Page 57 of The Rake’s Convenient Bride

“Break the engagement?” Bess wailed. “But there is still more time and you can still win her over.”

But he was shaking his head. “You know I tried.”

“Once.” Bess put a finger in the air. “Sometimes women require more than one nudge to where they need to go. Your grandfather had to ask me three times, and the third I nearly said no.”

“I’ve given up, Bess.”

She shook her head. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I knew you’d act exactly like this,” he offered dryly.

She sprang to life and clutched a hand to her chest. “I’m dying. I’m going to die without great-grandchildren.”

Jasper rolled his eyes.

Bess grasped the tablecloth, gasping as a footman rushed forward to catch a cup of tea before it could upend onto the carpet below.

Jasper reached for the newssheet and snapped it open. “If you’re done dying, I shall tell you what transpired.”

She snapped upright, her cheeks as rosy as a woman three decades her junior. Though she had asked several times what they’d spoken of at the picnic, Jasper had not shared. His heart had not been able to take the pain.

“Are you sure you won’t expire if I speak plainly with you?” he asked, his tone droll. “I can’t have you upsetting the footmen.”

She waved him off as if he was a pesky fly. “No, no, perfectly fine.”

“I asked her to marry me, and she asked if I loved her.”

Bess’s face fell, eyes sad, her dejected expression relaxing into soft, wrinkled skin. Suddenly she looked older than she had since he’d known her.

Her immediate understanding stung.

“Is it so obvious I can’t love?” Jasper snapped, immediately regretted having done so.

His inability to love had nothing to do with Bess. In fact, any part of him capable of love was due to her.

His grandmother reached for him and set her hand on his forearm, her touch gentle. “The only thing I find obvious is that you think you cannot love. Your parents took advantage of your love for your brother, putting far too much trust in a boy to take on the responsibility of a parent.” Bess frowned. “I shall never forgive my son for the pressure he put upon you, nor the blame he laid at your feet. But do not let them keep you from being with the woman you love.”

“I don’t love her,” Jasper protested.

“Don’t you?” Bess chuckled softly.

“Is this about how I look at her?” Jasper asked, vexed. He’d heard enough of all that. “Such things are easily feigned.”

“You aren’t one for feigning, Jasper.” She smiled at him, her features relaxing with affection. “Besides, it is more than that, such as how you are always there to catch her if she stumbles and set her at ease. And how she stands up for you and looks up to you, like you hung the stars in the sky.”

“She doesn’t look up to me,” Jasper protested. “She knows my reputation.”

“This is why you think you aren’t good enough for her?” Bess asked.

Ah, yes. Jasper recalled he had shared that bit with Bess, though he now regretted having done so. Already he felt far too exposed in this conversation.

“You are worthy of her, Jasper,” Bess said firmly. “And she feels you are worthy of her too. If she did not, she wouldn’t love you.”

Jasper’s brows lifted. “You think she loves me?”

Now Bess grinned, revealing her straight, small teeth. “I know she does. It’s why she couldn’t marry you unless you loved her—which you do. The girl is a smart one. No woman can risk her heart around you, Jasper, my boy.”

“But I’m incapable of love,” Jasper protested.