Chapter 2

2nd October, 1812

Jasper Warwick, Earl of Pershore and son of the Marquess of Bredon climbed out of the carriage and extended his hand inside to aid his mother.

“Thank you.” She fluffed her skirt and took his arm. “You can smile, my dear.”

“Indeed I can.”

“Won’t you?”

“No.”

His mother heaved a sigh. “Do try to not look miserable. I have not seen Louisa in a rather long time.”

“Ah, yes. We must keep up appearances that all is well.”

She shot him a look, one that would make a lesser man cringe. “I do not appreciate your tone.”

“Forgive me,” he murmured.

“It is quite all right.” She patted his arm. “Come along now.”

The manor was lovely, if a little on the small side. The lawn was well kept, and the bushes were full of colorful flowers. He caught a whiff of their sweet aroma as they made their way to the front door.

“Chin up.” Mother smiled up at him. “Please?”

The door opened, and a sharply dressed butler bid them enter, and they trailed behind him to the parlor.

A thin woman with a kind smile, her clothes in a fashion Jasper hadn’t seen worn outside of older portraits, stood. “Katherine! It has been an age. How are you, my dear?”

As the ladies became reacquainted, Jasper walked over to the mantel. The portrait hanging above was of a lovely young girl with brown curls framing her face. She couldn’t be more than five or six.

“Jasper,” his mother called in a tone that suggested she had called his name several times already.

“Yes?”

“May I introduce you to my friend?”

“Of course. I didn’t wish to intrude on your reunion.” He crossed over to them and held out his hand to take the countess’s. “It is a pleasure to meet you. I am…”

Just then, a lovely lady paused at the doorway of the parlor. “Please pardon my tardiness.”

She fiddled with the lace on her sleeve, which gave Jasper the opportunity to study her more closely. Her coloring—her eyes and hair and skin tone—all matched her mother. Imagine that. His mother had failed to mention that her friend the countess had a daughter. The lady also reminded him of someone else—the girl in the portrait all grown up.

Given her dress and the way she fussed with it, Jasper assumed her to be yet another one of those vapid ladies who knew nothing about what truly mattered in the world. Still, he bent at the waist toward her. “I am pleased to make your acquaintance…”

Her mother opened her mouth but eyed him and then his mother, a slight frown on her face.

Ah, yes. Her daughter’s entrance had interrupted his introduction to her.

He bowed twice more, once to each lady. “I am Jasper Warwick.”

“My son, the Earl of Pershore.” His mother slid beside him, beaming. Then she glided across the floor to the young lady. “And you must be Anna! All grown up and so lovely, too. Don’t you agree, Jasper?”

“Very much so,” he murmured.

The introductions continued, and Jasper tried to be nice and charming and everything his mother could have hoped for, but his heart wasn’t in it. He had too much on his mind at the moment, and his heart, well, he would rather not think about ladies at the moment.

Mother is quite cruel to have thrust me into this position so soon.

But, like it or not, he would be here for some time yet. Luncheon hadn’t even started. Jasper fought back a groan. At least Lady Anna did not seem too keen on getting to know him, his only consolation.

I would much rather be home right now. I do hope Mother has no other surprises waiting for me.

But, knowing his mother, that was not likely to be the case.