of the estate. For that reason alone, she decided to dress for comfort and function. She didn’t need to impress anyone.
Especially him.
When she made her way to the breakfast room, several footmen stood ready to attend her. Christa and Harry were finishing their meal, but James wasn’t there. For some surprising reason, she was disappointed that he hadn’t joined them for breakfast. Yet, Harry had filled the role of host, as the duke and duchess had decided to sleep in.
As they all adjourned to the entry to don their coats and start the examination of the estate, James descended down the steps. At the sight of him, Nell’s heartbeat threatened to gallop straight through her chest to reach him. Magnificent was too tame a word. It was like saying the Thames was a tad wet.
He looked the perfect country gentleman, dressed in doeskin breeches, Hessian boots, and a black morning coat. Each piece had been meticulously tailored to a snug fit, leaving every muscle in his legs clearly revealed. While his coat hugged his broad shoulders perfectly.
Out of nowhere, the urge to run her hands across his shoulders grew near impossible to ignore. She wanted to see if they were as deliciously hard as she remembered.
She had to get ahold of herself before he noticed her ogling him as if he were a sweet treat in a pie shop. Briefly, she caught his gaze and a knowing smile tugged at one side of his mouth. The look in his eyes was clearly, It’s no secret that you still want me.
Without further acknowledging him, Nell turned to Tipton, who held her redingote. Before she could don her coat, James had slid by her side.
“Allow me to help, Lady Whitton,” he said while taking the coat from the butler.
Nell refused to meet his gaze as she allowed him to assist her. Heat slowly crawled up her neck to her face, betraying the effect he was having on her. It was mortifying to have been caught admiring his body.
With her back turned to him, he leaned close. So close in fact, that his body heat enveloped her, and his sandalwood fragrance caressed her. Unable to bear it, she drew a deep breath and inhaled his sweet scent. My God, how she’d missed it. How she’d missed him throughout her lonely years.
“I saw you admiring me as I came down the steps,” he whispered. “It pleases me that you noticed.”
She turned around so swiftly that her skirts wrapped around his boots. Their stance was so intimate, others might gather the wrong impression if they were watching them.
“I find you the same,” he said softly. Without a glance her way, he stepped away and addressed Harry. “Shall we visit the north orchard, then the granaries on the northeast side?”
Valentina hurried down the steps so quickly it appeared she was flying. “Wait for me, Papa.”
“Slow down, darling.” Without a second thought, Nell rushed up the steps to meet her. At that moment, Valentina missed a step, her legs tangling together. Headfirst, she started to tumble. Luckily, Nell caught her right before she landed on the hard marble.
Instinctively, Nell hugged her tight to her chest as the little girl caught her balance. It was difficult to know whose heart pounded faster and louder, hers or Valentina’s. The child’s face had turned pale with fright. It would have taken so little for this precious girl to have been injured in her haste. “Are you all right?”
By then, James was by their sides.
As soon as Valentina saw her father, a cry escaped, and she extended her arms for him to take her. Nell reluctantly let her go to her father, who immediately wrapped his daughter in his big, strong arms. James shut his eyes and squeezed her close.
In that stark moment, Nell could only concentrate on the way Valentina’s black curls perfectly matched her father’s.
Though James held Valentina secure in his arms, a roil of emotion pushed at Nell from all sides. Fear, shock, and thankfulness combined into a maelstrom that couldn’t be controlled. Tears threatened as her thoughts tangled with what could have happened if she hadn’t caught Valentina. Her throat narrowed in response. That darling girl could have been severely injured, or worse.
“If you’ll pardon me...” Desperate to escape before she made a fool of herself, Nell fled down the steps. A silent gasp escaped. In her present state of panic, she wasn’t fit to join Christa and Harry, who stood waiting in the vestibule of the