Page 68 of Nothing Compares to the Duke
“I feared it would upset you.”
“It doesn’t. Not in the way you think. I bear no ill will toward Mrs. Turner.”
“Toward your father, then?”
“How can I? Don’t you see? The way he treated that woman. Making her promises and keeping none of them. It’s no different from how I’ve conducted my affairs.”
She couldn’t look at him. For a moment she shifted her gaze to the pavement, and he waited for the condemnations he richly deserved.
“Do you have a mistress now?” she finally asked.
The question surprised him. They’d always been matter-of-fact with each other but never about love. Never about carnal pleasure. The last time he’d seen her she was still a girl.
“I do not.”
“But if you married, you’d keep one?”
“No.” That wasn’t true. He’d always intended that marriage would be practical and pleasure would be separate. Now he wasn’t sure of anything. Except that he didn’t want Bella to look at him with that disappointment he saw in her eyes now.
He’d wanted her to look at him like she used to and he wanted her trust.
No, he wanted much more. Now, at the worst possible moment, he wanted to kiss her again. He needed her close. He craved the comfort of having her in his arms, even now when he’d just been reminded of why he didn’t deserve it.
“Well, at least we know Radley isn’t here and never was.” She changed the subject as if it was a natural progression of their awkward conversation, but she betrayed her unease by tugging at her gloves that were already perfectly in place on her hands.
He didn’t blame her for wishing to move away from the topic of mistresses and men who couldn’t be trusted. It wasn’t a discussion he was terribly eager to have either.
“The man is probably on the Continent dining at the finest restaurant in Paris and laughing at us all.”
“Or he’s in Margate looking out at the sea,” she countered. “We should visit the cottage there.”
Ah, a plan. That was Bella through and through.
“Miss Prescott, your tenacity is quite impressive.” He tested a teasing tone with her. She might stick toher rules and appreciate orderliness above all things, but she rarely repressed her sense of humor.
“A mystery is a bit like a puzzle.” Her eyes flashed with determination. It was a magnetic pull that never failed to draw him in. “I think we can solve this one.”
“Will you take up detection professionally after this?”
“Maybe.” He could live off the memory of the saucy smile she gave him for several days. “Might as well put my skills to practical use.
“So,” she asked with a self-satisfied grin, “when do we leave for the seaside?”
Chapter Sixteen
Bella kept her eyes closed a moment longer and nuzzled into the warmth against her cheek as she awakened. Fabric slid softly against her skin, though what was underneath was decidedly firm. It also smelled delicious. Like fresh air and sandalwood cologne.
And Rhys Forester.
She opened her eyes and immediately shielded them from the sun. Then she leaned as far as she could toward the opposite side of the carriage bench.
“We’re here,” he told her.
“I fell asleep.”
“Just a short nap.”
“On you.” She smelled of his shaving soap and could feel the imprint of his overcoat against her cheek.
