Page 32 of Reforming Lord Neil

“I have not been. Mr. Jones came to ask if we had more cherries to sell, and he brought the letter with him.” Teresa shifted next to Mr. Duncan, then allowed herself to look down at his handsome face. His whiskers were grown out again. Not to the point that they made him any less enjoyable to look at, of course. His hat had come off in his fall, leaving his blond hair to curl just above his forehead.

Mr. Duncan’s eyes flicked to hers, catching her staring. She forced a smile.

“I am sorry you did not receive better news, Mr. Duncan.”

“As am I. It means I must trespass upon your hospitality longer yet.”

“You mean that you must work to earn your keep a while yet,” she countered, trying to tease a smile back upon his face. He looked far too dignified when he frowned.

It worked, at least a little. One corner of his mouth turned upward. “I suppose that is good news to you, Mrs. Clapham.”

“Of course it is. I appreciate having a pair of hands to fetch and carry for me.” She poked his arm with one finger, and he chuckled. Why had she been avoiding him of late? It felt good, to sit beside him. “I would far rather see you climbing about on ladders and mucking out stables than perform the tasks myself.”

To Teresa’s surprise, his expression softened at those words. His smile gentled, the light in his eyes brightening as he spoke. “Even though you have done an admirable job for months, without my help? You are a marvel, Mrs. Clapham. Every time I think on what you have done all this time, just you, Caroline, and Mrs. Godwin…” His voice trailed away, though his gaze remained persistent.

Why could she not look away?

“We have managed, but it has been a near thing at times.” He need not know how she struggled, especially in the beginning. And yet. Telling someone might relieve the burden upon her weary shoulders. “When we first came, we had a little money my mother had put by from her own marriage settlement. It was enough to repair a few things, and hire men to plow a field and get the barn ready for a cow. We bought Abigail, and the chickens, and saw to the most pressing household needs. But the money will not last forever, so we save it now.” The repairs needed for the house and barn to be livable had been extensive and needed with immediacy. Animals had cost a pretty sum as well.

“You bear up well.” Mr. Duncan sounded almost admiring.

Teresa scoffed and folded her hands in her lap, looking away from him at last, staring through the orchard trees to the field, and beyond that to the barn and house. “No. I hide my difficulties well. The truth is, before you came, I was quite terrified of what winter would mean for us. So thank you, Mr. Duncan, for doing so much for us.”

He sat up again, shifting to face her. “I have never worked so hard in my life.” He drew off first one leather glove and then the other, dropping them on the ground. “And if you knew me better, you would not be so quick to praise me. You have taken on the welfare of your family. I am not even worthy of your time.”

Had Teresa not been staring directly at him, had she not glimpsed the pain in his eyes, she could have shrugged off his words as mere flirting. “You cannot believe that, Mr. Duncan.” She leaned closer, her words earnest. “I may not know much of your past. You have left me only guesses at your history. But I can see who you are in all that you do. You are kind to my daughter and take the time to answer all her ridiculous questions. You are respectful to my mother, never forgetting to ask if she has need of your help. And you have never once looked down upon us or our circumstances.”

He leaned closer, his eyebrows drawn together. “I would be a fool to do so, my dear.” The endearment made her heart leap, but he did not leave her time to think on it. “I am not nearly so noble as you believe me to be. Because if I was, I would not dare do this.”

The remaining distance between them vanished in an instant, and his lips were upon hers. It was not a passionate lover’s embrace, but it was not the gentle press of lips from an innocent, either. His lips slanted over hers perfectly, giving rather than taking. He did not touch her otherwise. No hand to her cheek or waist. Only his mouth, inviting her to partake if she wished.

Teresa leaned into the kiss, returning the token with hesitancy. It was heavenly, to breathe him in, to know that a man she admired found her attractive and even desirable. The temptation to give in further, to deepen the kiss, nearly overtook her. But—

Teresa pulled away, and he remained still, not chasing after her. Not demanding more than she would give.

Her eyes fluttered open.

Neil looked away, gathering up his gloves and the letter. “Forgive me, Mrs. Clapham. I do not know what came over me.” He stepped away, turning to scoop up his hat.

Mortification filled her. Had she done something wrong? Other than kiss him back, of course. Oh, she had behaved foolishly. Teresa struggled up to her feet and glared at his back. “Mr. Duncan.”

He put his hat on, then his gloves, and turned slowly to look at her. “Yes, madam?”

His bearing was noble as ever. Shoulders straight, chin up, and as tall and athletic in appearance as any Adonis from her days in Society. But the confidence was gone from his eyes. The smugness had disappeared from the twist of his smile.

It was impossible to understand him. And she should not have returned his kiss. She had a responsibility to her mother and daughter, and to herself, to avoid dalliances and distractions. That was what she had been thinking in the instant she pulled away.

“Tomorrow, I need you to speak to Mr. Putnam about thatching roofs. Ours is in terrible need of repair.”

Thunder rumbled in the distance. Teresa wrapped her arms about herself. More rain meant more damage to her roof, attic, and house. It also meant she could not go for her walk to the cliffs that day. Which she sorely needed, to clear her mind.

“Yes, madam.” He gathered his ladder. “I will see to it first thing.”

Teresa nodded. “And do not speak of what happened a moment ago to anyone.”

He paused and quirked an eyebrow at her. “Do you think I would?”

She blushed. No. He seemed too kind to humiliate her that way. But there was no use admitting as much. “Just see to it you do not.” Then she strode by him, making her way to the house as quickly as possible. Trying not to think of the way her lips tingled and her whole body went warm and soft beneath his attentive kiss.