The Duke of Defiance (The Untouchables #5)(27)

“It was ever so much fun!” Becky said. “We made animals and flowers and even a cottage. They have to set for a bit, and then Abbot will bring them upstairs so you can see them.”

Nora leaned toward the girls, her eyes twinkling. “Oh good, I can’t wait to see your creations.”

“I tried a castle, but it was too hard.” Becky’s mouth tightened with determination. “But I’ll work at it. Next time, I’ll try for something a bit less complicated and work my way up to turrets.”

“So there’s to be a next time?” Jo asked.

Both girls nodded. “Cook said so,” Becky said. “She said once a month if it was all right with Mama.”

“It’s all right with me. We’ll just check with Lord Knighton.”

“Papa will agree.” Evie looked at Jo. “Don’t you think so?”

Jo felt suddenly self-conscious. Why was the girl asking her? “Probably.”

Evie shrugged. “You’ve been to our house. You know what he’s like.”

Jo wasn’t certain what that meant either or what it had to do with the conversation. She knew he liked to walk about with far too much flesh showing. And that had absolutely nothing to do with marzipan. Though she imagined it tasting just as sweet.

Good Lord, she really had no control over her thoughts, did she? She hoped the heat rising in her neck didn’t make it all the way to her face.

Evie sat on the settee facing Nora, and Becky plopped down beside her. “Papa says he’s going to take me to see some castles.”

“Which ones?” Nora asked.

“The Tower of London,” Becky answered. “Mama can we go too? I know you said I’ve been there, but I barely remember.”

“Of course we can go,” Nora said.

“With Evie.”

Nora smiled. “We’ll see.”

Evie leaned closer to her friend and loudly whispered, “That means ‘maybe, but probably not’ in parent-talk. Papa says that to me all the time, and oftentimes it doesn’t happen.”

Becky’s eyes narrowed. “You’re right.” She crossed her arms and pouted at her mother.

Nora laughed. “In this case, I really meant that we will have to wait and see. I’ll have to discuss it with Lord Knighton and your father and see if we can find a mutually agreeable time.”

Becky exhaled loudly. “I suppose.”

“I hope so,” Evie said. “It won’t be as fun unless you all come too.” She looked up at Jo, who still stood near the desk. “Including you, Jo.” The girl’s eyes were so clear and earnest—she truly wanted Jo’s presence. That she could’ve been this girl’s mother if she’d only said yes to Knighton’s proposal…

Her stomach turned again, and her throat tightened. She couldn’t have said yes even if things—she—were different. She barely knew him, had no idea what sort of husband he would be. She’d endured one unhappy, thoroughly horrid marriage and had no desire to enter into another.

“Mama, are there other castles we can go to?” Becky asked.

“Well, there’s Hampton Court, but it’s more of a palace than a castle. There’s a large maze.”

The girls exchanged excited looks.

Abbott entered and announced the arrival of Lord Knighton. The butler stepped out of the way, and the earl moved into the drawing room. He seemed to immediately command every bit of space and air, making Jo feel as though she couldn’t breathe. He was breathtakingly handsome with his too-long hair and dark-as-sin blue eyes. Not to mention his mouth. She couldn’t stop staring at it and imagining the way his lips had moved over hers, the thrust of his tongue…

“Papa!” Evie jumped from the settee and hugged him. “We made marzipan! They’re in the kitchen, but I think Abbott’s gone to fetch them so I can take mine home.”

Knighton looked down at his daughter. “What did you make?”

“A cat, a turtle, and some flowers like we had at home. I tried a castle, but it was too hard, so I made it into a cottage instead. I’m going to work on mastering the elements for a castle next time. We’re going to make it once a month.”

“I see.” The earl glanced over at Nora, who gave him a nod. “Well, that’s most generous of the Kendals’ cook to offer her time.”

Evie pulled a face. “I can’t see our cook doing that.”

Knighton chuckled. “No, I can’t see her doing that either.”

Jo continued to stare at his mouth, despite her best efforts. Not that it mattered since he hadn’t looked at her once since entering the drawing room. In fact, she wondered if he even realized she was there. Yes, why not think that? It was far less painful than thinking he was ignoring her. Could she blame him if he were? She’d turned down his marriage proposal after kissing him like a wanton.

Ugh, she wished she wasn’t there.

In fact, maybe she could just tiptoe from the room…

“Papa, we must invite the Kendals to come to the Tower with us. And Jo.” Evie looked over at Jo as she’d begun edging toward the doorway.

“That would be lovely,” Knighton said, turning to Nora. “I’ll see if we can coordinate something.” Now he looked at Jo. And the full force of his gaze nearly took her breath away, as he’d done earlier by simply entering the room. “I’ll see you tomorrow at noon?”