Page 21 of Irresistible
She rather liked him and would hate if that were true. Hopefully, it wasn’t. After all, he had an earldom to inherit and a delightful father to make proud.
“Something amiss?” he asked. “You’re watching me with a singular interest.”
Jess shook her head. “Not at all, just thinking of the work before us. Let us start at the beginning. We met at church three years ago.”
And on they went as they’d done many times before. Except in this instance, her unease remained.
Chapter6
The rain Dougal had predicted a few hours earlier began to fall. Because of the heavy clouds, sunset came faster than he’d anticipated. Still, he was able to get them where they needed to be—just outside the gatehouse at the end of the drive leading to the dully named Seaview House, which the Chesmores had purchased earlier in the year.
He pulled the gig to the side of the road and turned to Jess. “Stay here while I exchange the breeching straps and take care of the horse. Try to stay dry.”
“I thought it would be better if we are rain soaked.”
“Yes, but I have every expectation that will happen when we walk up the drive to the house.” He glanced up at the sky and got a raindrop in his eye. “Blast,” he muttered, blinking furiously.
“Are you sure I can’t help you?” Jess offered. “I can manage the horse.”
“I have no doubt, but these things can’t be done at the same time. If I conduct the sabotage with the horse still in the harness, he may react poorly or at least be stressed. I don’t want to do that to him.” He climbed out of the gig so that he was fully in the rain, which seemed to be falling more steadily than even a moment ago.
“That makes sense. You’re very kindhearted.”
“Usually.” He went to unhitch the horse and tied him to a nearby tree that afforded him a modicum of shelter. “You won’t be out here long, my boy,” he said soothingly, stroking the animal’s neck.
Hurrying back to the coach, he removed the breeching strap and replaced it with one that was worn through. He tossed the good strap a fair distance into the shrubbery off the side of the road. Then he turned to Jess and offered his hand. “Time to go.”
At that moment, lightning flashed overhead. A moment later, thunder roared. Jess practically leapt into his arms as she stepped from the gig.
He caught her waist and held her steady, looking into her upturned face. “All right?”
“I’ve never liked thunderstorms. Let’s hurry.”
The raindrops grew fatter. They would be soaked through in no time.
Dougal took her hand. They walked quickly to the gatehouse, then started up the drive. The house rose before them, a charming structure of stone and wooden gables constructed within the past fifty years. It wasn’t terribly large, but neither was it small. He estimated thirty rooms.
“Almost there,” he said encouragingly.
She quickened her pace, and he had to do the same since her legs were nearly as long as his. At last, they reached the threshold.
“Here we go,” he whispered.
He rapped loudly with his fist. They waited a moment, during which the rain seemed to come down even harder. At last, the door opened to reveal an elderly butler with a stooped frame. He perused them with a discerning eye and pursed his lips. “Mr. Chesmore is not expecting you.”
“No, we were passing by, and our gig has been rendered undriveable,” Dougal responded. “Then it began to rain. May we come inside?”
The butler sniffed. “You will get the floor wet.”
“If I promise to clean it, will you please let us in?” Jess asked, her teeth chattering.
Dougal hoped she was doing that on purpose as an effect, and that she wasn’t really that cold.
His mouth dipping into a full frown, the butler opened the door wider and allowed them inside. “Wait here. Do try not to drip.”
“We’ll do our best,” Dougal said with a bright smile instead of the sarcasm he was feeling.
The butler slowly turned and walked from the hall. He moved at a snail’s pace, much to Dougal’s annoyance.
