Jasper arrived at Randolph Hall and left his horse with the groom. He was immediately granted entrance and shown into the evening room where James Randolph stood beside the marble fireplace, one hand braced on the mantle, swirling a glass of brandy. He didn’t seem to be at all surprised at Jasper’s arrival because he nodded toward a waiting glass of brandy on the mantle. It did nothing to ease the black mood that rolled through Jasper like summer storm clouds. Listening to Gemma gasp another man’s name. James’s name, made his blood burn. It should have been only Gemma and him in that garden without the specter of his friend between them.
“Jas, you devil, what took so long?” James asked, offering a second glass of brandy to him.
“I was delayed…” Jasper took the brandy from his friend and
