The Duke of Defiance (The Untouchables #5)(44)

“See why you’re so invaluable?” he asked. “You’ve just given me an idea. Rather than interview candidates for the butler, I think I’ll promote Bucket. He’s demonstrated an excellent fortitude and willingness to learn. He’s also ambitious.”

“He sounds well suited. That means you’ll only need a new footman and whatever assistance Mrs. Fletcher requires in the kitchen.”

“So it seems. I wonder if Mrs. Fletcher knows of people to hire. I’ll speak with her later. Thank you for your assistance with these issues.” He paused to look at her. “I’m not at all sure what we would do without you.”

She was about to demur but caught herself. “You’re welcome.”

The girls had stopped up ahead and were speaking with a boy who was perhaps a few years older than them. Jo and Knighton caught up and overheard their conversation.

“That’s where they chopped off people’s heads,” the boy said.

“Like Henry the Eighth’s wives,” Becky breathed, her eyes round.

“One woman was struck eleven times before she died!” the boy declared, eliciting gasps from both girls.

“Thomas!” A woman came striding toward them. “There you are. You mustn’t wander off.” Her gaze caught Jo’s. “Good afternoon.”

“Mama, this is where they beheaded all the political prisoners,” Thomas said.

“Not all of them,” Jo said. “This is where the more private executions took place, particularly those of women. Most were public and occurred on Tower Hill.”

“Can we go see that too?” the boy asked his mother.

The woman glanced at Jo again. “Uh, we’ll see.”

“It’s not too far.” Jo gestured to the northwest. “It’s just beyond the tower that way.”

The woman smiled. “Thank you. Perhaps we’ll see your family there later.” Her gaze flicked from Jo to Knighton to the girls.

She thought they were a family.

Jo’s chest tightened. That was the identity she wanted—and the one she couldn’t have. But right now, in this moment, she could pretend…

The girls waved goodbye to Thomas as he and his mother walked to join the rest of their family, a man with two smaller children in tow.

“Do you want to go to Tower Hill?” Knighton asked the girls.

“I don’t know,” Evie said. “But I want to see the jewels. Can we go there now?”

“Yes, the jewels!” Becky crowed.

Knighton gestured forward with his arm. “Lead on.”

The girls spun about with their guidebook and plotted a path past the church to the Jewel Office. Knighton paid the shilling admission fee for each of them, and they went inside, where it was quite crowded.

“This is a popular exhibit,” he said, as they were forced closer together by the number of people crammed into the space.

“Yes,” Jo murmured, all too aware of his proximity and fresh clean scent that reminded her of sunshine and summer. She imagined all of Barbados must smell like him.

They made their way to the first exhibit, and Jo worked to keep her eye on the girls. “Don’t get too far ahead,” she cautioned them.

“Yes, Jo,” Evie answered.

Jo imagined what it would be like if she’d called her Mama as that boy had done outside. Had Knighton heard what the woman had said about them being a family? He had to have, yet he hadn’t said anything.

Just stop with all this nonsense. They are not your family.

No, they weren’t, but she was, as Knighton had said, an important part of their household. At least for now. She’d take that and cherish it for as long as it lasted.

Knighton stood just behind her—close enough that she could feel his presence against her back. And then he touched her, a slight push as he leaned into her. “My apologies,” he murmured near her ear. “It is crowded.”

Jo’s body burned where he’d touched her. She ached to press back but wouldn’t dare.

This was not good. The awkwardness she’d feared had progressed to an agitation. Within the household, they’d become familiar—sharing information and working in tandem to solve problems, such as with the staff—and they slept across the hall from each other. That alone was enough to send Jo into a state of hyperawareness that sometimes made it difficult to find sleep. She’d never experienced a pull toward her husband. Being with him had been a duty and a chore. Knighton was altogether different, as evidenced by the kisses they’d shared at the ball. They’d left her wanting more, which frightened her. She had to believe intimacy was far more appealing than what she’d experienced, and yet she was too afraid to find out.

Not that it mattered. It wasn’t as if he were knocking on her door, seeking her out.

They moved on to the next exhibit, the girls chattering excitedly. Jo loved watching their enthusiasm. “They’re really enjoying themselves,” she said to Knighton as they followed behind.

“Yes. Are you?” he asked as they stopped at the next exhibit.

“I am.” She turned to face him and at that moment was jostled from behind so that she was pushed into him. She caught his shoulders as his arms came around her waist. She sucked in a breath, too aware of her breasts grazing his chest and the intensity of his gaze.