In an agony of desire, she reached up, cupping her breasts, imagining his hands there. The nipples were hard beneath the thin fabric of her gown and her breasts felt full with need. Her fingers brushed over the nipples lightly, causing another paroxysm of desire to flood through her again as she imagined him doing it.
Evelina gasped aloud. This trulywasagony. A most delirious torture. And she didn’t know how to control it. How was she going to navigate these uncharted waters and keep from going under entirely?
Chapter 13
Jude picked up the bucket full of water, walking towards the carriage. Quickly, he glanced up at the top storey of the manor house, hoping against hope to catch a glimpse of her. The Lady Evelina. But there was nothing. His heart dropped slightly, even though he knew he was foolish to do even such a small thing in seeking her out.
It had been a full day and night since the kiss, and he still couldn’t forget about it.
He sloshed the water over the carriage, picking up a rag and spreading it, cleaning furiously. He hadn’t caught a glimpse of her since that night. She hadn’t gone for any walks around the property, nor had she ordered the carriage to go into Charingworth. It was as if the house had swallowed her up entirely, as if she had disappeared within its walls.
He frowned as he kept working. He had seen the duke and her brother, Lord Percival, quite a few times. They had been constantly in each other’s company. It was the first time he had seen either man, and there was a strong family resemblance between father and son. In fact, Lord Percival looked like a younger version of the duke. Neither of them looked like the Lady Evelina. She must indeed take after her late mother, which was what everyone said.
Jude’s frown deepened. Upon introduction, the duke had smiled kindly to him upon introduction, asking him if he liked Bosworth Manor, but Lord Percival had gazed straight through him, not even nodding at him.
It was as if he didn’t exist at all and made of pure air. Jude hadn’t liked the man much. He recalled Lenny said that Lord Percival wasn’t popular here and that Lady Evelina didn’t seem to like her brother much at all, either.
He sighed heavily. Now he was thinking about that night again. He gritted his teeth. He must stop obsessing over her. He hadn’t even seen her since that night, and he must learn to manage this every single day. He couldn’t possibly avoid her entirely, even if he must try to never be alone with her again.
And it would be impossible to do his job properly if he stayed in this state of fever about her. His great new start at Bosworth Manor might be over before it had barely begun.
I must forget her, he thought grimly.I must forget that kiss, just like Lenny said.
He knew it was the truth. But his resolve to simply push the lovely lady and what had happened between them out of his mind was proving very hard. It wasn’t just a simple matter of telling himself to forget her and that was the end of it. If only it were that simple.
“You are working like a man possessed today, Jude.”
He swung around at the sound of the voice behind him. Sally Potter was standing there, watching him with an amused expression on her face. She was holding a mop and bucket.
“Sally,” he said, trying to keep his voice neutral. “How are you?”
Sally shrugged. “The same as always. One day is much the same as the next in service.” She smiled at him. “It is a tedious existence, but I suppose I have a roof over my head, so I can’t complain.”
He grinned. “No, never complain. We must always be grateful for what we have, so they say.”
Sally scoffed. “I want to do much better than this,” she said, her eyes glittering. “If not a home of my own, then I want at least to not be scrubbing floors and wearing myself into an early grave.”
Jude gazed at her steadily. “Where are your folks from, Sally?”
“A hamlet just outside Charingworth,” replied the girl, rolling her eyes. “I almost died of boredom there, as well. There’s nothing to do but count chickens.”
Jude laughed. “It doesn’t sound very exciting.”
“It isn’t,” she said, rolling her eyes. “This place is busier, and there are more people to talk to, but it is still just tedious work, day in and day out.” She paused, fixing him with an intent look. “That is why I like to make the most of my time off, Jude Huxley.”
He nodded, trying not to meet her eye. Sally had that air of restless energy about her once again. And she was fixating upon him. It seemed he couldn’t even have a neutral conversation with her without inadvertently encouraging her.
“Say you will come to the village Christmas dance,” she urged suddenly. “It truly is so much fun! Everyone dances up a storm and there’s lots of food and drink. Everyone brings a plate.” She paused. “It would be a good chance for you to meet people and become a part of the local community, you know.”
Jude sighed. She probably had a point. It would be good to meet people and try to fit in around here. He didn’t want to be an outsider forever, especially if he planned to stay here for a long time, which he had always thought he would.
“You would be doing us a favour, you know,” continued Sally, warming to her theme. “There are always more girls than men at the dances. We never have enough partners!” She gave him a saucy smile. “It is not just me who needs you at the dance, Jude.”
Jude laughed outright. He had resolved not to encourage Sally, but what harm could there be in just going to a dance with her? Especially if she was encouraging him to dance with other girls and didn’t expect him to be exclusively with her for the entire evening.
And it would distract him from thinking about the Lady Evelina, even if it was for just one night.
“When is the dance?” he asked.