The Unexpected Wife by Jess Michaels

Author:Jess Michaels [Michaels, Jess]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Passionate Pen

Chapter 14

As Owen pulled the phaeton back up in front of Abigail Montgomery’s house, he smiled at Celeste. She’d been quiet during the short ride, but it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence.

“I know we didn’t do exactly what you hoped—” he began.

She turned a little to face him. “That was exactly what I wanted to do, Owen.”

She covered his hand with hers and they both watched as their fingers interlaced. She let out a sigh. “If I’m quiet, it is because I’m thinking of how to best approach Pippa.”

He wrinkled his brow. “If you can speak to her, wonderful, but please don’t trouble yourself. This is my investigation and I will find another way if there is no route through your connection.”

Her lips parted and she leaned a little closer. Too close, perhaps, for propriety, but it didn’t matter in that moment. “I promised you I’d try,” she said softly. “That I’d help. And I keep my promises, Owen Gregory.”

He swallowed hard at the spark in her eyes. The determination that was so attractive to him because it was so much like his own. Then she blushed and turned her face and the moment passed.

“I should go in,” she said, motioning for the waiting footman who came to help her down. “Thank you again for the day.”

“I’ll see you soon,” he promised, and watched as she trailed up the stairs and into the house.

At the door, she paused and looked back at him, but then she was gone, and he drew the first full breath he’d been able to take since the moment when he’d come here to collect her. That’s what she did, after all. Took his breath away.

He settled back and was about to pull his phaeton from the drive when he saw a flash of movement from the park directly across the street. The figure of a man, who ducked behind a tree as if trying not to be seen.

Owen clambered down from the rig and crossed the quiet street, searching for the person as he scanned the bushes and trees in the park. Seeking out people that weren’t on the trails and walkways.

The movement flashed again, from behind a bush this time.

“You there!” Owen called out. “I see you, so there’s no purpose in hiding. Come out.”

A brief silence followed and then a rustle from the bush. To Owen’s shock, the Duke of Gilmore stepped from behind the shrubbery, brushing small leaves from his fine greatcoat as he did so.

“Your Grace?” Owen said. “What are you doing here?”

He had a thousand guesses as to the answer to that question. After all, he hadn’t yet cleared Gilmore from his suspicions, but he wanted to hear the excuse the man would come up with for this very odd behavior.

The duke pursed his lips and then sighed. “I apologize, Mr. Gregory. I ought not to have been so childish as to hide from you like that. I was embarrassed about being caught staring at Montgomery’s home and I did not act my best.

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