Page 37 of Adeline

But strangers?

Not only those he did not know, but also people who meant a great deal to Adeline…

That should be of no consequence to Jasper; however, for some reason, it was a heavy burden to carry.

What if they thought him a beast due to his visible scars? What if they determined he’d caused harm to Adeline? Or worse yet, what if they recoiled in fear and threw him from their house without a word, leaving him with no choice but to return to the safety of Faversham Abbey?

That was exactly what he’d hoped for only moments before.

Lifting his chin, Jasper stared straight ahead as they crossed the threshold into her home.

He’d dealt with the jeers of the village children, he’d overcome the shame when villagers avoided him, and he’d even been able to look past Adeline’s first reaction to his scarred appearance. Certainly, her family’s opinion of him was of no consequence.

“Good day, Donovan,” Adeline greeted the man who’d instructed the footman outside.

“Lovely to have you home, Miss Adeline,” he replied with a curt bow before closing the door in their wake.

“Always lovely to be under my brother’s roof,” she retorted.

When the man’s solemn expression hinted at amusement, Jasper sensed there was a private jest between the pair he was unaware of.

“Donovan, may I introduce Lord Ailesbury.” She glanced up at Jasper through lowered lids before turning back to the man. “Lord Ailesbury, this is the Melton butler, Donovan. He takes great care to keep all of us under control so as not to anger my dear brother.”

At that, the man did openly smile, bringing his hand to his mouth with a cough to cover the chuckle that nearly escaped him.

“Lord Ailesbury.” The butler nodded in greeting. “I cannot speak to keeping Miss Adeline—or her siblings—out of trouble, but there has not been a Melton child lost on my watch.”

Both Adeline and the butler laughed softly before Jasper noticed her posture straighten and her eyes scan the foyer—the empty entryway.

Peculiar, seeing as how Jasper expected to find her brother waiting for them, especially with Adeline having been delayed over a day at Faversham. Was the family not worried about her whereabouts?

Adeline released Jasper’s arm and set her hand on her hip as her toe began tapping on the polished floor.

“Out with you!” she commanded after a moment, and Jasper turned his attention to the area surrounding him.

Besides him, Adeline, and the butler, there was no one else nearby.

Jasper inhaled deeply and held his breath as he listened.

Nothing.

Not a sound could be heard in all the household, which struck Jasper as odd with so many family members in residence. It would be nearly impossible to quiet his own home to this extent, and it was only him and a handful of servants.

“Do not make it necessary for me to find you.” Her stern tone had Jasper on edge as she tapped her foot several more times and let out an exasperated huff.

He’d not known her long, but he suspected her irritation was a ruse.

Finally, her frown turned to a smile as three identical heads of light brown hair popped around the jamb of an open door. Three sets of widened hazel eyes showing themselves.

Jasper would be a fool not to notice the resemblance as the trio stepped fully into the foyer.

Adeline’s siblings—or, at least three of them.

“Lord Ailesbury,” she said, a spot of merriment in her tone. “May I introduce Mr. Alfred Price, Mr. Adrian Price, and Miss Amelia Price? As you can see, my father had a fondness for names starting with A.”

Calling them children seemed off as two were nearly out of the schoolroom by Jasper’s estimation. Even the youngest was not far behind.

“It is an honor to make your acquaintance.” Jasper bowed to Miss Amelia first, and then before both boys. “Your sister has shared much about you.”