but James crossed the distance between them and stood in front of her. “We must settle this between us.”
Nell lovingly studied his resolute face. His familiar visage would always bring her joy no matter how many years passed. She was convinced of it. However, she’d have to experience her delight from a distance since there could never be anything more between them. Her past actions had guaranteed them that.
James had his back turned so the others couldn’t see or hear them. Nell placed her hand on his cheek. The subtle hint of whiskers and his cool skin made her breath catch. This would be the last time she’d be able to touch him.
“We settled things last night.” Tears threatened. She closed her eyes for a moment. Steady. You can do this. With a deep breath, she took one last look at him. If she said goodbye, he’d not let her leave.
Abruptly, she turned on her heel and hurried toward the door.
“Nell,” he called out. By the sound of his voice, he obviously didn’t have many who outright defied him.
But she kept on walking. If she took another look at his beautiful face, she might never leave his side.
She wouldn’t dare.
She loved him too much to hurt him like that.
Chapter Eleven
For a moment, James didn’t move. He couldn’t believe the audacity of the woman he’d held in his arms last night and had loved with everything he possessed. She’d just turned and left him as if there was nothing else between them.
“Nell,” he called out as he took a step to follow her.
“James,” his aunt said behind him. “Before you go and make a fool of yourself, I suggest you take a moment and consider what you’re going to say.”
He turned on his heel and faced his aunt and uncle.
Harry stood and gave Christa his hand. “Let’s give them a moment of privacy.”
The duchess gave him one of her famous I wasn’t born yesterday looks. “Harry, mind your P’s and Q’s, if you please. We don’t need to find you and your fiancée on the terrace again.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said with sheepish grin.
By then, Christa stood at James’s side. She leaned close so they weren’t overheard. “My sister is the only real family I had growing up. She’d do anything for me.” She glanced in the direction that Nell had taken, and he could see the glow of affection in her eyes. “Even letting me marry the man of my dreams. More than anything in this world, I want her to find someone like that. She deserves happiness.” She smiled at James. “I think that man might be you.” She stole a peek at Harry, then returned her gaze to James. “Her happiness lies with you.”
James put his hand on her arm. “I will do everything in my power to convince her that I’m that man.”
Christa stood on the tips of her toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you.” She took Harry’s arm and strolled away.
“James,” the duke called out. “Her Grace asked for a moment.” That was the closest the duke had ever come to chastising James. No one ignored Her Grace.
He slowly turned to face the two of them. “Your Graces?”
The duchess delivered a smile, one that on the outside looked deceptively sweet and gentle. But James knew that it was one that wouldn’t tolerate failure.
“Dearest James.” She patted the sofa next to her. “Might I give you a piece of advice?”
“Of course,” he said as he moved to sit by her.
“You see, darling boy”—she glanced up with a look of concern on her face—“Nell doesn’t think anyone knows about her family. It’s an utter misconception on her part. Everyone knows why she married Whitton.”
James’s brows knotted together. “I didn’t.”
She patted his hand with one of her own.
“You didn’t because...well, deuce it, man, you were hurting too much to see outside your own pain.” The duke’s low voice rumbled. “The Ellison family has suffered from Lady Ellison’s spending and gambling since the viscount married her. He thought her too beautiful to stay away from when she first entered the marriage mart.”
“Are you saying she was gambling as a young girl?” James asked incredulously.
The duchess shook her head and patted his hand at the same time, a feat most people didn’t have the coordination to perform. “Only when she delivered Nell and Christa did her gambling start. Rumor had it that when an heir wasn’t produced, the couple became estranged.”
The duke lifted an eyebrow. “Seems to me