Scandalous Scions Two by Cooper-Posey Tracy

Author:Cooper-Posey, Tracy [Cooper-Posey, Tracy]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Tags: Victorian Era Historical Romance
Publisher: Stories Rule Press
Published: 2018-12-15T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Present day: Northallerton, Yorkshire. March 1867.

Jasper knocked the mud from his shoes, then scraped them against the iron rail mounted on the top step just for that purpose, yet it still did not remove enough of the thick mess. Lilly would protest and Warrick would look dour if Jasper got any of the dun-colored mud on the carpets and rightfully so.

He bent, unlaced his boots and stepped out of them. The slate in the front hall was cold, even through his stockings, although he left no mud behind. He padded into the morning room.

Lilly looked up from the sheaf of papers in front of her, a fine line between her brow. Jasper kissed the frown away and sat on the chair that had become a fixture next to her desk.

“How was Thirsk?”

“Busy.” Jasper leaned forward. “How would you feel about a stay in London, Lilly?”

She put the pen down. “What has happened?”

Jasper shook his head. “Nothing.”

Lilly’s gaze didn’t shift.

He grimaced. “Nothing that a man could point to,” he amended. “Nudges and whispers and averted faces when I looked directly. They didn’t do that to me even when I first arrived at Northallerton.”

Lilly dropped her gaze. “News about Jenny has spread.” She wiped the pen with quick movements and laid it down again. “You wish to travel to London to escape the speculation?”

“Good lord no,” Jasper said, the exclamation pushing out of him with genuine surprise. “I want to go to London to be there with the rest of the family when the case is heard.”

Lilly’s mouth curved into a small smile. “You would risk your reputation by standing with the family on this?”

Jasper rested his hand over hers on the desk. “The only reason I have any reputation at all is thanks to your family. What sort of ungrateful cad would I be, if I didn’t support them through this?” He let her hand go. “Would you mind very much if we leave the twins and Seth here? There is no need to expose them to…whatever happens in London.”

“You don’t think it will go well for Jenny, do you?”

Jasper scratched at the varnish with his thumb. “Just the court case alone has damaged her reputation beyond hope of salvation. If the divorce goes through…” He hissed and sat up straight. “I want to wring the man’s neck. What is Burscough thinking, going through with this?”

“Did you know him, when you were with the Army?” Lilly asked.

“By reputation only, and that goes a long way toward explaining his actions. He never did give a damn about anyone but himself. It doesn’t matter, though. Jenny needs our help. Let us help her.”

Lilly got to her feet. “I’ll pack at once.”

* * * * *

Two years ago: The Burscough Estate, Lancashire. March 1865.

When Jenny realized that she was again with child, she wept bitter, selfish tears. There was no joy in the prospect of bringing another child into the world, when there was so little to give just one.

Too, the sickness and

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