This did not make her happy.
In fact, it gave her a great deal of distress.
So, when the coach rolled up to his ducal home next to her own, she was quite tempted to get out and head into her childhood house. After all, it was where she had spent every night of the season her whole life.
But before she could grab the latch and make her escape, James seized her gloved hand.
That touch… The strong feel of his fingers about hers, sliding over her skin… How she adored it. And yet she couldn’t bring herself to feel joy.
“Jack,” he breathed, “we have been married but a moment and I find that I already must beg your forgiveness.”
“Please don’t,” she begged, curling her fingers in his grasp. “I find that might be too exhausting and I’m quite tired as it is. This has all been a bit overwhelming.”
“It’s overwhelming for me, too,” he admitted, unrelenting as he took his other hand and raised it to her chin, turning her face upward in the moonlight.
“Is it?” she queried, nearly gasping at the fervent emotion shining in his eyes. “You’re the one who arranged it.”
He nodded slowly, his gaze sliding over her face to rest upon her mouth.
“Would you have married me if it wasn’t for Alexander?” she blurted.
“Yes,” he stated unequivocally.
“What?” she said.
“Does that surprise you? That I’d save you from ruin?”
“You made it clear you might not,” she reminded him.
“What a fool I was,” he whispered.
“I thought, perhaps, my brother threatened you with a pistol.”
He laughed softly. “He did.”
“James…” she began, her heart sinking.
“He challenged me, it’s true. He loves you, Jack. He knowshow.”
Her breath hitched. “You do not know how?”
“Of course not. How can you know how if you’ve never known it? Love.”
“Do you wish to?” she found herself asking, hoping beyond hope.
“It is too late for me. You must learn that sort of thing as a child, Jack. But what we have, it can beenough. It will be enough.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I do not believe you for a moment.”
“I will make you believe,” he murmured, tracing his thumb along her jawline, tilting her head back.
She eyed herhusband. “How?”
She didn’t dare tell him that she had fancied herself in love with him as a child. Such a thing would no doubt throw him into a fit. He did seem most passionate about this particular point.
“I can’t tell you,” he murmured softly.
“What—”