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She looked at his hands, noting the whiteness of his knuckles as he gripped his biceps She forced herself to look away and give Lord Westfield her full attention Her fingers were linked so tightly, they hurt Even lacking refineraces, she knehat she was about to do rong in many ways, but she also knew Jasper needed to hear she wanted him as well He required it said aloud, with a witness As confident and aggressive as he could be when in his element, he was as lost as she hen it came to intimacy

After a deep inhalation, she said, "As honored as I as are engaged elsewhere"

Westfield’s brows rose

"Right, then," Jasper said, breaking his stillness "Out you go, Westfield I’ll see you this evening Come early You and I have , the earl stood "My offer will stand through the end of the Season, Miss Martin As for you, Bond--" Westfield’s face took on a hardened cast--"we do, indeed, have uely aware of holding out her hand to West-field, who lifted it to fir inane, he ht have as well, but she was so taken aback by the intensity hich he stared at her that shelook, one she couldn’t answer

He left shortly after, with Jasper following him to the front door Eliza took the briefdrink of her now tepid cup of tea

Equani so unsettled and confused was anathema to her This was exactly the sort of situation her mother had so often ed in, the sort of situation Eliza long promised herself to avoid

"Eliza"

"What did you tell him?" Her head lifted so she could see Jasper’s face, then lowered again as he sank to one knee in front of her Her heart thudded violently Her free hand fisted in her lap

He urged her grip to relax by gently prying open her fingers "The only thing Westfield knows is the reason why you hired me I needed someone who had invitations to the events you attend, so I could gain entry"

"Of course" As he les that coursed up her ar flow of blood "You didn’t know he intended to--"

"No"

"I thought, perhaps, it was your way of protecting ht"

He took the cup froardless, the s only to us, and I would never share it"

She sed hard "Why are you kneeling in that way?"

A slow, self-deprecating smile curved his , would you have me?"

"Jasper"

"Westfield is correct It would solve reater access to you, the person ishes to harm you would have less access, ould have more time to--"

"We hardly know one another!" she protested, while a rush of warhtened her chest

"We have honesty and desire" He brought her hands to his lips and kissed the knuckles His eyes were dark, his words delivered with heartrending earnestness "You have ; I work in trade, and my blood is worthless But I would spill it for you"