Page 18 of Indecent
Why had he hesitated? Because as much as he needed to marry, he didn’t particularly want to. A wife would have to understand—and accept—certain things, which meant him revealing that which he could not.
It was a bloody tangle, but then everything to do with his father and family was.
“I appreciate you repairing the coach,” Bennet said to the stable master.
“My pleasure, my lord. Though, I’d have words with your head groom or whoever oversees your equipage. Your coach was in need of a great deal of maintenance.”
Bennet smiled to mask the reality—that Tom, his coachman, was well aware of the state of things and that he did his best to maintain everything given the complete lack of funds to do so. “I’ll do that, thank you.”
Despite dashing across the yard to the house, he was quite wet when he stepped inside. He removed his hat and shook it off, then did the same with his coat, hanging both on a rack near the door.
He probably shouldn’t wander around half-dressed, but he’d done it before—that first morning after they’d arrived. And his coat was wet. Grabbing it from the hook, he took it to their table near the fire and hung it over the back of his chair, then turned it toward the hearth so it could dry more quickly. Bennet rubbed his hands together and soaked in the warmth from the fire.
“I thought I heard someone come in.” Prudence walked in from the kitchen, a strand of blonde hair caressing her cheek. Oh, to be that lock…
She stopped short, her gaze moving over his coatless form and provoking a rather indecent response below his waist. He strove to keep his body under control. She didn’t need to see how she affected him. Hadn’t he already subjected her to enough?
“I was just checking on the coach, and I’m afraid my coat got rather wet when I ran back from the stable.” He felt a need to explain why he wasn’t wearing it. “The coach will be ready to go whenever we can leave.” He sent a perturbed glance toward the window. “Which may not be for some time, unfortunately.”
“How much time?” she asked cautiously.
“The stable master said the river has overrun its banks, which has made the road impassable. He said it could be a few days before we can travel.Ifit stops raining tomorrow.”
“Perhaps we should build an ark.”
Bennet laughed. How he enjoyed her dry wit. “I would if I could afford it.” That he was now jesting with her about his financial state indicated just how comfortable he felt with her. Too comfortable, perhaps. He needed to be careful not to expose too much.
“There’s plenty of wood around here,” she said, standing on the other side of the chair that held his coat. “And if the wind continues as it has, there may be a tree—or ten—felled.”
“I hadn’t thought of that,” Bennet said. “But given our luck thus far, I’m confident one will fall across the road, further delaying our departure.”
She smirked. “We may have to walk.”
He turned fully toward her. “I’ll get you back to London as soon as I can. I’m so sorry.”
With a shake of her head, she held up her hand. “I told you to stop doing that. No more apologies, especially for this weather, which isn’t your fault.”
“I’ll try, but I can’t promise anything. I’m afraid my remorse is quite towering.” He looked toward the fire lest he fixate on that errant lock of hair. He longed to take it between his fingers, to feel its softness before he tucked it behind her ear. Then he’d stroke the delicate shell of that ear and caress her jaw. It would be so easy to lean in and kiss her…
He was an absolute beast.
“I’ve forgiven you, so please set your remorse aside. I am quite fine, and while your scheme was ill planned and horrid, there was no real harm done.”
Unless he’d ruined her for future employment. It wasn’t as if he could offer to take care of her the rest of her life. Not only could he not afford to do so, it would imply a rather scandalous connection between them. He wouldn’t want her to suffer that, not even for five minutes, let alone forever.
“I won’t forget, however,” she added, her eyes glinting with promise.
“I won’t either,” he said softly. “Is it terrible that I’m enjoying this time here with you?” There, he’d said it.
She fidgeted with her hands for a moment, then thrust them down to her sides, as if she’d caught herself doing something wrong. “I can think of worse things. Such as the kidnappers not bringing me to you at all.”
He drew in a breath. “Hell, don’t even think that.” He would have tracked them down and found her, whatever the cost. He said that now, knowing her and liking her as he did. But it would have been Cassandra he would have gone after—or so he’d thought. He would have done the same; however, his reaction was different. Prudence had grasped on to something within him, something that would do anything to keep her safe.
“I try not to think of the worst,” she said. “Sometimes, I can’t help it.”
“Why?”
She fidgeted with her fingers again. “When bad things happen, you begin to wonder if they always will.”
