Once more under control of himself, he packed her brush, comb, and mirror, then picked up a crystal bottle and sniffed. The fragrance she wore tickled his nose. He turned the bottle, looking for a label or even perhaps an engraved name, but there was none. “Do you want to pack this?”
Sheridan folded a sheer, thin nightgown as she looked at him and the bottle in his hand. “Yes, of course. It’s my one indulgence. Madame Declan formulated the scent especially for me. She has a little shop in the French Quarter, but she came to the school once to give a lecture to the girls. She never told me what was in it.” She shrugged. “A mix of flowers, I assume. Maybe a little civet musk? I don’t know, but I never go anywhere without it.”
He carefully placed the bottle in the bottom of the soft-sided valise amongst her other personal possessions.
He stood back and watched them pack the rest of the clothes then snap the suitcase closed. “Do you have everything you need?”
“I think so.”
Barrie met them at the bottom of the stairs. Her gaze went from him to Sheridan, then to the luggage in both theirhands, then finally back to Sheridan, where it remained. “What’s happening? Are you leaving?”
“Just for a little bit. My grandmother is coming to take me back home.”
Barrie tilted her head to the side as her gaze continued to focus on Sheridan. “And you don’t want to go.”
Sheridan shook her head. “I’ll be staying with Mr. MacLean. We’re pretending to be married. We’re hoping that will change Odette’s and Aunt Estelle’s mind about me staying here. I’m hoping they’ll leave once they see that I’m happy.”
She smiled, too, almost as big as Mrs. Gallagher. “Good luck,” she said then chuckled as her gaze swept over him. She must have thought the idea was a good one, because she moved out of the way and continued up the stairs, her laughter trailing behind her.
“What was that all about?”
Again, Sheridan shook her head. “I don’t know. She had a funny look on her face.” She turned to face him. “Do you think this is a bad idea, Wyatt? Do you think we’ll be able to fool my grandmother? And Aunt Estelle?”
He heard the self-doubt creeping into her voice, and he didn’t like it. He dropped one of the valises then reached out and cupped her cheek. Sheridan stiffened, just a bit, then relaxed, as she gazed into his eyes. He took the opportunity afforded to him, leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. He smiled at the sigh that escaped her, then broke the kiss. “Of course, we will. Trust me.”
“I do.” She looked at him with all the trust in the world, and his heart, which had been beating so normally just a moment ago, seemed to stop, then resume with a hard thud. He could have kissed her again. Should have kissed her again. He didn’t. He simply walked to the door and opened it.
The ride to the ranch didn’t take long, but he kept stealing glances at her, watching her face, noticing that her hands were clasped tightly in her lap, her entire body stiff and unyielding. He knew she was having doubts that they could fool Odette and Aunt Estelle, and he wished he could reassure her, but realized that she was too shaken and probably wouldn’t hear his words even if he said them aloud.
He drew the buckboard to a stop next to his mother’s buggy, his gaze still on her. “Are you all right?”
“If you want to know the truth, I’m not sure.” She glanced at the buggy then at him. “Will you tell Delilah and Royce what we’re doing?”
“I think it would be best. You never know what my mother will say.” He laughed then sobered. “It’ll be all right, Sherry. We—all of us—will convince Odette and Aunt Estelle that we are exceedingly happy. We’ll put on such a good show they couldn’t possibly force you to go back to New Orleans.” He reached for her hand and squeezed lightly. “And if we need to, we can ask others to help. Lucy, I’m sure, would be thrilled. So would any number of other people.” He let go of her hand then reached up and smoothed his thumb against her cheek. She had the softest skin. Even though his hands were calloused, he could still feel it. “It’ll be all right. I promise.”
He didn’t know if she believed him or not, but she smiled. “I’m going to hold you to that promise.”
CHAPTER 12
Sheridan allowed him to help her from the buckboard, then grabbed one of her portmanteaus from the back of the wagon, while Wyatt took the other two bags. She followed him up to the porch and just stood there.
He tucked one of the cloth bags under his arm, turned the doorknob and opened the door, allowing her to enter first.
“Hello!” He called out.
In moments, Duke bounded into the parlor, his nails clacking on the hardwood floor. Enthusiastic in his greeting, his tail wagged so fast, his entire back end wiggled. He didn’t jump, but he did emit some happy whining noises as he butted his nose against her hand.
“Hello, Duke.” She complied with his demand that she pet him and tried to rub the soft fur on his head, which was a little difficult as he wouldn’t be still.
“Oh, hello, Sheridan. So nice to see you again.”
She looked up as Delilah, followed by Royce, entered the parlor. “Hello, Mrs. Cabot. Mr. Cabot.”
Delilah scoffed as she wiped her hands on her apron. “I thought we were on a first name basis.” She smiled just before she noticed the luggage and her gaze immediately flew to herson. Curiosity settled on her face before she cleared her throat and asked, “Is there something you want to tell us, Wyatt?”
He put the bags down, redness creeping up his face. “Actually, Mama, there’s a lot we have to tell you and Royce, but it’s not what you think.”
Disappointment took her smile, and Sheridan jumped to the conclusion that Delilah thought they’d actually married. That thought convinced her that maybe they could pull this off and Odette and Aunt Estelle would go back to New Orleans happy—at least as happy as they could be—without her and none the wiser.
