Читать книгу The Tarnished Necklace - Trish Inc. Duffin - Страница 11

Jasper scowled. For the past two months his attempts to take Maria for a ride in his gig had been foiled by their neighbour and it irked him. This time he had approached Andrew before the morning service to request permission to take Maria home. Andrew had thanked him for his offer, but it appeared Maria and her sisters were going to pick the last of the raspberries with Mr Matthews on their way home from the service. Jasper dearly wanted to walk up to Mr Matthews and punch him in the nose. Several very practical reasons prevented him from doing that. Mr Matthews was a good six inches over his height and probably fifty pounds heavier. Jasper looked at his own scrawny body and reflected Peter could probably hit a lot harder as his arms were a lot more solid than his. Also, he reasoned, punching someone in the middle of a church service would not endear him to anyone and would horrify Maria. Instead he sat there and glowered away. For the last few weeks Mr Matthews had escorted her and her sisters, Joanne and Alice, home from church each week. This week he was taking them raspberry picking. What will it be next week? Apple picking? He gritted his teeth and flexed his hand, itching to punch something, or specifically someone.

His best friend, Damien, nudged him in his ribs and he glanced over. “Calm down Jasper, you look like you want to commit murder,” he whispered, receiving some black looks from a few parishioners.

Jasper breathed in and focussed on relaxing his fist. “I’ll explain later,” he muttered before looking at the ceiling, the windows, anything other than his adversary. Later he explained his predicament to Damien who wasn’t much help. “Is he actually courting Maria or just a friend of the family?”

Jasper muttered under his breath, “Dunno, he is just getting in the way.”

Damien suggested he actually front up to Peter and tell him just that, then he wished him luck.

Jasper figured it would be safer to make the enquiry with people all around, rather than risk a fist hitting his nose. He saw Peter was off to the side so strolled over to him, his stomach in a knot.

“A word with you please.” Peter glanced over to Jasper but just stood there. “Are you courting Miss Scott?” queried Jasper, a scowl darkening his face.

“No,” replied Peter, a little confused.

“Then I would sincerely appreciate it if you didn’t monopolise her every Sunday afternoon.”

“My apologies,” replied Peter. “I will step back and provide you with the space to court Maria,” answered Peter.

Jasper was stunned, that wasn’t quite the reaction he had expected. He muttered a curt, “Thank you and good day sir,” spun on his heel and stalked off.

Later that morning Maria found time to ask what Jasper had spoken to him about. Alice and Joanne were wading in the stream with Maria and Peter on the bank.

“Oh, nothing much. He just hasn’t appreciated my claiming your company over the last few Sundays and requested I give him a chance.”

Maria slapped her hand over her mouth to stifle the giggles. “Please tell me you said no!” she asked, eyes wide with horror.

Peter shook his head. “Quite the contrary. I recall I apologised and said I will step back.”

Maria let loose a groan. “He is tedious. I’m going to have a word with my Father and make sure he doesn’t agree to anything!” she declared.

Peter laughed, her face was so funny.