The Duke of Defiance (The Untouchables #5)(54)

With each word she’d uttered, another shade of color had leached from Nora’s face until she was nearly white. It took her a moment to respond, but when she did, there were tears in her eyes. “Jo, I had no idea.”

“Of course you didn’t. I never wanted you to know that I was unhappy. Nor did I want to dwell on it—and I still don’t.”

Nora blinked. “I understand completely. I wish I’d known.”

“What would you have done?” Jo asked. “Nothing. Anyway, it’s in the past now, and as I said, I don’t wish to dwell on it.”

Taking a deep breath, Nora smiled brightly. “Your strength and courage is an inspiration.” She gave Jo a sly look. “Things with Knighton are different from with Matthias, I take it?”

“I had no idea what I was missing.”

Nora giggled. “It’s quite lovely, isn’t it?”

Jo grinned. “I might use other words beyond lovely. Such as astonishing. Or incredible.”

“And this has been going on awhile?” Nora asked.

“No, just last night, but I expect it will happen again.” She hoped it would happen again.

Nora’s expression dimmed. “I would be remiss if I didn’t caution you. What are your plans? Will he marry you?”

“He did offer—at the Harcourt ball, actually.”

Nora gaped. “You were keeping secrets.”

Jo laughed softly. “No, I simply didn’t see any reason to tell you something that was of no consequence. We barely knew each other then. Anyway, I can’t marry him. He needs a countess who can provide him with an heir.”

“So this truly is just an affair, then? What will happen when he does take a countess? Will you stop being Evie’s governess?”

These questions were why she’d been hesitant to tell Nora. Or anyone for that matter. They were valid and reasonable, and she ought to consider them. She had considered them. It made her feel ill.

“I’m not thinking about that right now. I’m fully committed to Evie—I adore her.”

“Of course. I just don’t want to see you hurt. You’ve been through enough.” Nora winced and shook her head. “Which is precisely why you deserve this. Just…be careful.” She reached out and squeezed Jo’s hand, then her eyes narrowed. “And if Knighton hurts you, he’ll have me to answer to.”

For the rest of the day, Jo couldn’t help but think of what Nora had asked her. Had Bran hired her in the hopes that they would have a liaison? She knew that Evie had wanted her too, but Jo couldn’t shake the idea that she’d somehow been manipulated. Maybe that was because no decision had ever been truly hers.

She should ask him, but her doubt got the better of her and she left dinner early, claiming a headache. He’d seemed disappointed but also kind.

He hadn’t lured her into seduction. But even if he had, did she really mind?





Chapter 13





Bran couldn’t deny that he was frustrated. And not in a sexual way. All right, perhaps in a sexual way too. Could he help it if Jo had awakened a stirring desire within him? He’d thought of little else the past day and a half, and given her behavior, he wasn’t sure she’d thought of him at all.

She’d done a fair job of avoiding him all day yesterday and again today, and she’d brushed him off last night with some excuse about a headache. He had to assume he’d done something wrong, but he’d no idea what.

This had happened periodically with Louisa. She’d become cross with him and wouldn’t lie with him until he’d apologized. Sometimes he’d discovered what he’d done—said something off-hand that she’d taken poorly or been ignorant of something he shouldn’t have been—and others, he’d no idea. Nevertheless, he’d learned that apologizing went a long way to curing a woman’s gripes.

He’d try that today with Jo.

Evie came bounding down the stairs with Jo following at a more sedate pace. “Ready for our picnic, Papa?”

He swept her up into his arms and spun her around, making her squeal. “I am, sweetling.” He set her down and looked at Jo, who watched them with a half smile. “Let me just grab our picnic basket, and we’ll be on our way.”

Bran picked up the basket that the cook had prepared for their outing, and Bucket opened the door for them. Bran waited for his daughter and Jo to precede him. He noticed that as soon as they were outside, Evie took Jo’s hand. It was a simple gesture, but it warmed his heart to see Evie so comfortable and happy here.

They paused at the bottom of the stairs, allowing him to catch up. Then Evie took Bran’s hand too.

Bran recalled walking along the beach in Barbados like this. Except the woman on the other side of Evie had been her mother. He doubted Evie remembered that.

“What have you been doing today?” Bran asked.

“This and that,” Evie said. “We measured distances on my map. Did you know that Barbados is over four thousand miles away? Of course you did. You know everything.”

Bran laughed. “I do not, but I appreciate your confidence.”

“What don’t you know?” Evie asked as they made their way toward Green Park.

“So many things, most of them to do with women,” Bran said, still thinking of Jo and what he’d done to upset her, if anything.