Noel hadn’t realized he’d spoken aloud. “Nothing. Remembered I’m due for a visit to the tailor.”
His words hid a stunning revelation. Jess never asked him for anything; she didn’t have demands or agendas. If anything, she seemed uninterested in the fact that he was a duke. He wasn’t a means to an end for her, someone with whom she had to curry favor, or use. He simply was, and for her, that was enough.
Sweat beaded along the back of his neck at the thought of confessing his feelings. He was only truly open with the Union. Yet last night, he’d been so raw and vulnerable with her and she hadn’t abused his vulnerability. She’d held it carefully, protectively.
If there was anyone with whom he could trust his inner heart, it was her.
“Where’s Lady Farris and the others?” Jess poured herself a cup of tea, then sat down next to Lady Haighe.
“Apologies,” Lady Farris said as she sailed into the room. The men stood upon her entrance, but she motioned for everyone to take their seats. Her windswept hair was partially up, but several silvered locks had slipped their pins to flow over her shoulders. “There’s a tree that’s absolutely wonderful for climbing.”
“It was the best way to watch the sunrise.” She said this as if it made perfect sense, and to question her logic was the height of folly.
McCameron muttered and took a sip of coffee.
“I told the McGales to expect our party in Honiton by noon,” Jess said. “We should start out now, so we aren’t late.”
“Good point.” Noel threw back the last of his coffee and motioned for a footman. When the servant approached, Noel gave him instructions to have the carriages made ready to leave within a quarter of an hour.
Once the footman had gone, Noel addressed the room. “We’ll be off shortly.”
“Never seen soap made before, so this ought to be a novel experience.” Lady Farris rested her chin on her fist as she looked at McCameron. “Are you joining us, Major?”
“A pity, but no,” McCameron said stonily.
“I shall weep disconsolately for the duration of my journey.” She gave him a bland smile before turning to Jess. “Are you as eager as I am to learn about the manufacture of soap, Lady Whitfield?”
“My early years were spent in the country,” Jess replied, “so I know a small amount about how soap’s made.” She popped a hulled strawberry into her mouth, and her moan went straight to Noel’s cock. “My God, these strawberries should be fed to anyone on their deathbed. It will be a sweet journey to Eternity.” After sipping at her tea, she continued. “From what I remember, making soap’s an arduous task. And certain parts of the process can be”—she wrinkled her nose—“pungent.”
Then she laughed. He leaned into the musical, husky sound, wishing he might hear it every day for the rest of his life.
He’d had an informal relationship with his past lovers, as they did with him. No expectations, no grasping for anything the other wasn’t willing to give. If a woman he’d bedded wanted to move on to another paramour, he had made no objection. Not once had he ever believed he could want more from a lover beyond a few nights of pleasure.
It was different with Jess. He couldn’t slake his thirst for her—and he didn’t want to. But he could not forget that soon she would go to the Continent for an unknown amount of time. She would go on with her life. Take other lovers.
And he would be here in England, wanting her.
Jess watched as familiar landmarks rolled past the windows of Noel’s beautifully sprung carriage. It had taken the entirety of the morning and into the early afternoon to reach Honiton. She resisted the impulse to point out the river that wended its way beside the road—that selfsame river flowed past her family’s farm.
With each mile closer, her excitement and trepidation grew. She’d never played cricket, but she imagined this was what a batsman felt on the pitch at the close of a match, confident in their ability whilst also understanding that their bat could either secure the win or lose it all.
Never had the stakes been so high—yet with the possibility of failure also came the prospect of victory.
She felt Noel’s gaze on her, hot and intense, as he sat opposite her in the carriage. Everything had changed between them, and yet it could not. She