Surprising Lord Jack by Sally MacKenzie

Author:Sally MacKenzie [MacKenzie, Sally]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance, General, Historical, Fiction
ISBN: 9781420132021
Publisher: Zebra Books
Published: 2013-03-05T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

But family can also be very difficult.

—Venus’s Love Notes

Frances tugged on her gloves as she descended the stairs. She didn’t want to keep Jack waiting when he’d so kindly offered to take her to see Mr. Puddington.

She turned at the landing and saw him standing in the entryway. He looked up—he must have heard her—and smiled.

Her foolish heart gave a little leap.

Damn it, what was the matter with her? She no longer knew herself.

She was tired, that was all.

“Good morning, Frances.”

“Good morning, my lord. I hope I haven’t kept you waiting.”

“No, I just got here a moment before you.” He helped her on with her cloak, and her silly heart fluttered at his nearness, at the brush of his hands on her shoulders, the scent of his shaving soap. “My curricle’s outside. Shall we go?”

“Yes indeed.” The sooner she put some distance between them, the better.

When they arrived at his curricle, he offered her his hand.

She didn’t want his help. “I can climb in myself, you know.”

He raised his brows. “Ah, but not, I think, in this lovely dress.”

He was correct. The dress was beautiful, but breeches gave her more freedom. It was too bad ladies couldn’t wear them.

His hand grasped hers, firm and strong, and her damn heart just about jumped into the carriage on its own.

She was definitely not herself.

Jack went around to climb into the driver’s seat, and the boy holding the horses scrambled up behind.

“You have a tiger now?” The child was about twelve, dressed neatly but not in livery, and looked vaguely familiar.

“For the time being. Sam, make your bows to Miss Hadley.”

Sam grinned and bobbed his head. Ah, now she knew where she’d seen him—at Jack’s house in Bromley.

“Hello, Sam.” She turned back to Jack. “I’m sorry that I’ve not thought to ask before—how is the baby?” She had thought to ask; she’d just been afraid of the answer.

Jack grinned. “Amazingly enough, it looks like he’s going to be fine.”

“Oh, thank God.”

He set the horses into motion, and she turned to study the passing scenery—far safer than admiring the man sitting next to her.

She was so tired because she’d tossed and turned all night, furious with her mother and aunt for keeping her from her grandparents and other relatives, and overwhelmed and touched—and a little frightened—by their welcome.

Her grandparents couldn’t really love her, of course; they just loved the idea of her. She was their second chance with their daughter. Once they got to know her and discovered how contrary she was, they wouldn’t be so enthusiastic. They’d be relieved when she disappeared back into the country.

“Did you sleep well?” Jack asked.

“Yes.” She was not about to share her turmoil with Jack. He was not her safe harbor: He was a whirlpool that would suck her down to disaster. She knew better than to rely on a man, especially one who was a rake. She’d accept Jack’s help just as long as she needed it, and then she’d move on.

And yet . . .

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