“Why should anything be wrong for me to visit my ladies?” he returned lightly, offering her an abbreviated bow when he reached her.
“There does not have to be,” she agreed, searching his countenance, the knot of worry within her growing tighter. “However, you do not quite seem like yourself.”
“I’ve not been myself since a certain lady first barged into The Sinner’s Palace, intent upon writing a scandal journal.”
He had meant to tease, but the reminder of her aspirations, for now placed carefully upon a shelf and out of reach, did not fail to sting. She still very much longed to write her scandal journal. Being Jasper’s wife and mother to Anne and Elizabeth was fulfilling. However, she had not forgotten her singular aspiration from when her life had been so very different.
“I am still intent upon it,” she told him.
“Absolutely not,” was his response.
Her frustration rose. “Why?”
“Because I’ll not have you in danger.” His jaw clenched.
“Danger?” Anne and Elizabeth had risen from their chairs and surrounded them, their little mouths pulled into matching frowns. “Why would Mama be in danger?”
“I wouldn’t be,” she reassured them, giving each of their small shoulders a pat before meeting her husband’s gaze. “There is no reason at all to think I would be in danger from writing a few articles here and there.”
“This is a conversation to be ‘ad later,” he said smoothly, “between the two of us.”
He had lost his h again.
The stubborn urge to force him into the dialogue rose up, but she tamped it down. Something was indeed amiss, and she could sense it. “Shall I fetch Pen or Lily to watch over the girls so we can speak?”
“Not necessary.” The pained smile had returned. “Anne and Elizabeth are to be coming with us.”
“Coming with us? Where are we going?”
“Home,” he said, one word.
Succinct.
And yet, it only served to heighten her confusion. “We are home, Jasper.”
“A gambling den ain’t a proper place for you,” he said. “I leased a townhome. It ain’t as grand as your sister’s, but I think it will serve well enough for now.”
She stared at him, shocked. He had not uttered a word to her about such a plan. Indeed, she had believed the gaming hell was to be their residence, the private quarters shared with his siblings, for the foreseeable future.
“You have leased a townhome,” she repeated, giving her head a shake as if the action would clear the cobwebs which seemed to have taken up residence in her mind. It did not. “When?”
“Today,” he said. “Just an hour ago. The entire affair is furnished. Quite plummy.”
This was…more than unexpected. It was a shock. It was strange.
“How long have you been planning to lease a home?” She frowned at him. “And why did you not speak of this to me before now?”
She would have preferred to be involved in the process, of course. What if he had chosen a home that would not prove a safe location for Anne and Elizabeth? What if the home had been neglected? What if the furniture was shabby and the rooms too small?
“It only recently occurred to me,” was all he said. “Come now, the three of you. I’ll drive you there in the phaeton and you shall see what you think of it. Girls, you shall sit on our laps. The men can bring your things later.”
“We are meant to move there today?” Her outrage was growing by the moment.
How dare he fail to mention such a momentous change to her? How dare he decide to uproot herself and the children to a place they had never seen without warning? He had merely sauntered into the nursery like a king and had announced they were leaving.
Forever.
“There shan’t be a better day,” he said. “The sooner the three of you are at home there, the better.”