His fingers curled into fists. “She sees what I allow her to see.”
Aunt Jean studied him for a long moment, and a knowing smile formed on her lips. “Oh, my dear boy. You are inso much trouble.”
Simon exhaled sharply, pressing his fingers to his temple as if warding off a headache. “Are you finished?”
“Not even close,” Aunt Jean replied cheerfully. “But I’ll spare you—for now.”
Simon muttered something under his breath and strode toward the door, but Aunt Jean’s voice stopped him.
“Simon,” she called softly.
He paused, glancing over his shoulder.
“Don’t waste this. Don’t wasteher.”
“I’ll think about it,” he said at last, though his tone was guarded.
“Good. And while you’re at it, do try to smile at her a little more. I daresay you look rather dashing when you’re not scowling.”
Simon shot her a dry look, though there was the faintest hint of a smirk on his lips. “Anything else, Aunt Jean?”
“Yes,” she said brightly. “Take her to the ball tomorrow. It will do you both good.”
Simon groaned softly, but Aunt Jean only laughed, the sound light and infectious. “Mark my words, Simon,” she said with a wink, “Rachel will surprise you yet.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
“Do you require anything, Your Grace?” one of the servants asked as he noticed Simon loitering in the hallway.
He had been pacing along the length of it for some moments now. Each time, he would stop outside Rachel’s door and then turn away.
“No,” he replied, a bit embarrassed at having been caught like this. “You may be dismissed.”
The servant nodded immediately and scurried off.
Simon paced the length of the hallway once more and then stopped in front of Rachel’s door again.
He had no real reason to be here—nologicalone at least—but logic had long since abandoned him where she was concerned.
You only wish to know if she is doing well,he told himself. Nothing more. It was only out of the goodness of his heart that he was checking up on her.
Yes. That was it. He had found his reasoning. With a quiet inhale, he pushed the door open.
Rachel was in bed. Or rather, she was attempting tohidein bed.
The moment the door creaked, she jolted upright, her breath catching as she clutched the covers to her chest, pulling them up so fast it was as if she feared exposure.
Simon’s brows furrowed. He seemed to have disturbed… something.
“Your Grace,” she started hastily, her voice slightly higher than usual. “I didn’t expect to— What…. what are you doing here?”
Simon took a step inside, studying her. “I came to check on you. Do you feel better now?”
“There was no need,” she said quickly, a blush forming on her cheeks.
It was not lost on him that she refused to even look in his direction. His gaze swept over her.
“Is there anything else you need?” Her words came out rushed as though she was in a great hurry to be rid of him.
