The Formidable Earl (Diamonds in the Rough #6) - Sophie Barnes Page 0,40
people.
“Yes.” Standing at her back, Simon hissed the word close to her ear, stirring the hair at the nape of her neck and sending a series of hot little frissons scurrying down her spine.
She told herself it was a natural response – one that wasn’t worth worrying about – and chose to ignore it. Besides, there were more important things to consider right now since the boy strolling ahead of them looked too old to be the young duchess’s son. “Who’s the child?”
When Simon didn’t answer, she craned her neck in order to see his face. It was set in hard lines, his brow furrowed, his eyes sharp as flint, and his mouth a flat line of… She wasn’t sure what, but he didn’t look happy. Far from it.
“Simon?”
His one hand, which had settled most inappropriately against her waist to hold her in place, pressed her back firmly, straight into his solid frame. Ida swallowed. It wasn’t nearly as easy to ignore him now as it had been ten seconds ago. She did her best, but her treacherous body had something different in mind. It came alive with a rush of awareness. Her heart raced and her legs turned to jelly. A fluttery sensation formed in her belly, spreading outward through each of her limbs until every part of her body hummed in response to his scent, his touch, his masculine presence – just him.
“As far as anyone knows, he’s Coventry’s son, born to him by a former mistress. The truth, however, is something else entirely.” Simon drew Ida further back, making her circle around the tree with him and keeping them both out of sight as the Coventrys came up the path to their left. “Jeremy Heathmore is my nephew, the result of a tryst my brother once had with Coventry’s sister.”
Ida sucked in a breath and held it. His comment was the perfect distraction from the distressing desire he’d managed to stir within her. In its place was an endless series of questions, each more urgent than the other. Ida waited until the Coventrys were well out of sight before pushing away from Simon so she could face him.
“If he’s your nephew, then why are you hiding behind a tree instead of going to greet him?”
Looking past her, he stared at some faraway spot in the distance. “This is a mistake.”
“What is?”
“You getting involved in my life. If you knew what was good for you, Ida, you’d run from me as fast as possible.”
“I tried that already, but it didn’t really work. Remember?” Her attempt at levity failed to make him smile. She cleared her throat. “I’m not going anywhere, Simon. You’re my friend and friends help each other.”
He scoffed. “All I do is hurt people.”
“That’s not true.”
His eyes sought hers with more hopelessness than she had ever witnessed before. “I failed Coventry’s sister, Jeremy, your father, and Gabriella. I’m sure it’s just a matter of time before I fail you as well.”
“I don’t believe that for a minute. Not after everything you’ve already done in order to help me.” When he didn’t look convinced, she said, “Talk to me, Simon. Unload your burden on me.”
“I…” His troubled gaze revealed a heart once shattered by pain. It begged her to drop the issue.
Sympathizing, Ida reached for his hand and twined her fingers with his. “Talking about it will help.”
“How do you know?”
“Because it’s what got me through life four years ago. Being able to share my pain with Philipa saved my sanity.” She took a step closer to him. “I care about you a great deal, Simon.” Far more than she was prepared to admit, even to herself. “Please let me into your life as I’ve let you into mine.”
Slowly, his fingers curled around hers. The edge of his mouth twitched. His chest rose and fell as if it required great effort for him to breathe. “All right.”
She felt her mouth stretch, transforming into a wide smile. “Thank you.”
He merely nodded, released her fingers, and returned her hand to the crook of his arm before directing her back onto the path. No other words were spoken during the rest of their walk, which was just as well since Ida knew there was much to be said once they reached Number Five Bedford Street.
Chapter Eight
Discussing Jack and his involvement with Melanie wasn’t going to be easy. For nine years the anger, the sheer disgust, Simon felt for his brother had followed him everywhere like a black shadow. Nothing would