My God, what must hethinkof her?
Though Will deserved her apology, that at least meant sending over a note first. Not showing up in the man’shome. She had nearlymade it to the footpath that connected the two properties when someone called out her name. Phoebe glanced back and saw Will stalking down the lane. Her first instinct was to break into a run, but he would overtake her in another moment. Rather than make this even more awkward, Phoebe stopped and turned around to accept his ire. She owed him that much.
His gaze narrowed as he drew closer and Phoebe instinctively shut her eyes.
“I’m sorry,” she blurted out. “I had no idea you were home.”
Her explanation was met by an excruciating silence.
“I know,” he finally murmured. Phoebe cracked one eye open, then the other. Well, he didn’tlookangry.
He also hadn’t bothered to button his shirt. As he stepped closer, Phoebe noticed it was damp. Damp enough to show the outline of his chest. Which she had touched with her own hands.
“I came to see Cal,” she explained while forcing her gaze to meet his own.
One corner of his mouth pulled back, as if he were trying not to smile. “I know.” Then he swallowed and Phoebe was riveted by the movement of his bronzed throat.
Lord, she needed to get out of here.
“He said your school closed?”
Phoebe glanced up at the question, but the sympathy in his eyes was even more than she could bear. She had to look away. “The landlord got a better offer. It will be a department store.”
“I’m very sorry,” Will said. “What will you do now?”
Phoebe let out a grim laugh and turned back to him. “Not a clue. Alex said I should come here to clear my head and decide what to do next.”
Though that was not working out so well at the moment.
But Will gave a thoughtful nod. “I’ve found it can be helpful to break out of one’s routine now and then.”
“Oh?” That was surprising to hear. She couldn’t imagine Will ever feeling unsure about anything. He always seemed so certain, so secure about his place in the world. But then he looked down with a sheepish expression that squeezed her heart.
“London had become… too much. I needed to leave for a while.”
Understanding dawned on her. “I read about your actions in the papers.”
It had been impossible to avoid, given how much ink had been spilled in the papers both decrying and extolling his defection from the ruling party.
“It was long overdue,” he added dismissively, as if it weren’t the political scandal of the summer.
“Even so,” Phoebe said gently. “I think the bill you and Lord Tavistock proposed will do much good.”
Will met her gaze and his dark eyes flickered with an emotion she was dangerously tempted to call hope. “You do?”
Phoebe couldn’t stop from smiling at his eager tone and nodded.
“I appreciate that.” He returned her smile but then quickly sobered. “I’ve also spoken with Lord Fairbanks. He shouldn’t cause you any trouble, but please let me know immediately if he does.”
Phoebe tilted her head. “Did Alex not tell you? No, of course she didn’t,” she muttered at Will’s look of confusion. “She bought up his debts and threatened to ruin him if anything came out about myself or the Clarke sisters.”
His eyes widened as he processed the enormity of what Alex had taken on. “My God. That is… impressive.”
“And a little terrifying.”
“Two words that most certainly describe Alex,” Will added with a knowing smile Phoebe liked far too much. She glanced toward the footpath and he immediately noticed. “I’m sorry for keeping you,” he said, taking a step back. The instinct to reach for him was so strong that Phoebe had to force her hand into a tight fist. “I only wanted to make sure you didn’t leave on account of me. I won’t bother you.”
“No,” she said quickly. “It is I who should apologize. Coming into your home after…”
