His blue eyes pieced the distance between them. “Miss Harrismith. Might I have a word?”
He sounded so formal. She nodded mutely fighting to compose herself.
His Grace gestured with his hand. “Shall we walk?”
They strolled down the carriage drive beneath the avenue of trees. “I find myself curious as to why you left Castlebridge in such a hurry which you failed to address in your letter. And this somewhat rushed engagement. Did you always intend to marry Mr. Judd?”
She stared at him horrified. Did he believe she took the position to draw a reluctant proposal from Judd? Or was he here merely to condemn her for leaving his children? She sobered. “You shouldn’t ask me that, Your Grace.”
“But I am asking you,” he said abruptly. “It’s important that I know.”
Jenny’s throat tightened with suppressed tears. “I’m not in love with Mr. Judd, I have never been in love with him, and I did not foresee an engagement when I came to Castlebridge.” She supposed she sounded bitter because he raised his eyebrows.
“I’m sure I will learn more of this later.” He studied her thoughtfully, sending her pulse drumming along her veins again. “It is not why I came.”
“Why then?” She waited for his criticism as she sank to her lowest ebb, yearning to run back to the house to her bedchamber, and pull the covers over her head. At the gamut of perplexed emotions, she stepped back away from him.
Two strides brought him closer. “I want you to return to Castlebridge, Jenny.”
“Why?” she asked in dazed exasperation.
His eyes darkened with emotion. “Why? Because you’ve come to mean a lot to me, and the children.”
She faltered, a refusal on her lips. Even suppose she could accept a life with him in it, loving him, while knowing she was there solely for his children, she couldn’t leave Bella to her fate. She wouldn’t.
He stared down at her, doubt in his eyes, which was so unlike him. He’d always been so confident, and autocratic, but that was understandable, he was a duke after all. “Dare I hope you might feel some affection for me? That you might choose me instead of Mr. Judd? And come back to Castlebridge as my wife?”
She opened her mouth in surprise. “Marry you?” Jenny feared she’d misheard him. That she’d dreamed him up again. She gazed up at him, the man she’d come to care more for than life itself. He hadn’t said he loved her. For a moment she couldn’t think. “I would, Your Grace, but there’s Bella!”
“Your sister? What about Bella?”
She hesitated, torn by conflicting emotions. “I can’t leave again. Bella was going to marry Mr. Judd, and then I said I would…” She tried to explain while he patiently listened. A shortened version of the truth. How she didn’t trust Judd and would not let Bella marry him. His eyes narrowed.
He raised an eyebrow. “So you will marry him instead?”
She merely nodded. She couldn’t put into words that she was better able to handle Judd.
“Will you leave that to me, Jenny?”
Could she risk Bella’s future happiness? Her father was so unpredictable. Papa had so much pride, she suspected it was the reason he forbade Bella from marrying Glyn. Warmed by her love for His Grace, she gazed at the handsome man before her. She was supremely confident that he would set all to rights. Was it unreasonable of her to want his love? How she wished to hear him say those words. “You will protect Bella and Beth?”
He took her hands, his eyes filled with emotion. “Oh, Jenny love, of course I will. I give you that promise.”
She was suddenly blissfully happy. “I will marry you, Your Grace. I have been miserable away from the children, and Castlebridge.” She wanted to say so much more, but held back, uncertain. “It had become my home, you see.”
“My name is Andrew, Jenny.” He opened his arms, and she stepped into his strong embrace. Murmuring her name he raised her chin and kissed her.
“So it’s my charming children that most appeal?” His amused voice rumbled against her cheek.
“I do miss William and Barbara most dreadfully, I’m so very fond of them.”
He pulled back and raised her chin with a finger, his eyes searching hers. “Spare a little of that for me too, Jenny?”
She smiled up at him. “Oh, yes, Andrew.”
His passionate glance sent heat rushing through her. “I like the sound of my name on your lips.” He kissed her again. The lightest of caresses before he drew away with a sigh and ruefully shook his head. “This is not how it should be done. I must speak to your father. Is the Baron at home?”
“Papa’s in the library.” She slipped her hand in his and drew him along the driveway to the house. “I’m afraid this will be quite a shock to him. He was about to place a notice of my engagement to Mr. Judd in the newspaper.”
