Page 19 of His Perfect Bride
Maybe she ought to knock and take the opportunity to apologize. After all, she had overstepped the boundaries yesterday, and she understood his frustration at her for walking into his private sanctuary and having it completely overhauled by a stranger.
Not only had she rearranged everything, but she’d also riffled through his personal possessions as if they were common items that had no meaning. She’d taken the liberty of moving and categorizing without any of his input. And she’d acted as if she knew better than he did how to do his work.
Yes, she needed to ask for his forgiveness. But their interactions had already been strained from the start, and now the strain would be even worse. If she brought it up, would she only make things more awkward?
Regardless, she would feel better if she made peace with him. She didn’t know if peace was truly possible with a man like Jackson, but she had to at least try.
Without giving herself a chance to back away, she knocked on his door.
No one answered.
She stood motionless and could hear him moving around, muttering to himself.
She knocked again.
Long seconds ticked past, and he still didn’t respond.
Was he ignoring her? If so, she wasn’t surprised.
She expelled an exasperated breath then lowered the tray to the floor. It was probably for the best. She’d already been incorrigible once and didn’t want to put herself in another situation where she might react poorly.
She began to move away. As she did so, the door swung open, and Jackson’s imposing presence filled the doorway, his tall frame and unruly hair nearly touching the top of the doorframe.
With furrowed brows, his gaze snagged on her. “Wait.”
She halted.
He was even more disheveled than usual, wearing the same garments from the previous day, his face more haggard, and the dark circles under his eyes more prominent. His eyes had a tortured wildness, as if he were running from demons he couldn’t escape.
The frustration she’d felt yesterday was gone, and remorse rushed in at full force. What had she been thinking to scold this man when he was already suffering and didn’t need her censure?
“I’m sorry—” She offered the words at the same time that he spoke the exact same thing.
They both stopped abruptly and stood silently.
He reached up a hand and rubbed at the back of his neck, his shoulders slumping as he did so. “I’m the one who should be apologizing, not you.”
“No,” she hurried, needing to apologize before he cut her off. “I shouldn’t have taken so many liberties with your things?—”
“It’s amazing.” The words came out earnestly, and the steel in his eyes softened.
What did this mean? That he wasn’t angry with her anymore?
“Your organizational skills…the room…the order…” He fumbled over his words and then blew out a breath. “Thank you. I didn’t realize how helpful it would be.”
She exhaled too. “Really?”
He nodded eagerly toward his desk, which was a clutter of papers again. “Yes, seeing everything in order made me realize several steps that I needed to add, and I spent all of last night drawing up those missing pieces.”
“I’m relieved. Even so, I apologize for barging in and taking charge the way I did. I should have asked you?—”
“I would have said no, and then I wouldn’t have known what I was missing.” His voice was quiet…and normal, giving her a glimpse of the kindly gentleman Augusta had originally described to her.
He seemed to be studying her face, almost as though he were seeing her for the first time—truly seeing her as a person and not just as Augusta’s maidservant.
She pushed forward with the rest of what she knew she needed to say. “I also apologize for being rude to you. I said things I shouldn’t have.”
“You only said what was true and what I needed to hear.”
