Page 67 of Married to the Duke By Midnight

“Wait,” Thornston said and grabbed hold of Robert’s sleeve.

Robert turned and sent his friend an annoyed look.

“You cannot barge in there. It will cause a spectacle.” Thornston’s brows were drawn together in concern.

Robert looked between his friend and his family who were visible in the window. He could see Jo in profile and his mother’s face, while both of his sisters were sitting with their backs to the window. One of them was saying something amusing, probably Maggie, since both his mother and Jo had expectant, intrigued expressions on their faces. Jo’s spoon of ice cream was paused on the way to her mouth. Her focused fascination was so adorable that something in Robert’s chest felt tighter.

He rubbed the spot absentmindedly as he looked at the hotel café that was full of people. A few of them had already spotted him and Thornston on the sidewalk and were turning to discreetly look at them.

Thornston was right that it would cause a scene if Robert came barging in now. And he knew how Jo hated that people talked about her. She was still slightly embarrassed to stay in bed all day, knowing that their servants were aware of why she was there. Robert was always able to coax her into staying a little while longer though.

He could wait an hour or so and then tell Jo about the problem. But he longed to be alone with her. And in an hour, this could be in the hands of a solicitor and Robert could take her home instead. His blood heated at the thought. Heavens, it had been mere hours since he had had his fingers buried inside her and yet he craved it desperately again. Jo would be able to see the sense in him taking care of this matter in order for them to head straight to bed after departing from his family.

“Do you know where to find a solicitor?” Robert asked as he turned from the hotel and shoved the papers into his pocket, not caring if they crumbled.

“I do, in fact, and a good one,” Thornston said, his expression still pinched and serious over the situation.

Robert sent him a questioning look.

“Don’t ask,” Thornston told him with a smirk, his effortless charm seeping through his concern for a beat.

30

Jo threw her bonnet on a high-backed chair as they entered the small study in the vacation house before throwing her arms around Robert’s neck and drawing him down for a kiss. She had been without his lips, without being pressed against his body for exactly six hours now and she could not stand it any longer.

She had felt her core clench when she had seen him walk toward her outside of the hotel. She had been enjoying the view of the sea and talking to his mother and sisters on the shaded terrace and had prayed they would not know how much the sight of Robert affected her. Jo had cursed herself for suggesting that they walk into town, since it had delayed when she could press herself against him.

“Jo,” Robert said against her lips and sounded more serious than she had heard him in days. Weeks even.

Jo stepped back, confused by his tone and the fact that he was not kissing her back. She had thought he would be as excited to be alone with her as she was. She was certain she had seen the smoldering look in his eyes when they were standing in front of the Royal Pavilion.

“What?” she asked.

Insecurity that she might have done something wrong flared, only for her to squash it down firmly. He was not displeased with her. He would tell her if he was. She knew that about him now.

“Why don’t we sit?” Robert said in a tired voice and ran a hand down his face.

“What has happened, Robert?” Jo asked, letting herself be nudged toward a high-backed chair, but not sitting down. Her mind was already reeling with the possibilities of what could have happened in the short time span they had been apart. Could he have received a missive from Beatrice? Had something happened to her friend or one of the children?

“Jo,” Robert sighed and tugged her elbow to make her sit down.

Jo complied as her mind kept spinning with what could have happened and to whom. She had been with his mother and sisters. He had been with Thornston. Perhaps Xavier had fallen ill or been injured. She knew how much he meant to Robert and her heart was already in her throat at Robert having to go through sorrow and hardship over his stepbrother. Could he have died?

“I ran into Mr. Hawkins,” Robert told her, as he picked up her bonnet from the other chair and sat down.

The statement made her mind come to a halt. Had it been a horse, it would have been rearing, legs flailing through the air.

“Oh,” Jo said, searching his face, then the rest of the room as if she could find an answer. “I didn’t know he was in Brighton,” she mumbled, feeling like the world closed in on her slightly.

She did not like the fact that Ambrose was there. She would go to great lengths to avoid running into him in the city. Perhaps it would be possible to learn where he was staying and especially when he left. Maybe they could leave earlier. They were going to Riddlesmarsh Hall after their honeymoon. It was almost over and…

“He claimed he had a right to the money you had made while investing your inheritance from the time your uncle died until you married me,” Robert continued without meeting her eyes.

Jo scoffed at the absurd idea.

“No, he doesn’t. I know the terms of my father’s will state that he would have been the one to manage it, but that doesn’t make him entitled to the money I made. I was not even investing it during the six months following my uncle’s death. I made the investments right after I reached my majority – with the blessing of my uncle, of course.”

“I know,” Robert told her and reached for her hand. “It was what I told the solicitor I spoke to as well. Even if your cousin was by default the one who should have been managing the money, it would never give him claim to any interests or gains made from investing your inheritance.”