Page 54 of The Rake’s Convenient Bride

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Several days had passed and still Elizabeth didn’t know why she had demanded to hear that Jasper loved her.

No, actually, she knew exactly why.

All her life, in every book she’d ever read, in every novel that swept through her soul, there had been a man and woman who loved passionately and fiercely. And while Elizabeth had never been keen on the idea of marriage, she was certain that if she should ever find someone worthy of breaking her pact with the wallflowers, that man would love her. Truly. Passionately.

She had even offered Jasper an out, an opportunity to suggest that he might in time come to love her.

He could not even do that.

Hiccupping a sob as she closed the second installment of Sense and Sensibility, feeling entirely like Marianne, the tears began to fall.

Again.

She’d been a miserable wreck since the picnic, mourning the loss of an engagement that had not yet been officially broken. Although she had sent him a missive informing him she intended to start spreading the news of her malcontent with him at Grace’s engagement party, citing how ill-suited they were.

She did not want him to see the rumors in the scandal sheet and be taken aback by the gossip.

He had not replied.

When she’d sent the note, time felt like a chasm, a yawning space she did not know how she would fill. Now, Grace’s engagement party was to start in an hour. The death knell for whatever it was that existed between Elizabeth and Jasper.

Companionship.

That was all it had been.

Playing at love that could never exist.

Because he could not love her.

Tears welled in her eyes again.

Heavens, she really was the embodiment of Marianne’s character.

She closed the book, unable to read about Marianne’s heartbreak when her own was so heavy.

But she must go to Grace’s engagement party—alone—and capitalize on the opportunity to spread her own rumors about their ill-fated union. After all, she had told Jasper she would.

She had even told her friends and tried to ignore how genuinely disappointed they all appeared at such news. Especially when they were evidently trying so hard to ensure Elizabeth and Jasper truly did end up married.

A soft knock sounded at the door. Her maid entered with a small notecard. “It’s from Lady Brightstone,” she said hastily, as though she herself could feel that small kick of hope in Elizabeth’s chest that the missive might be from Jasper.

Not that it mattered if it was or wasn’t from him. After all, what could he say that would change her mind? She would not marry someone who could not love her.

She unfolded the note from Hannah.

Dearest Elizabeth,

I am sorry I cannot attend the ball due to my delicate condition—at least I’m finally considered delicate by some means. Ha! Best of luck this evening. I shall be thinking of you.

But that is not all, I’m including an invitation to Spinster’s Sanctuary. They know to expect you whether it is tonight or any time this month.

All my love,

H

Spinster’s Sanctuary— the affectionate name they had given to Rosewood Manor, the beautiful home Hannah’s husband gifted her on their wedding as an escape for her, should she ever need it. The idea of the grand home had been part of their plan when they were all girls who decided to never marry, a refuge for them to congregate. And with Hannah being the first to marry, her husband had lovingly honored that dream with his generous present.