Chapter 13

London, 1820…

Several mornings later, Elizabeth came down the stairs, Carly in tow, to find Jason giving orders to a few men in the foyer. She glanced nervously at the blonde, who'd been rather disgusted by this entire situation, especially when Elizabeth confessed they were getting out of the city for a little while. Carly had always been controlling, probably because she was used to getting her way, and she couldn't stand the idea that Elizabeth had done something without her. She supposed this was her own fault for depending on the woman so much.

"My wife will instruct you on what to pack and what to leave behind. If you have any questions, take them to her," Jason said, lifting his eyes to the stairs and giving her a warm smile. "Elizabeth."

She returned his grin, her heart tightening in her chest as she finished walking down the stairs to where he was waiting at the bottom. She couldn't get over how much he'd changed in the last few days, and while she knew it was solely because of what happened to her, she tried to tell herself he'd get over the need to treat her so delicately. He'd all but changed completely; bringing breakfast to her room and waiting to actually give it to her if she didn't come down to the kitchen, or actually talking with her about her life instead of at her, and her favorite was dinner time, whenre he showed her more in the kitchen. She'd yet to cook him another meal like she had several nights ago, but she imagined that would be the first thing she'd do at their new home.

"What is there to pack, really?" she asked, her hand resting on the banister as she reached the landing. "We are coming back."

"We are," he agreed, glancing nervously at Carly, "but I'm sure therey are some things you'd like to take with you – for comfort."

"Yes, I suppose you're right," she nodded, wondering if there was anything he hadn't thought about.

She appreciated his efforts to comfort her and take care of her, but she had to admit they were rather exhausting. It wasn't that she minded being doted on; it was the way he looked at her when he did it. She didn't want him to see her as some weak and frivolous woman, completely incapable and inept because of something that had happened months prior. Yes, she would carry it with her and it had left it'sher mark, but she was trying to get past it, and they never would if it was all Jason could think about.

She'd have to talk to Nadine about this. She seemed to be the only woman around here with any sense about her. Carly would blame Jason, had practically accused him of taking her away, so that option was non-existent.

"When are we leaving?" she asked, looking over the men who were waiting on their orders.

"Tomorrow, if possible," he replied, crossing his arms over his chest. "It would have been sooner, but I had to wait on Spinelli to handle some things. We should be at the estate by late afternoon tomorrow, as long as you're alright with that."

"Sounds lovely," Elizabeth said, turning her head towards Carly. "I suppose this is it for us – at least until I get back."

"I assume you'll have a staff," the blonde murmured, narrowing her gaze at Jason.

For the life of her, Elizabeth couldn't figure out why Carly was so rude to her husband or why she acted as if he were some terrible man. She'd tried to ask, but her friend had only told her she was acting off her intuition, and when Elizabeth pried further, Carly clammed up, and she almost wondered if she knew him from the past. Maybe he and Carly had…No, she refused to think of such a situation. Though it would explain why the blonde was so scorned and Jason was so agitated by her presence.

"We'll have a small staff, mostly because I don't like people sticking their nose in my business," he replied, clearly attempting to get Carly to back off. "I'm aware that Elizabeth may need someone to help her dress and that it wouldn't hurt to have a servant or two on hand, but…" He shifted his eyes to Elizabeth, giving her a sneaky grin. "Things will be far more relaxed on the estate, which is what I think we both need for a little while."

Jason leaned against the mantle in the study, a fond smile on his face as he looked around the room. Part of him had enjoyed being back in Jeffrey's home, while the other hated to deal with the stark reminder of the way things used to be. When he'd returned to London, he hadn't expected so much to come rushing back, and like Elizabeth, he needed to get away from the city too, though his reasons were not nearly as dire.

He was still worried about her, but he was trying not to smother her in his efforts to comfort her. Just like she'd asked, he stayed with her until she'd fallen asleep that night, and unwrapped his arms from around her and hurried off to his own room. Being close to her was difficult for him because he wanted something more and after what she'd been through, he didn't want her to feel like he was pushing her.

It was rather nice to be on the same page; to have some sort of understanding as husband and wife, and while he had no idea as to where this marriage of theirs was going, he liked the idea of taking things slow and seeing how they turned out. He fought against the desire to settle and be happy, becoming much like his best friends, and the need to be free to do as he pleased without having to report to anyone.

After all, his annoyance with the entire idea of marriage was what drove him to get stupidly drunk, come home, and pick a fight with his wife. He was bucking against everything Johnny and Nadine told him to do, refusing to do more than what he'd come to London for. He was here to free Jeffrey and that was what he intended until Elizabeth had complicated hisother plans.

What started as a game, a way to annoy her and have some fun of his own, was now very real. Elizabeth had been through something horrible, and he wanted to save her, and maybe in the process she would save him from himself.

Though he pitied her for even wanting to try.

"Jason?" came her voice, followed by a fist knocking gently on the half- opened door, a curious smile spread over her plump lips. "Are you sad about leaving too?"

He shrugged, lowering himself to the edge of the desk as he met her eye. "I always loved this home."

"We'll be coming back," she said, just as she had repeatedly in the past few days.

He hadn't admitted aloud that he hoped to get her away and show her the beauty that lay lied elsewhere, stifling any need sheto felt to return.

"Is everything packed?" he asked, brushing her statement off.

"Yes," she nodded, closing the door behind her before walking over to him. "Don't worry. I didn't pack that offending vase in the foyer." His lips twitched into a smile. "Oh yes, I've seen you glaring at it from time to time."

"The colors are terrible," he confessed, amused that she'd noticed such a thing.

"It was my mother's," she said, causing his face to grow flushed. "No worries, Jason. I'm merely teasing."

"You mean it wasn't?" he asked nervously, and she shook her head. "Not funny."

"A little funny," she replied, easing herself onto the desk beside him. She smoothed her hands over her dress, her dark blue eyes finding his. "Why does my home mean so much to you?" She swallowed hard, unnerved by her own boldness. "How do you know my father? I can – I can feel there's a history there."

"It isn't important," he said firmly, surprised by his tone, but it didn't upset her. "He was good to me when I needed someone to be…other than that, it stays dead."

Her lips parted to pry further, but she covered her mouth with her hand and nodded. "Everyone has things they'd rather not discuss about their past," she agreed, dropping her eyes to her lap. "I…I was wondering – would you like to see Sonny before we left? I know that you've distanced yourself from the case for me, but I didn't want you to think…"

"Sonny has been handled," he shrugged, his arm brushing against hers. He wasn't going to give her too many details about the exchange, but it cost him more than it should have, as well as a deal that only a man loyal to Jeffrey would strike. "Johnny coaxed him into talking-"

"What did he say?" she interrupted, her eyes growing wide.

"More of what we already knew," Jason replied, getting up from the desk when their arms brushed again. She looked at him expectantly, and he sighed heavily before going into the story. "Sonny said he came into the study and found Jeffrey standing over Lucas with a knife."

"Oh," she whispered, fisting her hands nervously in her dress. "Did you tell him we're moving to the countryside?"

"Johnny did," he nodded, curious about her reaction. "Sonny was surprised that you chose to go tostay in Italy over London."

"I couldn't imagine leaving London or my home, but now I am doing both," she contemplated sadly.

"Why Italy?" he pried, and her eyes licame aliveghting up at the question.

"I used to sketch a lot," she replied slowly. "I started when I was a child – just copying my father's sketches of the body and bone structure. By the time I was a teenager, he had started referringred to mine over his own because they were so detailed. He used to say I saw things in normal lighting that no else did, and I can remember him telling me that the light in Italy is different from anywhere else in the world." She lifted her eyes to Jason and raised her eyebrows. "…Is it – is the light different there?"

"I don't know," he murmured, having never really thought about it. He smirked, sneaking a glance at her from the corner of his eye. "Though I doubt it would do you any justice."