Page 33 of Never Second Guess a Lord
“You will do no such thing.” He visibly gathered himself and held out his elbow. “I will escort you there and perhaps see you in the morning before I depart?”
While she should say no because it was bound to be torturous, he was her friend, if nothing else, so she agreed.
And it was every bit as difficult as she knew it would be the next morning. However early the hour and despite how few people were about, they could not say what they truly wanted to, so a strained silence settled between them at breakfast.
She knew Emma saw that, too, when she and Lord Campbell joined them. Likely Maude and Lord MacLauchlin as well when they appeared shortly thereafter. All had risen to see Jacob off, and she could not help but wonder if it was for his sake or hers. Either way, she was glad to see them.
Most especially Maude and Emma.
All bid Jacob farewell in the great hall and lingered at the top of the steps outside as Prudence walked him down. While they merely linked elbows, she knew by the way he looked at her he wished for more.
“I will miss you dearly, my lady,” he said softly before they reached his carriage. “I trust you received the letter I wrote you last night? The first of many?”
“I did,” she said just as softly. “I trust you received mine as well?”
“Aye.” Jacob turned to her at the bottom of the stairs but did not touch her lest others wag their tongues any more than she suspected they already did. He started to speak, then stopped as though debating what he wanted to say. As if he wished to say how he truly felt but knew better with his footman standing nearby. “As soon as you are established, I would like to visit.” There was no mistaking his worry at her being alone. “To see how you fare, of course. To make sure all is well.”
“I would like that, Your Grace.” She wanted to touch his cheek. Pull his lips down to hers. Kiss him one last time before they went their separate ways. Instead, she offered a warm smile and hoped he understood the look in her eyes. The desire in her heart. “Very much so.”
“Then so it shall be, Lady Barrington.” He kissed her cheek much like he had the first night he walked her to her bedroom door and murmured in her ear, “I will be counting down the days. The very hours.”
When he lingered for a moment, she felt it right down to her toes. Felt it between her thighs as though they were back on the battlements again.
“As will I,” she whispered because she would. She had even confessed such in her letter because she could not help herself.
When their eyes connected once more, she knew she would find similar words in his letter. That whatever this was between them was well beyond friendship. Some might say that was seen clearly enough last night, but it was more than that.
To the point that when his carriage pulled away, she was grateful Emma appeared on one side of her and Maude, the other. Neither said a word as she swallowed hard and blinked back tears. Rather they linked arms with her, and the three took a stroll.
Nothing was said about Jacob’s departure. Instead, they kept the focus on her new home and all she might discover there. How she would make it her own and fall in love with the countryside. How could she not when she had a sneaking suspicion she had already fallen in love with one of its countrymen?
Granted, she knew little of love and what it felt like, nor if such a thing were possible so fast, only that when she was finally alone again in her bedroom, she wept. Just like she had the night before when penning his letter. She knew it was foolish but could not help it. The interesting thing? She was not sure what she wept for more. His friendship or the passion they had discovered together.
Suffice it to say, she may have poured more emotion into their first correspondence than intended, but she meant every word. She might be starting out on her own, but she knew deep down she would have never found the courage had it not been for Jacob. Never found who she hoped to become if he had not helped free her from the cage of her last marriage. Yet hehadfreed her, and that became clearer by the day. The very hour. She chose not to read his letter right away but saved it for her journey back to Scotland when it came.
First, however, she must tackle her journey south.
“Are you quite sure you want to do this?” Maude asked one last time as she stood with Prudence outside her carriage less than a week later. She looked at her with curiosity. With the hint of a proud smile. “Because you could just as easily head north and never look back.”
“I could,” she granted. “But I get the sense the best way to let go of my past is to face it rather than run from it.” She shrugged. “Even if it is nothing but brick and stucco now.”
“Wise words, my sister.” Maude embraced her, the smile in her voice obvious. “I very much look forward to visiting you in your new home once you are settled.”
“And I look forward to having you.” Prudence held Maude at arm’s length and spoke from the heart. Meant every word. “Thank you, sister.” She bit back emotion. “For everything.”
“No need to thank me.” Maude embraced her again. “It was such a pleasure seeing you again. I have missed you so very much.” She looked at her again. “Thisyou.”
She had missedthisher as well and was so glad she had found herself again. Where Agnus would have offered a stiff nod hello on the way here weeks ago, the small smile she offered Prudence now when she climbed into her carriage said much about their stay.
More so about the friendship they were discovering.
“This has been quite the time, has it not, Miss Agnus?” The carriage pulled away, and she silently bid farewell to a castle that had been at the root of so much. She glanced up at the battlements and whispered farewell to Jacob in her mind. Would never forget the time they had spent up there, most especially.
“It has, my lady.” Agnus glanced out the window as well. “Who knew the Scottish would be so amiable?”
“Were they all, then?” That had sounded rather nostalgic. She sat back and perked a brow at Agnus, comfortable being frank with her. “Did you make peace with the duke’s valet at the end?”
“As I have said time and time again, there was no peace to be made.” Agnus’ huffy response gave her away. “I can say, however, I appreciated his discreetness when we exchanged letters on your and the duke’s behalf.”
