No Duke Will Do - Eva Devon Page 0,37
of babies?”
Well, she thought to herself, that didn’t sound so terrible, really.
“Ye’re going to become queen of the underworld. Is that it? Nice lady like you, ruling over all the East End?”
“I wouldn’t put it quite like that,” she said.
“How would you put it?” he said. “Explain it to a lowly lad like myself.”
He was baiting her.
“I. . .” She drew in her breath and decided to be honest. “I have very strong feelings for your brother.”
Jamie’s lips pressed into a hard line before he bit out, “Yes, well, feelings don’t really do much, do they, now? Feelings don’t put food on the table. Feelings don’t make for a secure home. Feelings don’t get the rules of society broken. Only action does that.”
“So what is it you’re suggesting?” she asked.
“Oi think you should leave now.” He dropped his arms, leaned forward, and braced his elbows on his knees, warning her, “And Oi think you should leave my brother alone because Oi don’t see how this can end well. Ye’re not some little bit of lace he’s enjoying. If that was the case, Oi’d say no bother. Stay as long as you like, set up house, go ahead and take room with him. Go about the gambling floor, waving a fan and laughing until your heart’s content. But that’s not exactly what this is. Is it?”
She was taken aback. “No,” she agreed. “It’s not.”
“So ye’re going to marry him, then, is that it? Parade him to yer family? Oi don’t know if he can be the man you want him to be.”
It was her turn to lean forward and warn, “You know nothing about me, and you cannot know exactly what I want.”
“True,” Jamie said slowly. “Tell me what Oi should know, then.”
She searched for words then let them flow, “All I can tell you is that your brother has made me feel more alive than any person in this world.”
Jamie nodded. “He’s got a knack for that, he does.”
That astonished her.
Was Heath in the habit of making people feel alive? If so, that made this seem slightly less special, but she refused to believe it. Something had transpired between them that had not happened to anyone else.
She was certain of it.
Just as Jamie was about to continue, the door opened, and Heath stood in the empty frame.
“Mary,” Heath said tightly.
“Heath,” she said, her brain’s ability to articulate vanishing at the sight of him.
“What the devil are you doing, Jamie?”
Jamie grinned. “Just having a lovely conversation with this young lady here.”
She cleared her throat. “He’s ascertaining my intentions with my regards to you.”
“Is he, now?” Heath said, his gaze narrowing.
Jamie gave a shrug. “Oi have to be a good brother, don’t Oi?”
“I suppose I should take that as a compliment,” Heath said, “But it’s none of your affair. So, out.”
Jamie laughed and stood. “I know when I’m not wanted, but you heed my words, Miss Mary.”
“Lady Mary,” she corrected, smiling tightly.
“Lady Mary,” Jamie echoed with a drawl. “You mind what Oi said. Ye be careful now.”
Heath growled, “Out. You’ll not bother her.”
“Oh, he wasn’t bothering me,” Mary rushed. “He was illuminating many things.”
Heath let out a sigh. “Of course he was.”
With a nod, Jamie crossed the room, and just before he headed through the door, he paused, gave his brother one long stare, and whispered something.
Mary had no idea what it was, but Heath’s jaw tightened.
And then Jamie exited.
Heath closed the door. He stood silently for a long time.
“At last,” she said. “I’m so pleased to see you.” She bit the inside of her cheek, taking in his hard stance. “Are you pleased to see me?”
“Pleased is not the word I’d use.”
“What word would you use?” she asked, any ideas of a quick or easy reunion vanishing. She couldn’t blame him.
“Uncertain.”
“That is not the word I was hoping for,” she admitted.
Heath crossed to his desk and began shuffling documents. “Well, we can’t all get what we hope for now. Can we? How are you?” he said, his voice low. “Your family is well?”
“I am very well,” she confessed, her pulse beating rapidly, desperate to end the tension between them. “Except for missing you.”
His hands stopped in their work. “You’ve missed me?”
“Of course I have,” she rushed. “Have you missed me?”
“Don’t ask silly questions,” he stated, not looking up. “You’re not that sort of lady.”
“I suppose I’m not,” she agreed, feeling slightly off foot but determined. “I have longed for you.”
“Longed?” Heath said, his eyes suddenly flicking up to meet hers. But