outraged. “I’m free of the man and it feels like everyone in my life is trying to slip a hood over my face and jesses around my ankles to keep me leashed and away from any potential trouble.”
“Jess.”
“Stop calling me that,” she snapped, smacking her hands against the cushions on either side of her. After taking a calming breath, she placed her hands over her eyes to block out the light around her. She wanted to hood herself and be blind to the outside world for eternity sometimes. “I’m sorry. I find myself overwhelmed at the oddest of times.”
The sofa dipped next to her. Hayden pulled her hands away from her face, and his comforting arms wrapped around her. “I can’t promise your life will get easier, but you never have to pretend with me, Jess.”
“It’s been easier to hide from society. I’m never one to be afraid, but when I imagine facing those who have disliked me for so long I’m filled with fear.”
“You never cared what they thought before, and I don’t think you should start. I won’t let you hide away in this smothering household for much longer.”
She rested her head on his shoulder, enjoying the closeness and comfort of his embrace. They’d been much more intimate around each other ever since …
“It’s been difficult to leave. But you’ll be happy to know that I’m ready to face the ton again.” Why she admitted to something she wasn’t entirely sure about she couldn’t say.
“We don’t have to cause any havoc around Town, but you do need to at least show yourself at a few soirees. The gossips are already speculating about your absence.”
“I know. I’ve been reading the papers. The Mayfair Chronicler has been having a heyday with speculations about me, about you … us.”
His arms fell away, and she wanted them back. She felt safe with them wrapped around her. She didn’t say so, though, because it felt inappropriate, considering the topic at hand.
“You’ve never cared about what they thought before.”
“I’ve barely left the house. Of course I bought into all the hype the Chronicler has built around various tales regarding me.”
“If I knew who they were, I’d hang them out to dry.”
Jessica placed her hand over his forearm. “You and half the ton, I’m sure.”
* * *
Hayden put his fingers under her chin and turned her head to face him. Sitting so close, he could see the obvious signs of fatigue and her attempt to cover the evidence with maquillage.
He searched her eyes, trying to make out her feelings. He stood from the sofa and gave her his hand. Now that he’d stopped in to see her, he didn’t want to leave. The past week away from her had been pure torture.
“My appointment can wait. I think a stroll in the park is in order.”
She assessed him before taking his hand. “Warren sent a calling card. I have to meet with him in less than an hour.”
Hayden’s jaw clenched, his back teeth grinding in irritation. “Why is he even coming here? He has no right to trouble you.”
“He has every right. We both know the Fallon seat is his. And it could be sooner if he found out there is no hope of an heir from me.” She looked away as though embarrassed. “That is easily confirmed by a doctor.”
“And he’ll never be given the opportunity to bring a doctor around,” Hayden snapped unintentionally. Reining in his frustration, he said, “Warren can be kept waiting.”
Jessica’s expression looked defeated. “You’re right, of course. And I appreciate that you’ve come to cheer me up, but I won’t keep you from your appointments.”
“I hate seeing you in this state.” Hayden retrieved his hat and cane and pulled Jessica to her feet before she could protest any further. “Let’s walk in the park and arrive late for your meeting with Warren. I can’t wait to see his face when we stroll in together half an hour late.”
Jessica twisted her fingers together in a nervous fashion. Then abruptly she
“Jess.”
“Stop calling me that,” she snapped, smacking her hands against the cushions on either side of her. After taking a calming breath, she placed her hands over her eyes to block out the light around her. She wanted to hood herself and be blind to the outside world for eternity sometimes. “I’m sorry. I find myself overwhelmed at the oddest of times.”
The sofa dipped next to her. Hayden pulled her hands away from her face, and his comforting arms wrapped around her. “I can’t promise your life will get easier, but you never have to pretend with me, Jess.”
“It’s been easier to hide from society. I’m never one to be afraid, but when I imagine facing those who have disliked me for so long I’m filled with fear.”
“You never cared what they thought before, and I don’t think you should start. I won’t let you hide away in this smothering household for much longer.”
She rested her head on his shoulder, enjoying the closeness and comfort of his embrace. They’d been much more intimate around each other ever since …
“It’s been difficult to leave. But you’ll be happy to know that I’m ready to face the ton again.” Why she admitted to something she wasn’t entirely sure about she couldn’t say.
“We don’t have to cause any havoc around Town, but you do need to at least show yourself at a few soirees. The gossips are already speculating about your absence.”
“I know. I’ve been reading the papers. The Mayfair Chronicler has been having a heyday with speculations about me, about you … us.”
His arms fell away, and she wanted them back. She felt safe with them wrapped around her. She didn’t say so, though, because it felt inappropriate, considering the topic at hand.
“You’ve never cared about what they thought before.”
“I’ve barely left the house. Of course I bought into all the hype the Chronicler has built around various tales regarding me.”
“If I knew who they were, I’d hang them out to dry.”
Jessica placed her hand over his forearm. “You and half the ton, I’m sure.”
* * *
Hayden put his fingers under her chin and turned her head to face him. Sitting so close, he could see the obvious signs of fatigue and her attempt to cover the evidence with maquillage.
He searched her eyes, trying to make out her feelings. He stood from the sofa and gave her his hand. Now that he’d stopped in to see her, he didn’t want to leave. The past week away from her had been pure torture.
“My appointment can wait. I think a stroll in the park is in order.”
She assessed him before taking his hand. “Warren sent a calling card. I have to meet with him in less than an hour.”
Hayden’s jaw clenched, his back teeth grinding in irritation. “Why is he even coming here? He has no right to trouble you.”
“He has every right. We both know the Fallon seat is his. And it could be sooner if he found out there is no hope of an heir from me.” She looked away as though embarrassed. “That is easily confirmed by a doctor.”
“And he’ll never be given the opportunity to bring a doctor around,” Hayden snapped unintentionally. Reining in his frustration, he said, “Warren can be kept waiting.”
Jessica’s expression looked defeated. “You’re right, of course. And I appreciate that you’ve come to cheer me up, but I won’t keep you from your appointments.”
“I hate seeing you in this state.” Hayden retrieved his hat and cane and pulled Jessica to her feet before she could protest any further. “Let’s walk in the park and arrive late for your meeting with Warren. I can’t wait to see his face when we stroll in together half an hour late.”
Jessica twisted her fingers together in a nervous fashion. Then abruptly she
Similar Books
