Yarmouth’s house.”
Her head jerked around at his words. “Stephen Worth the rich banker?”
His lips twitched. “He is the only Stephen Worth I know. It was fifteen years between the time they first met and married. The point I’m trying to make—rather clumsily—is that Elinor has some experience when it comes to defying convention.”
“And so you told her—what, exactly?” Benna sneered. That we’d fucked?”
He flinched as if she’d slapped him. “Is that all it was to you?” he asked softly.
Shame flooded her, making her head hot; she was treating him the way Geoff had treated her. “Just answer the question; what did you tell her?”
He hesitated for so long that Benna feared he might tell her to go to the devil.
Finally, he nodded—as if to himself—and said, “Truth be told, I maundered on like a lovelorn boy—not much differently than I did with you earlier. But I’ll spare you all that and just give you the truncated version. I told her that I loved you and didn’t want to face a future without you.”
Benna could only stare.
He held her gaze for a moment and then glanced at her hand. “Would you mind terribly putting that away. Just for now? I’d like to come nearer, but I don’t wish to get stabbed.”
“You told her that?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Today.”
“If I asked her right now, what would she say?”
He blinked, visibly confused. “Er, I’m guessing she’d tell you that I’m an idiot but to be kind to me because I am her friend.”
Benna could only stare. Did he—was it possible that—
Lord, the poor fool loves you. Put down the damned knife.
Reeling, Benna folded the blade and dropped it into her coat pocket.
“Thank you.” Jago came close enough to take her hand and lift it to his mouth, lightly kissing her rough, dusty knuckles.
“My hands are dirty,” she said in an abstracted tone, her mind clinging to his words like a dog with a bone.
“I don’t care.” His eyes never left hers while his lips drifted over her fingers “Won’t you please tell me what is going on, darling? Why did you pull a penny knife on me? Is that a sign of affection up north—or perhaps a form of courtship?”
She gave a slightly hysterical snort of laughter. “I can’t marry you.”
He frowned. “Do you mean you can’t because you don’t wish to? Or you can’t because you … can’t?” His eyes opened wide. “Good Lord—are you telling me that you’re already married?”
In a heartbeat his normally pleasant features shifted into a dangerous mask. “Did your husband mistreat you?” he demanded, his tone coldly menacing. “Is that why you are hiding? If so, you needn’t worry; I would never allow anyone to take you away against your will. You are safe here—whether you want to marry me or not. But if you wish to get away—if being around me makes you uncomfortable—Elinor has already said she would give you a safe place to stay for as long as you need. Just say the word.”
The gudgeon really doesn’t know who you are, Benna. The bloody fool has actually offered marriage to a stable master. It is beyond price.
Benna ignored Geoff’s howling laughter.
Instead, she met Jago’s fierce, yet worried gaze. “You really don’t know who I am.”
“You’re Benna Piddock—or, Hazleton, rather.”
She stared into his eyes harder than she’d ever stared at anything in her life, looking for the truth.
The skin at the outer edges of his eyes crinkled.
“Why are you smiling?” she demanded.
“Because I suddenly understand the true meaning of the word scrutinize. Just what are you looking for, Benna? What do you think I am hiding?”
Benna just shook her head; he really didn’t know.
He wasn’t using her or manipulating her or lying to her to get her money.
He didn’t know.
Which meant …
Which means the pathetic pillock really loves you. Congratulations, you two bloody deserve each other.
Benna flung herself at Jago so hard that he staggered back.
He gave a startled laugh, but his arms closed around her. “Steady, my love,” he soothed, holding her tightly.
Benna hugged him until it felt like her arms might pull out of the sockets.
A shudder wracked her body and she squeezed her eyes shut, but still the tears—years’ worth of them—came flooding out.
His hands, gentle and loving, stroked her back in soothing circles. “Shhh, sweetheart. It’s all right. Whatever it is—it will be all right. I promise you. Please don’t cry, darling.”
He sounded so piteous that a watery laugh gurgled out of her.
For the first time since that night in the spinney there was somebody