Page 86 of Irresistible
“Which is why you’d be an excellent addition to the Lords. Would that I could give you my seat,” he said with a chuckle.
Dougal lowered his voice to an intense whisper. “Tell me how you’ve reconciled the change to your life. I don’t know how to do it. I am torn between duty and desire.”
“Then find a way to make the duty something you desire.”
“Is that what you did?”
“Not on purpose, but it did work out that way. Find yourself a wife and a helpmate. Without Ada, I would still be stumbling around in the darkness. She gave me something to desire—not just her.” His lips curled into a brief but wicked smile. “She inspired me to become a better man, to live up to the duty I now carry but never wanted. I am shocked to find I quite like running the estate. When you called me a bumpkin, you weren’t wrong.”
Dougal laughed. “Your solution, then, is for me to find a wife. Lucien was just pestering me about that.”
“Oh hell. Did he offer to play matchmaker? He’s so bloody meddlesome.”
“He did, in fact. I refused him soundly.”
“You don’t need his help. You’re heir to an earldom with a vast fortune. I suppose you’re also passably good looking and in possession of a meager wit.”
“I thought you said I was clever.” Dougal snickered.
Max waved his hand. “That too.”
“I’ve never thought about taking a wife.”
“Never?”
Dougal shook his head. “I didn’t think I needed to. I’ve been focused on other things.”
“I suppose we know what you’ll be doing next Season.”
Unless Dougal had already met the perfect helpmate. He and Jess had played husband and wife most successfully. He could easily envision her as his viscountess. She’d be magnificent.
Except she didn’t want to wed.
“Your mind has gone off,” Max observed. “If you aren’t ready to wed, don’t rush it. I wasn’t looking for Ada at all, but there she was. When love happens—and if you’re lucky enough to recognize it—every plan you’ve made is suddenly worthless. Nothing is more important than that other person.”
Love…that was absolutely not in Dougal’s plans. And Max was right. There was no rush. However, he was beginning to think he already knew his wife, that she’d actuallybeenhis wife. Their time in Dorset had felt so surprisingly natural and…good. The culmination of their passionate night together had seemed right and even necessary. And he’d been ridiculous telling her that he shouldn’t have allowed it. He couldn’t have denied it if he tried.
“I actually do know someone who would make an excellent partner. However, she is dedicated to spinsterhood.”
“You can’t change her mind?” Max asked.
“She reaffirmed her commitment just last night, in fact.” Before they’d kissed. Before she’d told him she wasn’t finished with him. God, he needed to find her tonight.
Chapter19
The candle was low before Jess finally set her quill down atop her desk. Shaking her hand out, she reread the translated message one more time. This was the proof Torrance was looking for. A man called Giraud confirmed delivery of a worthless message he’d created while destroying the real missive that had come from France. He also commented on the fact that he’d soon receive valuable information from MacNair, and that MacNair was not suspicious of him at all.
Jess felt a surge of triumph. The most satisfying part of breaking this particular cipher was knowing with certainty that Dougal hadn’t been working against the Foreign Office. This man Giraud had been the culprit.
Yawning, Jess rubbed her eyes. She’d no idea what time it was, but it had to be late. Past two at least.
The sound of the door latch clicking and the slight creak of the hinges made her jump. Quickly gathering the papers on the desk into a pile, she grabbed a nearby book and set it on top of them. She slid from the chair and crept toward the fireplace, where she reached for the poker to use as a means of defense. Perhaps sheshouldhave tried shooting again. That would be of no consequence unless she owned a pistol, which she did not.
A figure slipped into her chamber. She started toward him, her arm raised so she could strike him over the head. He started to turn, and she brought the weapon down.
“Shit!” Dougal stepped to the side, but she hit his shoulder with the poker.
“Dougal!” She dropped the weapon and rushed toward him. “I didn’t know that was you. What are you doing here?”
