Her Secondhand Groom(85)
“Good, aren’t they?”
He nodded mid-chew. “What are your plans for the day?”
She blinked. “I don’t know yet. I’m still in bed.”
“I can see that.” His eyes did a slow sweep of her, lingering for an extended moment on her thinly covered breasts.
Blushing, Juliet took the last sip of her tea.
“Would you care to go somewhere with me?”
“Sure.” She put her teacup down. “Right now?”
“I can wait for you to get dressed first.”
“Well, I should hope so.” She got out of bed and called to him. “Where are you going? Aren’t you going to help me?”
“No. I’ll send Mary in to help you.”
“Oh.” With the exception of the occasions when they had to get dressed in their best clothes, Drake had taken to helping her dress. She was hesitant to accept his help at first, but she rather enjoyed it now and would be lying to herself if she didn’t admit she was slightly disappointed he wouldn’t be helping her dress this morning.
An hour later, Juliet was dressed in her best pink day dress and walking into Drake’s study.
“All ready?” he asked, getting to his feet. He came around the desk, and as was their custom when they went on walks, took her hand instead of offering his arm.
She gladly held his hand in return, and gave it a gentle squeeze with her fingers. He smiled down at her then intertwined their fingers.
“Is everything all right?” Juliet asked after they’d been walking for twenty minutes and he hadn’t said a word.
He nodded.
“No it’s not. I can tell by the look on your face. What’s wrong?”
“I have to make a trip to London,” he blurted.
She blinked up at him. That wasn’t something so out of the ordinary that would make him act so strange. “All right, when do we leave?”
He coughed. “We?”
“Yes, we.” She frowned. “You were thinking of making this a family trip, were you not?”
“Not exactly,” he said, looking everywhere but into her eyes. “Not that I wouldn’t love for you and the girls to join me, I would. But I just thought this time I’d go alone.”
Hurt pierced Juliet’s heart. Why did he want to go to London without her? Glancing away so not to give away how much she was hurting, she nodded. “When do you leave?”
“Tonight.”
She swung her gaze back to his. “Tonight?”
“Yes. I want to get there at a decent time tomorrow night so I am well prepared for my meetings day after tomorrow.”
She frowned. “All right, I guess there’s nothing to say except that I’ll see you when you return.”
“I look forward to it,” he said, leading her back to the house.
They finished their walk in silence and later that day she stood out front to wave him goodbye as he climbed up into his carriage to leave. Though he’d been acting a little strange today, he’d been better than last night. No matter. He’d had a traumatic day yesterday, and for as much as she’d liked to have believed everything would be back to normal today, she knew better. He needed time, and going to London alone would allow him that time.
She’d just need to be patient and ready for when he came back.
***
Patrick clamped his hands together in his lap to keep from throwing open the door to the carriage and running back to Juliet. Last night had been pure torture lying with her in his arms, knowing he couldn’t touch her, and probably never would be able to again.
Going to London was just what he needed. It would be easier getting accustomed to the idea of not being able to touch and kiss Juliet if she weren’t around to tempt him. And everyone, including himself, knew she was too much of a temptation for him. From her silken hair to her perfectly sized breasts to the rest of her firm body, she was a treat to behold. A treat he’d forced to make herself available to him in the past, but not anymore. From now on, he’d hold her and touch her softly so not to hurt her like he’d hurt Abigail.
Old feelings of remorse and self-loathing washed over him at the mere thought of her name. He shoved the thoughts aside. He might have done wrong with Abigail, but he’d do right by Juliet, he’d be damned if he didn’t.
Unfortunately, a week in London did nothing to curb his desire. Actually, it just stirred it to new heights. But it was time to go home. He missed his girls, and for as much as he wished it weren’t so, he missed Juliet and was ready to go back to her even if it meant lying beside her in a state of torture. At least he’d still be beside her, he reasoned as the carriage turned into the drive.