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“Where were you, James?” she asked curiously.
He released a rough sigh. “In Hampshire. I have an aunt and two cousins.”
“An aunt and cousins? How marvelous!”
And then he told her everything, from the box to the journey and meeting his family.
"Oh, James you must be so delighted. I am looking forward to meeting your cousins. You will have to hire them the best of tutors and dance masters to help them take their proper places in society."
He grunted. "I'll most certainly need a wife to help with that. As it stands, my coarse manners might be more of a hindrance than a recommendation."
They fell into another deep silence, and he could feel her stare.
“Have you decided on a wife then?”
“Yes.” And James realized he was unworthy of her. For he had been falling in love with her and had failed to make plans to protect her. How shortsighted he had been.
“May…may I ask the lady’s identity?”
Was it his imagination there was a quiver in her voice and that it had hoarsened?
“No,” he said softly, a tender hope stirring in his heart. Verity was affected by him.
She spluttered. “Well, why ever not?”
“When I have done all I need to be worthy of her, I shall shout it to the world. I promise you shall be the first to know.”
She sniffed disdainfully. “If she does not know of your worthiness…she…she is a bacon-brained silly miss!”
Her voice cracked alarmingly.
“Are you crying, Verity?”
A few beats of silence, “Of course not, why would I be?” she then muttered, sounding as if she had been driven to the extreme limits of her patience. “I too have most excellent news. Viscount Stanhope has expressed an interest in courting me.”
James's heart cracked, and the doubts worked deep.
"Is Stanhope a man of your choice or is he your brother's."
And James wondered if she wanted the man if he could respect her wishes and walk away. Denial clenched his gut into painful knots, and he breathed deeply. He never wanted to force her into any situation, not of her own choosing, not when so much had been taken from her. And if this Stanhope matched the kind of man she has always wanted.
Christ! James did not believe he could be honorable, it was more likely he would whisk her away until she consented to be his wife. James leaned forward and touched her trembling lip with a finger. “Answer me, Verity. Is he your choice?”
Her eyes sparked with wild defiance, and she haughtily tossed her head. "I've not made one as yet, and my brother will never be the one to decide whom I marry."
James sat back against the squabs, tumbling her answer over in his mind. Verity did not speak another word for the remainder of the journey. When they arrived at her home, he assisted her from the carriage. He walked her to the wrought iron gate and watched as she made her way up the steps and knocked on the door. It opened, she paused, and his heart jerked.
Turn around, he silently beseeched.
But after that slight hesitation, she swept inside, and the door firmly closed.
An irritable snort slipped from him, then James smiled. His Verity was furious he had selected his countess. And that was more than adequate to let him know their friendship was simply not sufficient for her either.
Chapter 13
Vincent, my carriage will arrive for you by nine pm.
J.
