Page 98 of Second Duke's the Charm
“I know what I said when we made our agreement,” he said tersely. “But I didn’twantto love. Not you. Not anyone. All I could see were the negatives.” Insistence made his voice rough. “You’ve shown me the positives. That there’s passion beyond the physical—passion of the soul. It’s longing for someone when you’re apart. Missing their smile, their presence, their humor. It’s wanting to share more than a bed with them. It’s wanting tostay.”
Tess took another step away from him. She was in no mood to be persuaded, and his nearness made her want to throw herself into his arms, despite everything.
She drew herself up and pulled her cloak around her shoulders. “I want you to move your things out of Wansford House. You can stay at your Curzon Street house tonight. I want to end our agreement.”
“Tess, no.”
“Yes.”
“Even if you’re angry with me, at least let me stay to protect you.”
“Protect me? From what?”
“That broken wheel on the gig wasn’t an accident. I spoke to the cartwright, and he told me someone had tampered with it. The spokes had been sawn through to make them fail.”
She frowned, but he continued.
“And what if those shots fired at us weren’t an innocent mistake by a poacher? What if they’d meant to hit one of us?”
“Considering the size and scope of your business dealings, I’d say you’re far more likely to be the target, not me,” Tess said irritably. “In which case, your proximity is likely to put me inmoredanger than if you left me alone.”
“I can’t do that.”
“You can,” she said sternly. “You should set whoever you asked to investigatemyaffairs to turn his attention to your business rivals instead. It will be a better use of his time and your money.”
Her heart was breaking, but she sent him one last look in the darkness. “Goodbye, Justin.”
And then she walked away. Her head was high, but her eyes were blinded by tears.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Princess Charlotte Augusta, only daughter of the prince regent and his wife, Caroline of Brunswick, beamed at Tess from her seat beside her grandmother in the front office at King & Co.
“I cannot thank you enough for retrieving those foolish letters.” Charlotte shook her head and her pale blond ringlets bounced. “Now that I see them again, I’m mortified by my youthful indiscretion. Two years ago, I was convinced I was in love with Charles, but now I think it was more that I was flattered by the attention. I loved the idea of being in love, the excitement, the thrill of a secret correspondence.”
Daisy sent her a smile. “There’s nothing wrong with that. I think everyone deserves at least one youthful indiscretion. Whatnobodydeserves is having that indiscretion printed in a public gossip rag so they’re mocked and pilloried.”
“Quite so, Lady Dorothea,” the queen said.
“What I feel for Leopold is so very different from what I felt for Charles that I can’t believe I ever mistook it for love,” Charlotte said. The way she spoke was oddlydirect, not at all the soft, modulated tones expected of a princess, but she was charming along with it. “I can’t wait until we’re wed.”
“We all wish you the greatest happiness, Your Highness.” Tess smiled. “Have you chosen a wedding dress yet? I hear silver is all the rage.”
The queen gave a knowing smile. “From what I hear, it’sreddresses that have caused quite a stir in recent weeks. But that’s certainly not a color for a wedding. Perhaps silver would be best.”
Tess nodded, and tried not to look so disheartened by the princess’s obvious aura of happiness whenever she spoke of her betrothed.
Had she looked so glowing and besotted with Justin? Had her infatuation with him been so obvious?
Memories of the last time she’d seen him, bruised and yet unbowed at Vauxhall, crowded her brain but she shoved them away. She couldn’t think about him. It made her throat tight and her nose sting.
The ruby-and-diamond necklace lay on the desk before her, taunting her.
Queen Charlotte nodded at it. “You ladies may keep that necklace as payment. It was never a favorite of mine. And I do not wish to be reminded of this unpleasant business every time I put it on. You shall also receive the hundred pounds we agreed upon, of course, for successfully retrieving the letters.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“I have decided not to pursue any further action against the blackmailer. Since he ended up with neither the letters nor the necklace, I hope he will be sufficiently chastened.”