Page 67 of A Lady's Past
He filled his lungs. “Because you are safe here in Buckrose?”
Diana biting her bottom lip forced his eyes to follow. Lord, but she was a delight. “I am safe with you regardless of our location.”
“I am not at all certain that is true, Diana. I want you quite fiercely.”
Meeting his gaze directly as the music came to an end, Diana leaned in far enough so that he was the only person who could hear her. “My desires are equal to yours, Jacques Laurent. Perhaps I might have an opportunity to look at you as if you are the only man who exists in a private setting.”
For several beats, he didn’t believe what he’d heard. If she hadn’t been bright pink in the aftermath of her seductive invitation, he would have thought his desire had actually driven him to hearing things.
Before he recovered enough to ask her to specify what she wanted from him, she’d walked over toward Honoria.
Mrs. Fallcraft said, “I am tired, my dears. Thank you for a lovely evening. I shall just make my way back to the school and find my bed for the night.”
“I shall be honored to escort you, ma’am.” Jacques offered his arm to the person his father admired most in the world.
Accepting his offer, she wound her thin arm through his and said her good nights. There were several passages from the Horsemen’s side of the castle to the school. None were permitted to be used by students, but all were known to him. When his father attended Buckrose, the east wing had been off limits because it was reserved for the earl who donated the castle. On one summer visit, Father had shown him all the sneaky passages he’d used to escape as a boy.
“I’m very pleased you managed to get your parents out of France before anything terrible happened to them.” Mrs. Fallcraft shivered. “I have seen enough of my students leave this world.”
Jacques had fought off many nightmares when his parents were trapped in France. “It was the greatest day of my life when they stepped off that boat and I could bring them to the house I bought them.”
“I’m quite happy for you, Jacques. You are a good son and shall make a fine husband to Miss MacLeod.”
“Have I been so obvious in my intentions, ma’am?”
She patted his arm and kept both hands on him. A bit of her weight as well. Her age was catching up with her and the late night must have been a strain. “It is clear to me that you are smitten and she, too.”
“I wanted to bring her to meet Mother and Father, but this trouble we have has put a delay on the process.”
Mrs. Fallcraft sighed. “Lady Chervil is a fine chaperon, but you must realize that all this time at the home of four men is not likely to be greeted with warmth from society at large. She works for that Everton Domestic Society, does she not?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Well, should you choose to break your own heart, she will be protected by them.”
He stopped at the end of the passage. The door in front of them led to the school. “What makes you say such a thing? I intend to marry her.”
“There is no need to become impassioned, Jacques. Anything could happen. You could be killed, or she could refuse you.”
He opened the door. The school was silent. The few students who didn’t go home for Christmas would have eaten long ago and gone to bed, happy after a fine Christmas day.
“I apologize. I should not have raised my voice. You make a good point. I shall write several letters tomorrow so that should anything happen to me, Miss MacLeod will be well taken care of.” He’d been foolish to not take such measures before. If he was killed in all of this, Diana would have a hard time of it.
“Miss MacLeod seems the kind of lady who can take care of herself. She has a keen mind and is quite capable.”
“It is one of the things I find most attractive about her.”
At the stairs, she stopped and turned to him. “You are much like your father, though more controlled. It is a fine thing to be both passionate and restrained at the same time. A rare gift, in my opinion.”
Thoughts of Diana ran rampant in his head and heart. “You do me honor, ma’am. I feel completely out of order and filled with anxiety.”
She laughed. “Then you hide it well, Jacques. You will find your way and do well by your lady, I have no doubt. I can manage the way from here. Happy Christmas.”
Kissing her hand and then her cheek, he smiled. “Thank you for the talk, ma’am. Happy Christmas.”
Jacques wandered the halls of Buckrose Castle for an hour or more after leaving Mrs. Fallcraft. By the time he returned to the grand parlor, everyone was gone and the candles snuffed. A small fire had been banked but still gave some warmth. The drafty halls had given him a chill, and he stood near the heat lost in thoughts of Diana and her troubles.
Preston spoke from the doorway. “I thought you’d gone to bed.”
