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Page 27 of Only Earl in the World (Taming of the Dukes)

“I suspected he was the one who snatched her,” Jasper said. “The description was the same as the person who delivered the notes for you.” He gnashed his teeth. “The prick was hoping for you, but he got Minthe. Let me guess—your note said to exchange yourself for her?”

Briar nodded and showed him the note, which matched the address in the ledger. “Yes, and it’s his estate. The one just outside of London, near Papa’s ancestral seat in Surrey.”

“I gathered,” he said, drawing her close and kissing her soundly. “I’ll be back soon. Stay here. Do not leave this building.”

“I beg your pardon?” she growled. “Don’t you dare order me about. I am going with or without you. Minthe is my friend. And Sackley is?—”

“Is what? A dangerous man?” Jasper glared, his temper sparking. Did she not realize what a deadly situation she could be walking into?

“I’m armed,” she said viciously. “And I am an excellent shot. Don’t do this, Jasper. Don’t dismiss me because I’m a woman.”

“I’m not,” he gritted out, scrubbing a hand through his hair.

“I cannot abide by the thought of you getting hurt. Not when he’s already hurt you.

Fuck . Don’t you understand?” His voice broke on the last…

the image of that fucking monster putting his hands on her, making him see red.

His chest was so tight he could barely take in a single sip of air.

“So, my feelings about you getting hurt matter less?” she asked quietly. “Is that it?”

“Briar, please .”

She walked up to him and cupped his face. “I love you, Jasper, but you do not own me or my choices. We can go together, or I will go by myself. Those are the options available to you.”

They stared at each other in a silent, fraught standoff, and all he could think was how goddamned beautiful she was, like an avenging angel full of might and righteous fury about to rain hell upon her enemies.

The truth was, even if he were her husband, he would never take away her choices, even though the thought of her in harm’s way made the beast inside of him go rabid.

Already, after what Sackley had done to her, Jasper wasn’t sure if he could restrain himself and not flatten the man.

“You’re armed?” he asked eventually. She nodded, showing him the weapons at her waist, and he also saw that she wore her Seven Dials men’s attire beneath her cloak.

At least that was much less noticeable than a gown.

“You’ll stay behind me and do as I say.” He saw her face and the mutinous line of her mouth.

“ Please , just give me this, Sweetbriar.” He was begging, and he knew it, but he needed to feel like he was in control of something .

“Very well,” she said. “I will do as you say, if it makes sense.”

If that was all he could get out of her, he’d take it. Jasper bent and kissed her urgently, claiming her mouth with all the desperation and fear inside of him. She kissed him back just as fiercely.

They descended the stairs together, but when they got outside Jasper let out a curse. A carriage full of women stood in front of his residence. He blinked. All of Briar’s friends, including his sister, were crammed into the coach in various states of disarray .

“No,” he said. “Whatever this is, it’s not happening.”

“We are here for Minthe,” Vesper said firmly, her face defiant as if expecting him to make a fuss, which he was absolutely on the verge of doing. “We must stop that monster once and for all.”

Dear God, they were going to be the death of him.

Jasper calmed himself and tried to stay clearheaded.

The wrong words could have a mutiny on his hands, and they really did not have time to argue.

If he could get Briar to stay with them, even better.

Perhaps, if he were lucky, this would all work out naturally.

“I’m riding my horse,” he said, climbing into the saddle of his waiting stallion. “It will be quicker than taking the roads. But someone needs to inform Inspector Givens of the viscount’s threats as well as the fact that he has kidnapped an innocent woman. You ladies can help with that.”

Vesper nodded. “Very well. Be careful, Brother.”

Briar grabbed the bridle before he could leave. “Jasper Lyndhurst, if you even think of leaving me behind, I will never forgive you, and you can kiss this engagement and me , goodbye!”

“There’s only one horse,” he said weakly, and for the life of him, he couldn’t understand why all the women in his immediate vicinity, with the exception of the stone-faced warrior queen holding his mount in place, dissolved into raucous laughter.

“Only one anything has never stopped a determined man,” someone trilled.

“Or woman,” another added.

With a stoic look, Jasper hoisted Briar up to sit in front of him.

Her pert arse, unhampered by any skirts or crinolines, ground down over his thighs, and he suppressed a groan when she wiggled to get comfortable.

This was neither the time nor the place to sport an inconvenient erection, but when had his body ever behaved when it came to Briar Fairview?

Never…the answer was never.

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