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responsibility for their care will be on your shoulders, not mine.”
    One month? If he looked for a year, Jasper doubted he could find anyone capable of truly replacing Miss Fairfax. “But...but...how can I search for a new governess and spend time with my children while entertaining a houseful of guests?”
    Something told him she could manage such a feat if she had to. It galled him to admit he was less capable. But if he must for the sake of his children, he would.
    “Your guests?” Her hand slowly fell, but not before Jasper glimpsed a slight tremor in it. “I thought you would send them away or return to Manchester until they were gone.”
    He shook his head. “I may not be much of a gentleman but I have better manners than that. It wasn’t my idea to invite these folk, but now that they’re under my roof, they are my guests and I will extend them my hospitality.”
    “That is good of you, sir.” Was she surprised to hear that he knew how to behave well? She did not sound it.
    Jasper shrugged. “It still leaves me the problem of finding an opportunity to search for a new governess. I know it is my own fault for squandering the time you gave me. What would it take for you to stay two months, until the end of the summer? I give you my solemn word I will not ask for more time after that.”
    “What would it take?” she repeated. “I do not want more money, if that is what you mean. But if you promise to become acquainted with these ladies and keep an open mind about the possibility of remarriage, then I will extend my notice until the end of the summer. But not a day more.”
    Jasper did not answer right away, but mulled over her proposition as carefully as he would any business agreement. What she was asking could have a profound effect on his future and his children’s. An extra month would give him more time to hire a new governess—or time during which he could try to persuade Miss Fairfax to stay. If he failed, then perhaps she was right and he should consider remarrying.
    “Will you give me the night to sleep on my decision?” he asked. “It is not something I want to rush into.”
    “That sounds fair,” she agreed. “You can tell me your decision tomorrow and we can go from there.”
    Jasper appreciated her directness. It was a refreshing change after an evening spent in the company of Miss Anstruther and Mrs. Leveson. Every time they spoke, their words seemed laden with hidden meaning he could not fathom. True, Miss Fairfax had gone behind his back to arrange this house party, but when he’d confronted her, she truly seemed to repent her actions. And he could not deny that his delaying tactics had forced her to take desperate measures.
    “Tomorrow.” Jasper could not suppress a yawn. “Now I think we had both better get some sleep. It has been a long day.”
    That was an understatement. He had risen at first light and set out from the inn in Kendal, where he’d spent the night after riding all day yesterday. Since reaching home, he had dined and played with his children, entertained a party of guests and spent more time in private conversation with Miss Fairfax than he had in the past several months put together.
    “Indeed, sir.” She struggled to stifle a yawn, too, with no more success than he’d had. “Good night, then. Rest well.”
    She started up the stairs, only to turn and fix Jasper with a questioning look when he followed her.
    “The ladies may be lingering in the hallway bidding one another good-night,” he explained. “I need you to go ahead and check whether the coast is clear.”
    She exhaled a sharp breath of exasperated amusement. “Come along, then. I will scout the terrain for you.”
    “Thank you, Miss Fairfax.” Jasper gave a weary grin, which he doubted she could see in the shadows of the unlit stairwell. “I know I can always rely on you.”
    A pang of regret pierced him as he spoke those words. He only wished he’d realized how very much he and his