Page 7 of The Rake I Wished For
“We won’t be long in following them to the country,” she said sweetly. “But I think it’s important that my brother and Rose have some time alone in the country. And then, of course, there’s Jane…”
The duchess frowned, concern in her eyes at the mention of her cousin. “I do wish her parents would reconsider. Or let her come to our estate…” The duchess’s concerned gaze met with her husband’s, and he rested a reassuring arm around her shoulders.
“I’ll talk to her father again and see what I can do,” Amesbury promised.
“I’m not sure it will do any good,” the duchess said. “They seem to think staying at Madame Bellafonte’s is what’s best for Jane.”
It went without saying that the duchess disagreed.
As Harlow wasn’t well acquainted with Jocelyn’s friend Lady Jane, he stayed out of it.
But Jocelyn reached over and squeezed the other woman’s arm. “Jane is happy there, you know. As am I.” Her smile was brilliant. “And we’ll have each other. At least, until Harlow and I leave for the country.”
“Yes, that’s true. And you will let me know if she needs anything, won’t you?” The duchess winced. “I’m afraid my headstrong cousin wouldn’t admit she needs help even if she were dangling from a cliff.”
Jocelyn laughed. “I promise I’ll run for help if I think she needs it.”
This seemed to appease the duchess, who turned to her husband to discuss their own travel plans, leaving Harlow and Jocelyn in relative privacy.
She lifted her chin to meet his gaze, and her pale blue eyes were sparkling with amusement. “It’s up to four,” she pointed out.
“You don’t win unless it’s at least six stolen touches,” he reminded her. “And it must be before dinner is served, as I recall.”
She glanced at the grandfather clock meaningfully as she smirked. “I still have plenty of time.”
He narrowed his eyes, pretending to be put out. In all honesty, he never cared who actually won these little wagers of theirs. Jocelyn was the competitive one. He just liked to have fun, and playing these games with his best friend’s little sister was often the most fun he had at society events.
“What are we playing for tonight?” she asked.
Her eyes were filled with such excitement, for a moment he couldn’t look away. “Let’s see, if I win, you must tell me what your plans are that require you to stay in London for weeks on end.”
She tilted her head to the side and pursed her lips. “And if I win?” Her lips curved up and he saw the old joke coming before she even spoke. “Will you give me your entire inheritance?”
He grinned like he always did. This was his favorite joke, after all. It was the wry quip he always used when they bet each other.
Because everyone knew he didn’t have anything to his name but the townhome and small income he’d been left by distant relations. An income that foryears had only managed to cover his expenses, thanks to his luck in the gaming hells.
Until recently, when his investments had begun to pay off, that meager income was all he’d had to his name.
But then, of course, two years ago he’d done something brash. Something bold. He’d bought a piece of land not far from London proper. It was a dilapidated old house on a withered piece of land…
But he’d gone out there every week and he’d worked on it, and he’d read about it, and he’d…well, he’d turned garbage into a small treasure.
And now he was hoping to do the same with the new property he was purchasing.
And oh, how he wished he could tell Jocelyn about what he’d accomplished and what he planned to do.
But as Jocelyn waited for him to laugh at the old joke, he found he couldn’t bring himself to tell her. Just like he couldn’t quite bring himself to tell Liam what he’d done.
For the life of him, he couldn't say why.
“Very well,” Jocelyn sighed when he went too long without an answer. “I’ll tell you why I’m staying, if you do the same.”
His brows drew down. “You know why I’m staying…”
He’d let everyone believe he loath to leave behind the gaming hells and his vices. But Jocelyn narrowed her eyes, and for a moment he got that feeling that he only ever felt around this girl…
The feeling that he was as transparent as glass.
