Page 61 of Nothing Compares to the Duke
“You’ll be returning to Hampstead soon to prepare for your own Season, and I think Mama is satisfied that Meg’s presence will serve the role of chaperone well enough.”
Despite Rhys’s terrible reputation, they seemed to persist in seeing him as the young man he’d once been. A man they’d often trusted to spend time with their daughter alone.
“We are engaged. That affords a little more freedom to be seen in each other’s company. And the Duke andDuchess of Tremayne have agreed to host me while we’re in London, so I won’t be lodging at Claremont House.”
“True, but this will be the first time you’re seen together in London society. Heads will turn.”
“It will be fine.” Bella didn’t know if it was true. The idea of being toe to toe in a carriage with Rhys for hours had been on her mind all morning. But she had to salvage whatever calm she could.
A noise beyond the window caused Louisa to stand and peer down onto the front drive. “It’s the Claremont carriage.”
Bella’s breath hitched, but she ignored the flutter in her chest and gathered her scarf, then slid her hands into the traveling gloves she’d found at the bottom of the drawer.
“Enjoy the trip.” Louisa drew close enough to give Bella a peck on the cheek. “And best of luck with your book.”
“Thank you, my dear.” Bella smiled and scooped up the small portmanteau she’d chosen to transport her manuscript. Hugging the case to her chest, she willed her pulse to steady. “I can do this.”
Louisa giggled. “I don’t have a single doubt.”
Bella made her way downstairs and was relieved to see that the staff had already placed her luggage on the carriage. She’d said her good-byes to her parents earlier.
Meg clambered down and rushed toward her. “I’m so excited for our trip.”
Before Bella could answer, the girl wrapped her in a hug. She vibrated with enthusiasm and smelled like springtime, and a bit of Bella’s tension eased.
Then she glanced over Meg’s shoulder as Rhys stepped down from the carriage.
For a tall man with such broad shoulders, he maneuvered out with surprising grace. Bella got distracted watching the way he moved and when she looked up, she found his gaze fixed on hers.
When Meg released her, he stepped forward and reached for her hand.
“What are you doing?” There wasn’t supposed to be any touching. They’d already broken that rule far too many times.
“Helping you with your bag.” Glancing down, she realized he was trying to grasp the handle of her portmanteau. His hands were so much larger that his fingers covered hers. She felt the heat of him even through the fabric of her gloves. “It’s heavy. Have you adopted your father’s habit of taking books with you wherever you go?”
“Yes, but I’ve got it.” Bella pulled away from him, grasping the handle of her case tighter, and climbed into the carriage after Meg.
Her heart was beating too fast and they hadn’t even started their journey. She claimed the center of her bench, and Rhys seemed to take her cue and settled next to his sister.
The spot right in front of Bella, where every gray-suited, ruby-waistcoated inch of him was an unavoidable distraction. And, of course, when she looked up, he was watching her.
A slow smile lifted the edges of his mouth, and she didn’t know whether he was looking forward to the trip or knew precisely how much being in such close confines with him unnerved her.
“Would you mind sitting next to me?”
Bella lost her grip on the book she’d been holding as a shield between them.
Rhys reached out and caught the volume.
“Pardon?” she asked, her brow crumpled in a frown.
Rhys handed her the book and then lifted a finger to his lips. “Ssh.” He glanced beside him where Meg was leaning against the wall of the carriage. A soft whistling snore escaped her lips.
“Oh.” Bella’s expression softened.
“I thought,” Rhys whispered, “I’d let her stretch out and join you on yours.”
“Of course.” Bella scooted immediately toward the edge of her bench, gathering the voluminous fabric of her skirt and petticoats snug against her legs.
