Page 26 of A Modest Independence

It had changed everything.

At least, he’d thought it had. But now, his cheek still burning from where her soft pink lips had pressed against his skin, he felt as if his world had been knocked off its axis once more.

Jenny Holloway felt a pang of longing…for him?

He stared down at her, a little dazed. She looked beautiful. Almost wild, with flashing blue-green eyes and stray locks of waving auburn hair escaping from beneath her bonnet to whip in the wind.

“What did you say?” she asked.

“I’m coming with you. The railway sent my luggage ahead. I expect it’s already loaded on the ship.”

“You’re joking.” She gave a nervous laugh. “You can’t come with me. You…you don’t even have the right papers. You wouldn’t have had time—”

“I know a gentleman in Fleet Street. He arranged for my travel documents to be expedited from the Foreign Office.” Tom shrugged. “He owed me a favor.”

The look of amused disbelief froze on Jenny’s face. “Even if that were true, you know very well that it wouldn’t be proper for us to travel together. If anyone ever found out, I’d be ruined.”

“It’s not improper for a lady to travel with a member of her own family.”

“Oh? And who am I to claim you as? My husband? You presume a great deal, sir.”

“I would never presume such intimacy. As far as Keane knows, you’re my sister. It’s an easy enough fiction to maintain.”

Jenny’s lips parted in astonishment. “Good lord. You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but yes.”

Some of the sparkle left her eyes. The air of anticipation that had clung about her since they departed London dimmed, and then, much to his alarm, disappeared altogether.

Tom’s chest tightened. He was painfully reminded of an injured dove he and Neville had found outside the orphanage when they were boys. They’d put it in a cage. It had been an act of mercy, done to save its life. Even so, Tom had never forgotten the way the dove had behaved as they’d closed the door of its prison. The wildness had gone from its eye. It had become small and still, giving up all hope.

“I suppose,” Jenny said, “that you expect me to change my mind. To say I won’t go at all.”

“I’m not bluffing.”

“Good, because I intend to board that ship and go to Marseilles and Alexandria and Delhi just as I planned. And if you think you’re going to stop me—”

“Pray keep your voice down. I’m not going to stop you. I’m only coming along to make sure you’re safe. To look after you.”

“Why? Surely Helena and Mr. Thornhill never expected you to—”

“I’m not doing it for them. I’m doing it for you.” And for myself, he added silently.

Because she was beautiful and full of fire. Because he enjoyed talking with her. Confiding in her. Feeling the touch of her hands and the press of her lips. Because, quite simply, he couldn’t let her go. Couldn’t let her board that ship and disappear from his life forever.

“This is madness!” she cried.

“It’s no madder than your desire to find the missing Earl of Castleton. Which, by the way, you’re not likely to accomplish without a little help.”

“From you?” she scoffed. “What can you achieve that I can’t on my own?”

“I’m a man. What can’t I achieve?” His tone was bored. Casual. And particularly designed to get a rise out of her.

It worked better than he’d anticipated.

Jenny’s gloved hands clenched into fists at her sides. The sparkle returned to her eyes. Indeed, she fairly glittered with fury. “Oh, the nerve of you. The unmitigated nerve.”

Tom suppressed a surge of relief. He’d disappointed her—hurt her, even—but the damage wasn’t permanent. She was as fierce and determined as ever. Once she recognized that he didn’t mean to stand in her way, she’d regain some of her excitement over the impending journey. It would just take a little time.