Even now the sight of her stole his breath away. He loathed himself for his weakness toward her.Stone. Damn, but why hadn’t he put the two together? His jaw clenched. Even now, it was impossible not to want her. His gut wrenched with remembrance, even as he hardened his heart against her.
“She’s my cousin, Hawk,” Ben said again, responding to something in Christian’s gaze.
Lifting her skirts, Jessie hurried across the sand-filled street into the clearing, smiling with delight at Kathryn’s bubbling excitement. And then at once her heart lurched to a halt. She froze, her breath strangling in her throat as the tallest man in the gathering turned to face them.
Their gazes met and held.
Jessie’s knees buckled a little at the baleful glare he gave her. Unknowingly she crushed the envelope she’d been carrying. If she weren’t such a blessed coward, she told herself, she’d walkdirectly to him and slap the self-righteous expression from his face!
But she was a coward, and the truth of the matter was that if she didn’t turn now, and go, this instant, she’d surely shame herself.
She felt Kathryn’s hand upon her arm and was grateful for her steadying presence. “What is it, Jessamine? What’s wrong?”
He continued to stare, his smoldering blue eyes narrowing in condemnation, but he said not a word, nor did he move to address her. What had she expected? A greeting?I’m sorry? How’ve you been, my love?She expected nothing! she told herself. She expected nothing—and received less. It would serve her best to simply walk away now. She spun on her heels and hastened away, with no answer for Kathryn’s anxious inquiry.
Kathryn hurried after her. “Jessamine! Wait! What is it?”
Ben caught her as she crossed the street, his expression sober as he asked, “Is it him?”
Jessie couldn’t find her voice to speak.
“Confound it!” Ben exploded.
“Who?” Kathryn asked, trying in vain to keep up with their hurried steps and fragmented conversation. There was only concern evident in her tone as she demanded, “Oh, please tell me, Jessamine! What has happened to upset you so?”
Still unable to speak, lest she burst into tears, Jessie shook her head. Ben was the only one person in Charlestown, aside from Lord Christian and Lord St. John, who knew the truth about what had happened all those months ago in England. Only Ben hadn’t known everything—he hadn’t known precisely who was responsible for her misery. Even Ben’s parents had been spared the awful truth. It was the one thing for which she had Amos to thank, he’d spared her that much—more for his own sake than for hers, she was certain. But she’d grown so close to Ben these past months that confiding in him had seemed anatural thing to do, but she could never bear for Kathryn to know her shame. Her cheeks colored even as she remembered that fateful afternoon beneath the elm tree, and her eyes misted, though she refused to weep.
Too many tears had been wasted already.
Ben seized her by the shoulders and spun her about to face him, gripping her harder than she knew he meant to. “It was he?”
Lifting her face to him, Jessie forced a nod, and leaned into his embrace, wanting him to shield her from so many prying eyes. She knew people were staring, though she couldn’t see them through the blur of her tears.
“Ah, Jessie…” He enfolded her within his arms, and for a long moment there was only the comfort of his silence. “Are you well enough to make it home?” He cast a dubious glance at Kathryn.
“I have my carriage,” Kathryn offered.
“Please… I... I am fine…” Jessie forced a smile for Ben’s sake, for Kathryn’s sake. “I-I have no idea what came over me,” she swore, mindful of Kathryn’s critical regard, “but I-I... I’m fine now.”
“Are you certain, Jessie?” Turning to Kathryn, Ben appealed, “Would you mind terribly excusing us? I should like to speak to my cousin privately.”
Kathryn nodded, flustered. “Certainly,” she said, sounding wounded, though she tried not to show it. “I shall go on, then.” She turned to Jessie. “Are you certain you will be all right?”
“Yes, thank you, Kathryn. I truly am fine.”
Kathryn managed a nod. “Very well, then... if you’re certain...”
“Perhaps I shall see you this eve, Kathryn,” Ben suggested, dismissing her once and for all.
Kathryn’s expression softened at once and she smiled brightly. “Why, yes—yes, of course! That would be trulywonderful!” Her face aglow once more, she turned to Jessie. “Goodbye, Jessamine. Feel better.” Leaning closer, she whispered a fervent, “Please!”
Jessie smiled weakly. “I shall,” she assured, trying to sound cheerful, though her heart was breaking into tiny wretched pieces. With a farewell wave for her friend, she turned to Ben, her eyes blurring with tears. “I had no idea that you and Lord Christian—that man—were so well acquainted!”
He frowned at her. “More importantly, I didn’t realize you knew him so well, Jessie.” His voice held no condemnation, only sorrow on her behalf. “He is not a man to be trifled with.”
Shame suffused her, and she averted her eyes. “I only wish I did not!”
“You should have told me,” he said, his jaw tautening. Peering up at him, she could see the fury flashing in his eyes. “Haw—” He broke off, glanced away, toward the point, and then back. “Christian will not trouble you. I swear it.”
