to be the matter? You seemed to be enjoying one another’s company well enough.”

“I thought we were, too.” Jasper moved across the room and sank down onto one of the jacquard chaises. He held his head in his hands. By the looks of it, he had sampled one glass too many of champagne, too.

“Then why have you stampeded in here like an angry bullock and launched your accusations at me?”

He sighed. “I presumed you must have said something to dissuade her.”

“Why would I have done such a thing?”

“I do not know… for amusement?”

Adelaide pushed back her chair and stood sharply. “You think me so callous as to take pleasure in your suffering?”

He glanced at her for a moment. “No, of course I do not think you capable of such cruelty. Sit down, I beg of you,” he urged, kicking at the floor with the toe of his shoe. “I just cannot understand it, that is all. I did not mean to vent my frustrations at you in such a way.”

“Evidently, you did,” she retorted, as she sat back down.

“Then I apologize. It was ungentlemanly of me.”

She smiled. “That is a little better. Now, talk me through the situation. I shall demystify the complexities of female behavior for you.”

“Am I not interrupting you?”

Adelaide glanced down at the spoiled letter on the desk. Her cursive blended together in a pooling mass of black ink. There was no salvaging it now. Not when all she could make out were two words— “Duke” and “love.”

Ironic choices, she mused. No matter how worried she was about her position with Reuben, she would have to rewrite the message. It was entirely useless. So, what did it matter if she spoke to Jasper awhile? If Reuben no longer wished to marry her, half an hour would make no difference.

“I was writing a note, but it can wait.”

“To your husband-to-be?”

Adelaide sighed. “You are not here to discuss my romantic entanglements. You are here with the sole purpose of discussing Miss Green. If I hear a word about the Duke, I shall send you away without a smidgen of assistance.”

Truthfully, she did not know if she could mention Reuben without bursting into tears. Her mind was in chaos over him. Whilst she felt a vague attraction towards the Duke, her heart was not attached to him. However, the thought of him breaking off the engagement was almost more than she could bear. He symbolized safety. More than that, he presented the one place where she might belong. If he dispensed with her now, she was not certain her pride would ever recover.

Jasper grumbled playfully. “Very well, then I shall not stray into any such subject.”

“Good, now begin…”

“She and I danced one dance, as you saw. The conversation was rather wonderful, and there appeared to be a perpetual smile upon her face,” he explained. His gaze remained fixed on the wall opposite, as though reliving each moment. “I attempted humor and she laughed accordingly. There was a delightful sweetness about her that I found utterly charming.”

“That does not sound like doom and gloom to me,” Adelaide quipped. “Unless she was thoroughly disheartened by your sense of humor. Who could blame the poor girl in such an instance?”

Jasper shot her a look. “This is not the time for jests, Adelaide.”

She chuckled. “I could not help myself, Jasper. Please, go on. I shall refrain from making further quips at your expense.”

“Thank you.” He cleared his throat and continued, “During our dance with one another, the conversation turned towards your engagement. Naturally, I told her of my disapproval. Before I could say another word, she fell into this desolate silence that I could not penetrate. She would not speak to me, and when the music came to an end she broke away and did not return.”

“And what, pray tell, did you do?”

“Why, I left.”

Adelaide tutted. “I am aware of what you did, Jasper. Miss Green was most discouraged by your abandonment.”

“I did not abandon her,” he spluttered.

“You must never walk away from a lady whose affections you wish to cultivate… never. It shows a lack of feeling. The sight of your retreat gives a lady the impression that you no longer care—you no longer give your concern to her wellbeing.”

“But that could not be further from the truth!”

Adelaide flashed him a grin. “Complex female behavior. It is no easy thing to comprehend, my dear.”

“But you believe she cares for me?”

“I believe you are in the fledgling throes of a potential courtship, yes. Providing you do not make another mistake, of course. To do that may jeopardize the entire enterprise.”

His expression brightened instantly. “How may I remedy my error?”

“Be patient and strive for reparation without haste.”

“A letter, perhaps?”

Adelaide tilted her head from side to side. “A letter is always a pleasant thing, but that can come later. First, I think you must allow me to make amends for you. I can repair the initial wounds you have inflicted. Once the path is clear, you can send the most beautiful love note ever written by man’s fair hand.”

Jasper smiled. “You would do that for me?”

“I suppose I must, for you would make an enormous mess of it if you were to be left to your own devices,” she replied, her tone teasing. “As luck would have it, she is due to visit this afternoon—I believe she has misplaced a shawl and believes it to be here. So, I will accost her with your profound apologies then, and gauge her response. As soon as we have spoken, I will send word to you.”

Jasper looked relieved. “I am so terribly sorry that I strode in here the way I did. Truly, it was purely my exasperation getting the better of me.”

“You are quite forgiven, Jasper.”

“Even so, I should not have spoken to you like that. It was most ungentlemanly.”

“You are often ungentlemanly towards me, Jasper, so I have grown used to it. I suppose I must accept that behavior when I am such a peculiar fish,” she remarked. “Nevertheless, there is no harm done. There is one thing I wish to say to you, however.”

“Go on…”

“I would like you to know that, despite our differences, I am as protective of you as you are of me. I do long for your happiness, regardless of appearances,” she explained tentatively. “I know we do not always see things in the same light, and we are often at playful conflict with one another, but that does not alter my friendly affections towards you. I should delight in seeing you joyfully matched.”

He frowned. “You do not think Miss Green suitable?”

Adelaide thought back to the previous evening, and Leah’s mortification in the back of the carriage. Countess Gaumont had ridiculed her in the cruelest of ways. However, Adelaide did not share in the Countess’ opinion. True, Leah bore no title, but what did that matter? If she had the power to make Jasper content, then everything else could be overcome.

“If you find her to be suitable, then she is perfectly so.”

“But you do not care for her?”

“Why must everyone believe that I bear some sort of grudge against Miss Green?” She sighed in frustration. “I like Miss Green well enough. Her company is most distracting. I mean, she does not appreciate the friendship that you and I share, but that has not turned me against her. It is simple envy.”

“She has said as much?”

Adelaide nodded. “She has, but I think I have succeeded in convincing her that you and I share a purely platonic companionship.”

“That is a relief,” Jasper said softly.

“Why is that?”

“For if she were to ask me to cast you aside, I am not certain of how I would answer.” He looked at her sheepishly. She understood his position, but it did not sit well with her. He had known Adelaide most of his life, but if Miss Green asked such a thing of him, how could he refuse? If he wished to court her, he’d have to do as she asked. A painful truth.

“You would truly put an end to our friendship?” She felt oddly crestfallen. There was often conflict between them, but she had never thought him capable of ceasing their acquaintance. Meanwhile, the letter to Reuben still burned a hole in the desk. Another potential rejection, taunting her.

“As I say, I do not know,” he replied with a sigh. “I pray it never comes to such a crossroads.”

“As do I, Jasper… as do I.”

“Anyway, enough of my woes and future prospects that may never come to pass. Let us speak on happier subjects. Has the engagement been announced?” he asked, a little too brightly. She could tell he wanted to launch into another tirade about Reuben’s lack of suitability. Only, she could not face hearing it.

Adelaide turned and crumpled the letter into a ball. “I am uncertain. I have yet to retreat downstairs.”

“Shall we go together?”

“Are you certain Miss Green will not mind?” she replied sarcastically, drawing in an anxious breath.

“Let us not quarrel, my dear friend.”

Adelaide sighed. “Very well, then we may go together.” At least then she would have Jasper to steady her if the worst should befall her.

Replacing her quill and ink, she set out a new piece of stationery. The note could wait. Perhaps, she would not even need to write one. Even so, she left the crumpled ball of vellum on the desk, where it unfurled like a creature stretching out weary limbs. Jasper eyed it curiously, but he did not say a word about it. For that, Adelaide was grateful.

Side-by-side, they walked along the softly-lit landing. Below, Adelaide could hear the soft music of her mother’s harp drifting up. An accomplished musician, Lady Leeds often liked to play. It soothed her and brought a tranquility to the house. Ordinarily, Adelaide would have shared in the deep sense of peace, but she could not relax today.

Reaching the elegant entrance hall, where the chandelier cast sparkling dapples on the polished parquet, Adelaide broke away from Jasper.

“I will only be a moment,” she said, excusing herself from his side.

He nodded and folded his arms behind his back. Glancing at him in amusement, she thought he looked rather like a tin soldier preparing for a parade. She might have teased him for standing so proud and stoic, but she lacked the will.

Trying to calm her racing heart, she headed towards the drawing room and peered around the threshold. Her mother sat at the far side, her fingertips dancing across the seemingly endless strings of the harp. Lady Leeds eyes were closed in concentration.

Reluctantly, Adelaide cleared her throat. “Mama?”

Lady Leeds looked up in surprise. “My darling, I did not hear you come in. Was I disturbing you?”

“Your music could never disturb me, Mama.”

“Is something the matter, then?”

Adelaide exhaled shakily. “Has there been any word of the engagement?”

Lady Leeds’ expression said it all, a sympathetic sadness that bordered on pity. A look that Adelaide could not cope with.

“Has something been said, Mama? I must know,” she pressed.

“Nothing has been said, my darling girl,” Lady Leeds replied solemnly. “We have received no word, though I confess I have yet to look over the day’s papers. As far as your father and I are concerned, everything is due to proceed as planned.”

“Then why do you sound so disheartened?”

“Do I, dear?”

“You know you do.”

Lady Leeds sighed. “I am sure it is nothing to worry yourself over. Perhaps, there has been a delay in the printing of it. I would not be surprised if all of this was remedied by this time tomorrow.”

“There must be something from him, Mama.”

She did not wait to hear what her mother had to say, as she turned and hurried back towards the entrance hall. Brushing past Jasper, she strode into the library and snatched a paper from the side-table where her father always left it. Ephraim himself had departed for town earlier. Adelaide had heard him leave just as she was sitting down to write her note.

She flicked frantically through the newspaper, but there was no word of their engagement. Dropping it to the ground, she hurried out of the library and over to the letter tray. Surely, there had to be something from him? Anything. Sifting through the letters like a madwoman, her heart sank like a stone. There was nothing addressed to her. His handwriting was nowhere to be found in the pile.

He would not do this to me, she told herself. He admires me. He finds me exciting. He told me so himself.

“Adelaide?” Jasper murmured, his voice laced with concern.

“Not now,” she begged. Forcing away the persistent prickle of humiliated tears, she riffled through the letters again.

Have I missed something? He did not seem any different the last time we met. Indeed, he spoke with mother and father and was remarkably amiable. Everything was set in place. He promised to have the announcement made today. He swore it in good faith. So… where is it? What did I do to dissuade him? She could not remember saying or doing anything untoward, but personal history had made it clear that it was likely her fault.

Her breath caught in her throat. With her heart pounding in her chest, she staggered towards the front door. Her lungs begged for the sting of cold, fresh air. The house was too small, too claustrophobic. The walls were closing in.

Stumbling out onto the top step, she gripped the balustrade for support. A curious mist had rolled in, the vapor snaking across the ground. Behind her, she was half-aware of Jasper hurrying after her. She paid him no heed. Right now, he did not matter.

Her eyes scoured the park beyond with panicked desperation, just in time to see a dark-coated figure sweep away into the distance. Someone had been watching her.

Is this another one of your games, Reuben? Or have we been playing one all this time… and I have already lost?