Page 23 of His Unexpected Duchess (Hearts of Whitmores #2)

CHAPTER 23

J oanna gasped when Nicholas’s lips found her earlobe. She blinked into the darkness, shivering as a tingle ran down her spine, and knew she couldn’t keep doing this.

It was all she wanted. This kiss, this man… she wished it would never end.

I would rather pretend that nothing else exists. The world is composed of only Nicholas and myself. We are galaxies set adrift and destined to find one another. Nothing more, nothing less.

“I can’t breathe,” she gasped.

“My lungs long since gave out,” Nicholas murmured.

Joanna reluctantly took the chance to turn her head away. Her nose brushed against his sharp jawline. She rested her forehead there, her chest heaving, until he loosened his grip. He held her so tightly and yet so tenderly as if she was something precious.

But now she was free to step back. Looking up at him, she sucked in a deep breath.

Her heart wouldn’t stop racing after what had just happened. All of her fears about a proper kiss with Nicholas had long since evaporated. He had led her, guided her, and taught her what to do. The way he had caressed her lips…

She felt her cheeks redden again. And where was her composure?

“I need…”

“What is it?” he asked gently.

Joanna didn’t understand how he could be so perfect about this, so tender and sweet. She expected to feel embarrassed or to want some sort of apology, excusing her inexperience. Instead, she only felt adored. She hadn’t felt love like this in a very long time. Was it even really love?

Her breathing quickened again. She swallowed, the sound louder than she cared for, and attempted to compose herself.

I would love nothing more than to enjoy this. And yet I cannot. Not like this. Not after what I heard from my stepmother.

“Nicholas?”

“I didn’t mean for that to happen,” she said suddenly. “Forget about what… We just need to… I didn’t want anyone to see us snooping around.”

He blinked slowly, almost as if he was sleepy. A tender smile crossed his face as he studied her. “Is that all?”

Swallowing again, Joanna nodded. “It is. I swear. I… I need to tell you something.”

When she drew back her hands, Nicholas released her. He crossed his arms over his chest and smirked. “Go on, then. Tell me something, Joanna.”

He wasn’t paying attention. His eyes were fixed on her lips, and he was beginning to look rather smug.

The kiss. He was just thinking about the kiss, Joanna told herself. And why wouldn’t he? Surely all rakes liked kissing. Perhaps he hadn’t kissed anyone in a while. But clearly, he had a lot of experience, since it had gone so well.

She swallowed hard. It had been a very good kiss, and yet she couldn’t mull over it, not now. She needed to concentrate. She needed him to do the same.

Telling herself she would think about the kiss later, Joanna braced herself to share what she had just heard her stepmother tell that strange man.

She had followed them down the hall and then hid behind a corner, her neck craned and her knees bent awkwardly as she listened. It had been far from comfortable, and yet she stayed put.

She hadn’t heard everything they said. Truthfully, she wished she hadn’t heard anything at all, and yet it was too late to ignore what they had said.

“Next week, then. And what are you doing here?”

The man had spoken much more quietly than Beatrice, who didn’t know how to be that quiet. Although she claimed that a lady must keep her voice low, she never seemed worried about her own.

“How absurd! A lord can never be taken in his own house. Under his own roof. I thought someone else would be more competent…”

There was more that Joanna didn’t catch. She had only caught bits and pieces.

“It must be an accident.”

“No investigation.”

“The inheritance will only…”

The conversation had made her blood run cold. Joanna had heard enough by that point. She wasn’t dumb like Beatrice liked to pretend. The puzzle pieces created a horrible picture that she couldn’t ignore. What an evil woman her stepmother was!

And now I have to do something about it. I cannot let anyone hurt my father. We may not be close, but he is family. I wouldn’t want him to be harmed.

She poured everything she had learned to Nicholas, who listened attentively. Her voice shook. Out of anger or fear, she hardly knew, but she appreciated it when Nicholas grew serious and held her hand through the worst of her story.

“Joanna,” he started.

She shook her head. “This is why we’re here.”

“Are we hiding from them? Were you caught?” His grip on her hand tightened as he straightened and turned toward the door.

Tugging him back, she gave a quick shake of her head. “No. No, they didn’t see me. But the man confirmed they had papers about the inheritance in here. Their devious scheme was written down, Nicholas. The two of them intend to come here tonight to finalize their plan. It’s all I know.”

Nicholas furrowed his brow. The flickering candlelight made him appear more devious, more dangerous than she thought possible.

But not dangerous to me. To everyone else, perhaps.

He squeezed her hand. “You were very brave, my dear.”

She blushed. She shouldn’t have, but it happened all the same. She couldn’t control it.

Swallowing, she shrugged off the compliment. “I only want to protect my family.”

“And we will,” he promised her.

We, he said. Because they were together.

Lowering her gaze to where he held her hand in both of his, Joanna felt the tremors leave her body.

“You’ll help me?” she asked, needing him to say it. Needing him to help her believe it.

Seeing his eyes and the determined set of his jaw, she couldn’t bear the thought of being alone any longer. She had felt so lonely for so long.

“Of course, I will help you.”

He tugged her forward so their bodies met. She stiffened, feeling his lips gently brush her brow before he nudged her backward. His stern demeanor hadn’t changed.

“Now, let us find those papers.”

He brought the candle closer after closing the door this time.

Hardly saying a word, the two of them moved carefully and confidently around the room. Their kiss had been beautiful. And they seemed to be destined to work together, taking turns, moving each other’s papers, and shifting drawers.

It would have been so wonderful if only they could find those incriminating papers.

Joanna groaned in frustration. “I don’t even know what I’m looking for here.” She scowled.

Watching as she leaned back against the nearby chair, Nicholas sighed. He hesitated before scanning the desk once again. “I’m sorry, Joanna. Perhaps you heard wrong?”

“I didn’t,” she told him sharply.

Where could they be? I don’t understand how these documents could be so elusive. They should be here. They have to be! I need to know. I need proof. I have to protect my father. And what about Madeline? To lose a second father and be trapped with her mother… I cannot let this happen.

“Joanna.” Nicholas rested his hands on her shoulders, the comforting weight grounding her. His eyes dropped to her hands between them, and she realized they were shaking. Clasping them together, she tried to meet his gaze. “We have been here for too long, and we’ve already searched the room twice. There’s nothing here.”

“No, I need to keep looking,” she insisted.

Nicholas shook his head. “I’m sorry, Joanna.”

A strangled whine escaped her. She couldn’t hide the desperation in her voice. “No, please. Nicholas, we have to keep looking. We have to––”

“It’s time.” His voice was gentle, and his gaze was steady.

Joanna hated failing, worrying, feeling useless after trying so hard. She wanted to ignore him. And yet she knew he was right.

“We must take our leave. We’ll collect Eleanor and go back home. But I promise that I shall take care of this.”

More than anything, she wanted to believe him. She wanted all of this to go away, for it to only be a bad dream. Why couldn’t she still be dancing in the ballroom with him?

Except I am here in the near darkness, skulking about my old home in search of clues that don’t even exist. I don’t know what to do. I cannot imagine going back there now. Thank goodness we won’t.

It only solved one small part of the problem, she feared. A larger piece still loomed over her head and buzzed in her ears and sent creepy feelings up and down her spine.

Everything felt like it was falling apart. What would they do next? What could Nicholas do? She doubted a magistrate would believe any of this. Few men believed that women were capable of doing anything beyond fainting, dancing, and childbearing. Murder was out of the realm of possibilities.

How can it even be a possibility here? I don’t understand.

“Joanna,” came Nicholas’s warm whisper, pulling her back to the present.

She started when his thumb brushed her cheek. Following the movement of his hand, she saw him lick his finger. She blinked, wondering if she was crying.

Exhaling slowly, she blinked back tears. “What of my father?”

He pulled her into his arms and rested his forehead against hers. She saw nothing but him. And when he spoke, she heard nothing but him.

“Your father will not be harmed. I promise you that.”

A shudder went through her, and he held her even tighter until it went away, as if her fear had drained out of her toes.

Melting into him, Joanna couldn’t speak. She needed him more than she realized, more than she understood. She wondered if he understood this. Even if he didn’t, she realized, he knew something. And he was going to be there for her.

Nicholas then tucked her head into his chest and wrapped his arms tighter around her. His warmth seeped into her as his hands rubbed up and down her spine slowly and sweetly.

He had held her like this earlier, when they were caught up in the heat of the moment. But this time was different.

Earlier, she had felt shivers of delight. Now, she felt comfort. And yet it was the same because, in both instances, she had felt safe in his arms.

Joanna couldn’t help but pray right then that this embrace wouldn’t be their last. As she relaxed further in his arms, she knew she could believe in him.

There was no telling what would happen tomorrow. Only that they would be together and that she could trust what he said.