“Aye, Mr. Jem, and I wish you the best of luck.”
“Thank you.” Jem left his room and skipped down the stairs in search of Reese.
***
Reese had made sure to finish dressing quickly so she could help Ellen with the final touches on the flowers. The day had been an odd one, with Gareth gone and Jem in the background. He kept trying to get her attention, but every time he approached her, Ellen would appear at Reese’s side with a request for help. It had started to feel very much like it had at Nellies, when their fae hostess had seemed determined to keep them apart.
“Ellen?” Reese entered the dining room, but it was empty. Maybe she was in her morning room. She had mentioned something about possibly changing the seating arrangement.
Walking past the Kellworth library, Reese thought she heard something. The door was ajar, so she eased it open. No one appeared to be in the room. She turned and was about to walk away when she heard a deeppsst.
Curious, Reese stepped through the door. “Ellen?”
The door shut behind her, and she spun around. Jem stood before her, the corners of his mouth curved up. Her heart gave a leap of joy and pounded furiously.
“I need to talk with you.” He didn’t move but watched her. Then the façade she had thought was always there seemed to fall away, like a faerie’s glamour. It was just gone, and what remained wasJem. The old chum she thought she’d known as well as she knew herself. One of her dearest friends. The man she loved.
Reese swallowed. The last time they had been in a library together, things had gotten a little out of hand. Her entire body warmed at the memory.
“All right,” she said.
Jem held out his hand to her and indicated a loveseat before the fireplace. She took it, and he brought it to his arm. He escorted her with proper Victorian courtesy and sat beside her.
“I thought we were good together,” he said. “I need to know why you left Twickenham—and we both know it wasn’t because Ellen invited you here for a visit.”
Tears stung her eyes. Now she was going to hear from him that he was leaving. The little bit of hope that had grown shriveled up.
“Oh, Reese.” He cupped her cheek, and she closed her eyes. “Please tell me what I did wrong. I want to fix this.”
“You told Cyrus that being home reminded you of why you liked to be on the road.”
Jem blinked in surprise, remembering the conversation, but Reese hadn’t been in the room. She must have overheard. Relief filled him. It had all been a stupid misunderstanding. How lame.
“Look at me, Reese.” When she did, Jem said softly, “I was talking about mymother.”
“Just say it,” she hissed. “You’re still going out again.”
“Not unlessyoucome with me,” he stated simply, his voice heavy with emotion.
His words weren’t at all what she had expected to hear. She stared at him. “I don’t understand.”
“Reese, I—”
“Clarisse, I have been searching everywhere for you.” Ellen swept into the room and over to where they sat. She took Reese’s arm and pulled her to her feet. “Excuse us, Mr. Taylor, but we must make haste.”
Her ladyship practically dragged Reese out of the library and toward the hall, her hands shaking.
“What is it?” Reese asked, alarmed.
“Merely that our guests will arrive, and Gareth has asked you to join us to greet them.”
Reese could hear the sounds of people outside and knew Ellen spoke the truth. But what had Jem been about to say?
Chapter 24
“AH, CLARISSE,” THE EARL SAID as they approached. “You look lovely.”
Ellen hadn’t been kidding about the change in her brother. He took Reese’s hands in his, his expression adoring, and kissed each palm tenderly. It was the sweetest, most flattering thing she had ever experienced.
