“Really? Even in this case? I mean, she’s not your type, Jack. She must have seduced you.”
“What do you mean?”
“She’s very nice, I’m sure, but she’s not pretty. Not very much woman there. She must have other talents, eh?”
Jack found himself holding Phineas by the lapels of his tailcoat, having pulled him up out of his chair.
“Calm down, Jack. Don’t spill the whisky.” Phineas held the glass to his mouth and drained it. “Now my glass is empty. You can go ahead and thrash me, if you wish.”
Jack released him with a snarl, almost throwing Phineas back into the chair. He stalked to the far corner of the room but Phineas’ voice followed him.
“She’s unmarried. She’s plain. You feel guilty about her. You’re very sensitive about her. Mmm. If I didn’t know better, I would say you loved her.”
Jack whirled around, his fists at his side. “Don’t throw that word around, Phin.”
“I’m not. I don’t. I’ve never declared love myself, as you know. Love is for other men. But you’ve had a sea change, Jack. And it’s not just because you’re a duke now.”
Jack couldn’t think. Because it was unthinkable. Phineas went to him and put his hand on Jack’s shoulder.
“You’ll tell me if you need help, right? Not that I know anything about love or whatever this is.”
“Yes.” Jack got the word out.
“Don’t mess about.” Phineas clapped Jack on the shoulder, gave him a stern look he could not maintain and which transmuted into a grin, and left.
Jack collapsed into a chair.
Don’t mess about.When it was all one big mess.
In the morning,Jack went back to the river and made some arrangements. Then he went to the rooms on Piccadilly.
“Am I to have an introduction to the duke today, Jack Pike?” Helen asked him after they had greeted each other. She wore her new dress.
“No.” He went on before she could protest. “You need to wait for your dresses to be finished.”
“Dresses?” A look of panic mixed with suspicion on her face.
Jack cursed himself. He couldn’t even keep track of the simple lies now. “Your new dress. I thought we’d all go out. I’ll show you a bit of London. All of you.”
Yes, let Duncan and Mags chaperone them. Today, there would be no sneaking into an inn, no stolen kisses in an alleyway. Let him see the not-beautiful Helen in the cruel light of day with her clothes on, without his cock hard. There would be no question of love then.
Mags’ face flushed pink with excitement. Duncan grinned. Yes, and let him give a little pleasure for once to someone besides himself and the women he bedded.
“What’s this?” Helen asked when they got to the riverbank.
“It’s a boat, Helen.”
Jack got in the boat and had Duncan get in. They handed down Mags together. Helen stayed on the little jetty, looking down at them. Her jaw jutted.
Jack reached his hand up. “Get in.”
“I’ve never been in a boat before.”
“Not even in your own loch?”
“Nae.”
“Are you scared?”
