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A fact that even Lucien had pointed out while he’d been around for his visit. One, in Phillip’s estimation, that had been far too short. He understood though, the man wanted to be with his wife and kids.
They’d spent many of their nights sitting up late in the study, talking about family. Every time they’d discussed how much Lucien enjoyed being a husband and father, all Phillip could do was envision himself in that same situation. With Fyre.
He tipped his head up to get more of the breeze that blew around him, allowing it to dry the sweat plastered to his body. Not that he was ever dry here with so much moisture in the air. But the breeze helped.
Fyre had been religious in coming by on the days she’d agreed to, but he was starting to notice something different in her demeanor. And he wasn’t happy with it. She was more reserved and withdrawn.
He quirked his lips as he walked from the field to where his horse stood tied to a branch in the shade. He needed to see her. Technically they didn’t have another meeting for a few days.
I miss her.
Plus, he didn’t and wouldn’t put it past that ass Caulfield to be making himself known to her. Sure, she still worked on his books a few times a week, but he didn’t trust the man to stay away from her the days she wasn’t going to see him.
Untying his mount, he swung easily into the saddle and, with a touch of his heels, set him on the way back to the stable. As they trotted along, the breeze picked up.
I wonder if she would like to go on a picnic with me?
His lips twitched as he imagined a private stretch of beach with a blanket, food and, of course, his Fyre.
So many things he would love to do with her and to her. Shaking his head, he locked his emotions down the moment he rode up the road to the stable. He passed over the reins with a nod and walked inside.
Keating met him as he got to the top of the steps.
“My lord.”
“Keating. Have a bath drawn for me.”
“Already waiting in your room, my lord.”
He almost smiled. “I am starting to think you actually like me, Keating.”
The man stared before giving a small bow and walking away.
Phillip didn’t dally in getting cleaned up, for he was hungry. Not that much later, he was accepting a tray of food in his study as he pulled out the books. It had become a nightly habit for him to look them over and make sure he’d not missed anything. Truth be told, he didn’t need Fyre to do them anymore. He’d mastered her system and used it with confidence.
But I want her within my reach.
He liked her. Actually liked a woman and hell, she was a woman he’d not even kissed yet. It hadn’t stopped the dreams of her that he experienced on a nightly basis, but short of the occasional brush of clothing, he’d somehow managed to keep his hands to himself.
James reported to him faithfully about who went to see her when she was in town. The one thing he had learned was the increase in times that Albie Caulfield made his way to visit her while she was at her other jobs, working.
“I do not understand how this woman can work so much and still appear so soft and put-together.”
He’d seen her a few times in town, because yes, he wasn’t about to not see her on the days she wasn’t coming to his house. But he was trying to keep it to a minimum, if that’s what it took to protect her. Honestly, Phillip didn’t think that was going to make a bit of difference. Still, he was attempting to be honorable about his actions.
Hard to do when he truly wanted to just walk up to her in the middle of town, yank her hair out of that tight bun she tended to wear it in, let her bonnet flutter away in the street, wrap her hair in his hand and plunder her mouth.
Claim her.
Make it clear that she was his woman. And that everyone else, Albie Caulfield included, should stay the fuck away from her.
He clenched his hand around his fork and had to take several deep breaths before he brought himself back under control. Cutting his gaze to his left, he found a footman standing there, staring off into space.
His house was empty.
He had no one to talk to over a meal. A realization he was no longer okay with. It had been wonderful having Lucien there before, but he wasn’t really the person he wanted in the room with him, sharing a meal.
Keating stepped into the room and walked up to him. Fork down, he waited for the man to speak.
