Bethany turned to her side so that she was facing him. Not many people acknowledged their own mistakes like this. “Take time to think it over. So much has happened in the past few days. There’s no reason to hurry.”
“I will. I just wanted you to know.” He touched the side of her face. “It’s a good idea. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it myself.”
It was possibly one of the nicest things in the world—to have one’s ideas appreciated. The words ‘I love you’ hovered on her lips but she bit them back. All of this was new. She didn’t want to ruin it.
Chapter 30
Ups and Downs
In all the years Chase had known Bethany, how was it that he’d never noticed that the delicate arch of her back was perfect or that the pale skin of her neck and shoulders was… swanlike.
How had he never noticed what a spectacularly beautiful woman she was?
She was sitting at her vanity with her back to him as Polly made last-minute adjustments to her hair when she caught his gaze in the reflection. He swallowed hard.
Because in that moment, he was not alone. This unexpected connection went beyond anything legal, or physical even. It was almost as though she was the other half of his soul.
He shook his head, dismissing the thought. Damned Blackheart had put fantastically unrealistic ideas into his head.
He enjoyed her company. He cared for her. He couldn’t imagine ever tiring of making love to her. But to contemplate emotions beyond any of these…
Her smile faltered and then brightened just as quickly.
“Should I await you in my study?”
“Oh, no. One moment. I just need my shoes.” Which, of course, had him remembering her ankles, her knees, and the butterfly-like skin of her creamy thighs.
He clasped his hands at his back and strolled across the room to glower out the window. How had one woman managed to insert herself so completely into his life? Staring at the familiar scene, he tugged at his cravat and then fussed with the cuffs of his sleeves.
“I’m ready.” So sweet, even her voice affected him.
He spun around and although he’d prepared himself this time, he experienced a squeezing in his heart.
He ignored it.
With a simple nod, he indicated his approval and then led her through the corridor. He would bluff his way past these inconvenient feelings—whatever they were. Charm had never failed him in the past.
And yet, she’d stiffened beside him and was tapping her fingers against the cuff of his jacket.
He had about as much success hiding things from her as she did from him.
“I worry about Tabetha setting her sights too high. Of course, I’m probably anxious over nothing, but she can be so very obstinate. It’s just that her determination to marry a high-ranking member of thetonhas everything to do with our father. He used to tease her…” She faltered. “He always told her nothing less than an earl would be good enough for his little beauty. But I don’t want her to marry simply because of a man’s title. She deserves to be loved.” Her voice caught on the last word, almost as though she’d tried to take it back.
Bethany deserved to be loved as well. But was he the one to do that? He was her husband, for God’s sake. If not him, then who?
He opened the door to the carriage and assisted her inside before climbing in behind her.
In an attempt to steer his thoughts in a more rational direction, he chose to sit across from, rather than beside her. Sitting beside her would mean touching her. Touching her would mean wanting her.
Facing him, her smile faltered again, but of course, brightened again as well. He was an arse. He knew this. But how was he to clear his thoughts?
She lowered her lashes and bit her lip. “Tabetha told me I was asking too much of you not to accept a challenge. She says it’s not something a gentleman can do. And I know I am asking too much. But… I can’t stop worrying about it. Jules… Westerley is my brother. And you are my husband. What if he doesn’t delope? What if you don’t?”
Chase watched her gloved hands as they tapped her words out almost frantically now. He wanted to take her in his arms and tell her what she needed to hear. What the hell was holding him back?
“You’re worrying over something that hasn’t even happened.” It was the best he could do to reassure her. “We have a few days yet before he returns. I’ll explain everything to him. If I can’t make him see that we’ve moved beyond harm or fallout, surely your mother can.”
“I know.” She clasped her hands together, as though forcing them to still. “You’re right, of course.”
