Page 17 of Never Second Guess a Lord
It seemed he had truly miffed her because every opportunity throughout the day he thought he might be able to speak with her, she turned away and drifted in the opposite direction. To the point, he knew seeing him with Emma had bothered her.
While frustrated, he could admit to being elated if for no other reason than what made her so upset in the first place. She had not liked seeing him alone with another woman. More specifically, she had been jealous. He was certain of it. And while he disliked her feeling such, hedidlike what it might mean for them going forward. It seemed he might just be able to woo the uppity Lady Barrington after all.
Truth be told, he could think of nothing else he would rather do.
So, despite her avoiding him at every turn, he made sure arrangements were made for traveling to the festival and took advantage of a brief respite when men were not fawning over her to approach before she darted away.
“Lady Barrington.” He bowed his head, then issued his most winning smile. “I feared I might never catch up with you today.”
“Your Grace.” She curtsied, her gaze not shy but rather direct, if not cold. “So lovely to see you again.”
“You as well.” He looked at those leaving the great hall. “Everyone is traveling into town for the St. Cecilia’s festivities. I was wondering if you might join me?”
“I thank you for your kind offer, Your Grace,” she replied almost haughtily despite him ranking above her, “but I have already accepted my sister’s invitation to join her.”
“She has,” Blake said, joining them right on time. He played along because what else were good friends for? Blake flinched and cast Prudence an apologetic look. “But I am afraid unexpected guests have since arrived who really must travel with Lady MacLauchlin and me.” He glanced from Jacob to Prudence, hopeful. “Would it be too much of a bother riding with the Duke of Argyll instead?”
“You would be most welcome.” Keeping his voice loud enough for all to hear, Jacob gave her no room to escape. “Please do ride with me, Lady Barrington? I insist.”
“That would be lovely, Your Grace.” Prudence’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly, but what else could she do but nod? As it were, a duke had requested her company.
“Very good.” He smiled, put his hand to the small of her back, and steered her toward his carriage before she came up with some sort of clever way out of it. “I look forward to today’s festivities, my lady.”
She did not respond, but then he had not expected her to. Rather, she remained the closed-off shell she was days ago as Finley helped her with her jacket, and they made their way down to his carriage. There was no missing her tight expression as they sat opposite Emma and her husband. He need not read her mind to know precisely what she thought. So he made things plain straight away and introduced them.
“Lady Barrington, meet Lord and Lady Campbell,” he said. “Emma is my late wife’s cousin and a dear friend, as is her husband.”
Where he thought that would make all the difference, Prudence’s expression only grew tighter after she greeted them and turned her attention to the landscape. When he glanced at Emma, she merely offered a slight shrug. One that told him he might have underestimated just how deeply Prudence’s husband had wounded her. That even relatives by marriage, however preposterous the notion, were not off the table of possible offenders.
Everyone made polite conversation as they traveled, but it felt uncomfortable. Formal. Too formal, considering what he had started to see blossom within Prudence the day before. So rather than ignore the strain between them, he broached it after they arrived, bid Emma and her husband an enjoyable time, and went their own way.
“Might we take a moment to talk, Lady Barrington?” He offered her his elbow. “Because I sense something has changed since we parted ways last night.”
“Whatever do you mean?” Her voice was as tight as her pursed lips. She looked anywhere but at him, as she slipped her arm into his out of obligation. “Rest assured, all is well, Your Grace.”
“Call me Jacob.”
She straightened as if slapped. “Certainlynot, Your Grace.”
He smiled at her like he had the night before. Like he had wanted to since the moment she was gracious enough to give him time alone to mourn his late wife. “Why when I asked it of you? Because—”
“No.” She shook her head sharply but did not pull away as too many people smiled and curtsied their way. “That ismostinappropriate, and I will not.”
“Then let us take a moment so I can show you something.” He turned off the beaten path until they ended up in a rather secluded spot between two buildings. “What do you see?”
She tensed, glanced from building to building, and frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, what do you see when you look at these buildings?”
Her frown deepened. “I see nothing but old abodes.”
“Really?” He perked a brow. “Because they are much more than that.”
Where he thought her interest might be piqued by their whereabouts, it seemed she had gotten the wrong idea. So said the way she stopped short, gazed around to make sure no one was looking, then narrowed her eyes at him. “Whatever you are about, Iwillnot be part of it.” She shook her head. “I do not participate in secret rendezvous with men out of wedlock.”
“Duly noted, my lady, so rest assured that is not why I brought you here.” Where some might be offended, he was no such thing. “Rather, I wanted to show you what Lady Campbell and I were talking about this morning when you came upon us. The business venture, or project if you will, that I have undertaken with the Campbells and MacLauchlins to resurrect old landmarks throughout Scotland. A means to keep our country’s history alive.”
“That is a noble cause.” Though it remained clear she thought he and Emma discussed far more. Flirted, to be precise. “Why are you telling me this?”
