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A complication The word seemed inadequate to describe Jane He doubted he could name what he felt for her, but she was vastlyfor each other," she continued "Ill-suited at every level I know you came to Town to find a bride And you never would have chosenher lips in a thoughtful manner "For that, I’m sorry Sorry that I took your choice froe of her eyes, glowing like eh her doh his mind His body responded instantly and he shifted uncomfortably on the seat He had chosen her He just had not known it was her at the time
And if he were honest with himself, he had chosen Jane, too He had followed her into Lady Shillington’s gallery, suffering no qualms when he slid his hands beneath her skirts, heedless of the risk, uncaring that they could be discovered at any ht, he would have done the honorable thing and married her
"I would not say that I ithout choice I ae masked women I could have used more discretion You do not bear total culpability"
Why he felt the need to set her right on that score, he could not say
She glanced at hi in her eyes Hope that he dare not nurture
"I knowthe hope fade fro sun over the Indian Sea "I will do ood father and a decent husband A fair husband That is enough For both of us"
His words rang in his head as dis of a funeral bell Hell Who was he trying to convince? Her? Or himself?
Cursing beneath his breath, he looked away, staring blindly out theand willing his heart not to thaw one fragment Not for her Not a wos with hi it fortify hi in the wind "Already you offer ht lanced at her The coolness of her expression validated her words She would accept what little he offered
And he would convince hi more from her
Chapter 20
A salty breeze whipped tendrils of hair across her face as she descended the carriage to face the Tudor-style reen velvet, surrounded the house, contrasting richly with the light Caen stone Seagulls sang in the not too far distance Clouds, fluffy as wool, skidded across a cerulean sky
"Is this it?" Her gaze flew to Seth’s face, hope fluttering in her heart "The cottage?"
"Yes," he answered, taking her elbow
Her breath escaped her in an excited rush Before Julianne’s accident, his fae Her eyes skiirlhood honation She had longed to join his fa those summers, to see the ocean, to frolic in the waves with Seth and Julianne instead of languishing at ho her face, she inhaled sea air "Is the ocean far?"
"Not far," he replied, guiding her up the steps just as the front door opened and an elderly couple stepped out "Mr and Mrs Lowery," Seth greeted, "May I presenttheir lined faces, the couple sketched a bow and curtsey "My lady," they greeted
"Thank you A pleasure to e, loomy attire with ill-concealed fascination as they entered the tiled entry
"Thank you, Mrs Lowery"
"Would you care to relax in the parlor with solance "I suspect ould like to visit the beach first off"
Jane nodded er for words After all these years, she was actually at the cottage
With Seth Her husband The latter thought settled heavily in her chest Certainly she had dreae with him With their children A deep ache pulsed beneath her breastbone In her drea awareness that he loved her, that he _chose _ her He had not been cornered and compelled tofor when you return"
Seth led her through a rooany desk and ventured outside through a pair of French doors that opened to a breathtaking garden Roses, lavender, and iris greild abandon, uided her beneath a long stretch of vine-covered pergola They strolled beneath dappled sunlight until the arbor ended Stepping clear, they turned down a path of crushed shells, leaving the well-tended lawn behind She turned her face to the kiss of a salt-scented breeze Fat seagulls circled the air as they ine no better place for a honeyolden sand
He slid her a slow glance before looking straight ahead "It was Julianne’s idea"
A shadow fell over her heart at his gruff reo, ca abruptly at the water’s edge to shed her shoes and stockings
Seth watched her with a curious expression "What are you doing?"
"I’ve waited a lifeti aside, she straightened and stared ahead, hands braced on her hips, deter -awaitedits surface only slightly
"A lifetime?" he echoed "Your husband never took you abroad? No extravagant honeymoon to the Continent?"
She had enjoyed no honey and he had not wanted tothe endless blue horizon, she wondered if it orth explaining that Marcus had preferred to plow the thighs of ladies fresh to Town rather than honey her skirts, she hurried to h she fled the unpleasant hed as water washed over her toes "Ah, that’s cold!"