He stalked back to her with a growl, framing her face in his hands. “You come first,” he informed her. “You.” He kissed her hard on the mouth. “As for all the rest of it . . . we shall discuss it when I return tomorrow evening.”

When Julia woke in the morning, Jasper was already gone. She wasn’t surprised. Nothing had been resolved yesterday. She rather suspected she’d made the situation worse.

Rising from bed, she went to the marble-topped mahogany washstand. Water was still in the porcelain pitcher from Jasper’s morning ablutions. It was no longer hot.

She sighed. It was either wash with cold or summon Mr. Beecham or one of the children to fetch hot water for her from the kitchen. Given those choices, she’d rather shiver a little than make a nuisance of herself.

The sun streamed in through the patterned damask draperies as she filled the basin. A glint of something metallic twinkled at the corner of her eye. Returning the pitcher to its place, she turned to look, and was alarmed to see Jasper’s keys and pocket watch sitting on the chest of drawers by the window. In his haste to leave, he’d forgotten them. It wasn’t the first time he’d done so.

As if she needed more evidence of his eagerness to quit her presence!

But no. He wasn’t leaving her so abruptly because he found her company distasteful. It was the opposite. He’d admitted as much yesterday. He was finding her increasingly hard to resist.

Any other man might have simply broken his promise. Either that, or endeavored to persuade her to change her mind.

Jasper had done neither.

It was yet more evidence of his being a good and decent man. A man who was doing his utmost to adhere to the conditions she’d given him.

She finished washing and dressing, and after arranging her hair in an invisible net, she made her way downstairs to the dining room.

Charlie and Alfred were seated at the table with Mr. Beecham, their plates already heaped high with steaming eggs, toast, and sausages. Daisy was there as well, a bowl of porridge and cream in front of her.

Mr. Beecham stood as Julia entered, his linen napkin clutched in his hand. “Mrs. Blunt. Good morning.”

“Good morning, Mr. Beecham. Charlie, Alfred.” Julia smiled at Daisy. “You’re up early today, my dear.”

“I wanted to see father leave,” Daisy said.

“And did you?” Julia helped herself to a plate at the sideboard.

“No,” Daisy admitted glumly. “He was gone when I woke.”

“He’ll be back this evening.” Mr. Beecham resumed his seat. “Perhaps earlier if his business in York is resolved quickly.”

Julia spooned a serving of eggs onto her plate. “I confess, it will be quite strange without him here, even for a day. Though I expect we all have enough to keep us busy.”

“Quite right, ma’am.” Mr. Beecham spread his napkin back over his lap. “The boys and I have lessons to occupy us, don’t we, lads? And Miss Daisy will be joining us again today with her primer.”