Page 65 of Nothing Compares to the Duke
“Hardly futile.”
That earned him another glance and one auburn brow arched high. “Why?”
“Because you’ve gotten to this point.” He tapped his finger against the square outline of the portmanteau she clutched against her lap as if it was long-losttreasure. “You produced all these words and ideas and organized them into a manuscript. It’s not something I could do.”
“That’s nonsense. I’ve never seen you fail at anything you set your mind to.”
Her compliments always came when he least expected them, slipping in past his defenses. Before he could reject her claim or offer words of gratitude, the hansom rolled to a stop.
Bella jumped down without his help and scanned the street. “You needn’t wait for me,” she called as she started off. “I shouldn’t be long and will return to Meg as soon as I’m done.”
“Good luck.” He shouted the words so enthusiastically, a lady passing on the street shot him a curious glance.
All that mattered was that Bella heard him, and he knew she had when she offered him a tentative smile before ascending the steps of a town house two doors down.
He headed back to the cab but couldn’t bring himself to depart. After paying the driver, he took up a post on the opposite side of the street, waiting, watching. He might have had moments of undeserved luck in his life, but now he wished he could transfer all of it to Bella.
When she hadn’t emerged after quarter of an hour, worry set in. When she hadn’t appeared after half an hour, he contemplated going in after her.
Just when he was about to burst into the publisher’s office and make an utter fool of himself, the front door swung open and Bella stepped out.
He didn’t require an explanation to read her expression.
“Not at all interested,” she said grimly. “Perhaps I was mistaken. Maybe the entire project is nonsense.” She stared down at her case as if she was considering whether to heave the whole thing into the Thames.
“Arry, there are other publishers in London. Many of them. We’ll simply find one that wants your book.”
“We? I told you I’m doing this alone.”
“I know. Of course, it’s your work. Your creativity. But I still wish to help, and you should let me.”
She twisted her mouth, a gesture that usually indicated she was weighing her options.
“That’s the whole point of this arrangement, is it not?” he asked. “We help each other.”
Rhys knew the moment when she let go of her frustration. The edge of her jaw softened, she closed her eyes for the briefest of moments, and then she nodded decisively. Straightening her shoulders, she drew in a deep breath, as if already set on some new course.
“Very well,” she told him. “Then it’s time I help you. We should visit the town house your father purchased.”
The change of topic made him frown. He much preferred helping her, but she was right. As usual. “We could go now. The address isn’t more than walking distance away.”
“Then let’s go. Another task off the list.”
“Meg will be all right, don’t you think?” He didn’t want her to feel they’d forgotten her.
“She will. Your sister is much more self-reliant than I think any of us give her credit for. We haven’t yet been gone an hour.”
They proceeded side by side on the pavement, and he found himself smiling. Her companionship was familiar and yet also new. Everything they accomplished together felt as if he was earning back a bit of what had been lost between them. And, of course, now he wanted more.
After several minutes of silence, she turned her head. “Thank you.”
When had those two words gained the power to kick his heartbeat into a gallop? “For?”
“Your encouragement.” She hefted her satchel up onto her shoulder. “I could show you a few pages of my manuscript if you’re interested.”
“When have I not been interested in your puzzles?”
The only response to that was a slow smile.
