And he had. Marrying Anne was yet another method of self-protection. He would receive a fine dowry, enough to help him with the financial problems left behind by the previous two holders of his title. There had never been any emotional attachments to cling to. So the fact that Anne had run away was little more than an annoyance to him. A reminder that one did not allow a gentleman to match one with a flibbertigibbet of a girl.

But when he looked at Thomasina and knew she had taken a part, even a small one, in this deception, his reaction was far more passionate. He was angry with her. Angry that she would not refuse such a silly request or at least look into it further.

Then beyond that was another emotion. One he really didn’t want to face and yet it kept rising up in his chest as he stared at Thomasina, her gaze firmly on her feet and her lips trembling slightly.

He was relieved. After all, he certainly would not marry Anne now. She might be found in short order, but there would be talk and rumor along any route she took. There was no avoiding the secret coming out. So, if she was brought home, the idea of continuing the match was abhorrent.

Which meant he was free. That also meant those powerful desires he felt toward Thomasina tonight were not quite so terrible as they had been an hour before.

And yet he wasn’t free at the same time. He needed that Shelley dowry, plainly spoken. A broken engagement would materially damage his ability to find himself a bride of means. This was a scandal of exactly the kind his father and brother had destroyed themselves with. The kind he’d been trying to avoid for years.

So he would be decimated by this broken engagement. And the relief fled.

The door to the parlor opened again, and Juliana and Mr. Shelley returned. Their long faces verified what Thomasina had already said.

“All her things are gone,” Juliana sighed. “Her poor maid was shocked.”

“I should sack her!” Mr. Shelley fumed.

“You shall not, Father,” Juliana said with a shake of her head. “You saw she wasn’t involved. But you were, Thomasina.”

They both focused on Thomasina now, and Jasper watched her shrink a little as accusations flew from both Juliana and her father. Juliana’s were kinder, gentler. Shelley’s were loud and angry.

She took them all, her shoulders slumping as she apologized and tried to explain exactly what she’d already said. He watched her mouth move while ignoring her words, and thought about how much he’d wanted to kiss her. He still wanted to kiss her, truth be told.

And he really didn’t like the slump-shouldered lines of her right now. That she would take all the weight of what had happened when in truth it was Anne who had managed all this. Thomasina had been manipulated. Angry or not, he could see that.