“It feels perfect,” I admit, kissing her so I can taste us, too.
GRACE
Two Days Later
I’ve spent three days wondering what could be on the other side of the tall grey stone wall that edges the side of Jack’s perfectly mowed lawns. No windows from the house overlook it, and on expectation I’ve discovered you can almost walk all the way around it. I’ve tried on more than one occasion to open the wooden door that leads to the other side, but it’s locked, and judging from the weeds creeping out from the cracks, it hasn’t been used in a while. The ivy that sprawls heavily over the walls is so overgrown, I can’t imagine how unruly it must be on the other side.
I’m bored, I need something to occupy me. Jack has been so distant the past few days; he’s kept himself locked away in his office, and I don’t know if it’s because he’s busy with his Dukely duties or if he’s purposely trying to avoid me.
I’ve had a lot of time to think, and I’ve come to the conclusion that things are strange between us because we have no boundaries in place. Neither of us can establish how to act around each other unless we’re fucking. This morning we barely spoke over breakfast, but when he took me on the table, theway his hands clutched at my body, and his eyes never left mine made me feel so connected to him. I know it shouldn’t bother me; I’m not here for a connection but for the majority of the day, while he locks himself away from me, I miss him.
I’ve spoken to the girls a few times since I left them. Polly’s still mad at me, Selena’s still convinced all of this is some kind of trick, and Sophia is doing what she does best and trying to keep everyone upbeat. I can imagine that's much easier to do in a swanky apartment that Jack’s letting them stay at than it would have been at our old place.
Continuing to walk around the wall, I graze my fingers across its rough, grainy surface until I spot a ladder lying in the grass over by the orchard. Smiling to myself, I check the coast is clear before rushing over to grab it.
There's something beyond this wall, I can sense it. If there wasn’t, why would it be kept locked? There's not much else here to do; I might as well explore.
I manage to drag the ladder back towards the wall, then with a little struggle, I lift and prop it up, making sure it’s sturdy before beginning to climb.
I’m barely halfway up, wondering if my body will be tall enough to peek over the edge, when a displeased voice comes from below and almost makes me jump out of my skin.
“What do you think you're doing?”
Holding on to the sides of the ladder so tight my knuckles go white, I carefully glance over my shoulder and see Jack standing at the bottom with his arms folded.
“I was just exploring.” Slowly, I start to step down. “I know what this must look like, but I swear I wasn’t trying to escape. I–”
“Are you forgetting that you could be carrying the next Duke of Fairfax?” he interrupts my rambling. Taking my hips as soon as they are in reach and aiding me the rest of the way to thebottom. “It’s not safe for you to be climbing ladders and scaling walls.” He spins me around and makes sure I see how displeased he is.
“I didn’t think. I just wanted to see what was on the other side. The wall almost goes all the way round the west side of the house; there are no windows that overlook it, and just that one door,” I explain, hoping he’ll shed some light on the mystery.
“Why does it matter? It’s just a stupid wall.” He frowns.
“It can’t just be a wall; there has to be something inside, or why would it be locked? I've checked the kitchen pantry, and there's no internal door, so it’s not a courtyard.
“Just drop it, Grace,” he warns, shocking me when he calls me by my actual name.
“You're free to explore anywhere you want, but not here.” His frustration only feeds that curiosity and makes me more determined to discover what’s beyond the wall.
“Come on, I need to feed you. Pandora will be arriving soon to take your measurements.” He slides his hand around my waist and starts guiding me towards the house.
“I can feed myself.” I roll my eyes when I’m reminded that I’m going to have to discuss wedding dresses this afternoon, then nudge him playfully with my elbow, to try and lighten his mood. He may look sexy as hell when he’s angry, but I much prefer his company when he’s not.
“You know what I mean; it’s important for you to take care of yourself.” His hand rests on my stomach as we get closer to the French doors that lead inside, and when I see Cecelia looking out at us from her bedroom window suspiciously, I discreetly move it away.
“Your app hasn’t even said I’m ovulating yet; there's little chance of me being pregnant already,” I remind him, not wanting him to get too carried away.
“I’ll take a little.” He smiles, not seeming to care that his stepmother is watching as he stops us and turns to look at me.
“That app I downloaded tells me that you actuallyareovulating. Why do you think I came to find you?” The way his hand rests on my shoulder and his thumb strokes my clavicle distracts me from any audience we might have. How can this man touch so tenderly and yet be so callous?
“Then I guess you'd better feed me.” I reach up and kiss him, deciding to give the snobby bitch a show. Jack must know what I’m doing because he’s wearing a huge beam on his face when I pull away.
“Was that kiss for her or for me?” he asks, glancing back to the house.
“Actually, it was for me, you're looking kinda hot today,” I tell him, moving on to see what Mary has prepared for lunch.
“That was awful.” I storm straight into Jack’s office and slam the door. “That woman is a complete bitch. I don’t know how Polly can work for her!! And, of course, Lady fucking Cecelia had to join us and put her two pence worth in. Honestly, Jack, how do you cope around these people?” I clutch my hair in my fists and dump the frustration of the past hour onto him all in one breath.
