“You're cold.” Weston said, his voice sharp and contrasting. Juliet looked down at herself. She didn't realize she had wrapped her arms around her upper body rather tightly. She was only in a thin dress, one suitable for work, not for the harsh and chilly weather.
“It appears so.” Juliet replied, letting out a nervous chuckle.
Weston undid the buttons of his jacket and took it off, revealing his thinly layered white shirt, which stuck to his body.
“The jacket is wet but not too much.” He started, moving closer to Juliet.
“What are you doing? You'll get a cold.” Juliet asked, feeling her cheeks heat up once more.
“Better me than you.” Weston replied. He waited for her to come closer to him so he could wrap the jacket around her body.
“But I do—”
“Take the jacket, Juliet,” Weston said, raising it a bit higher.
Juliet nodded and smiled broadly at him. Was the Weston she had gotten a glimpse of the other day back? She didn't dwell too much on those thoughts. The best thing to do would be to enjoy this as long as possible.
She let Weston wrap the jacket around her gently. This was the first time they had ever been this close. So close she could smell the sharp, dreamy fragrance on his body. She could also see, very clearly, the outlines of his body through the thin vest.
“There.” He whispered, looking into her eyes. “That should keep you warm for a while.
“Thank you.” Juliet whispered in response. The rain splattered across the roof even harder. Weston cupped his hand over his head and tried to look at the entrance where they had come in.
“I do not think this is stopping anytime soon.” He said.
Juliet stared at him, a newfound appreciation creeping out of nowhere through her. No matter how hard he tried not to show it, Weston was a gentleman. He may have married her out of duty, but he didn't inherently despise her. And she liked that. She wanted to see this side of Weston even more. She wished she could.
Weston turned to catch her staring at him. A fresh wave of red swam up her cheek as their eyes met. She turned away almost instantly and shifted her eyes to the only other thing of interest around them—the white horse.
“Do you think the horse might be in some kind of pain? No one's ridden it in years.”
Weston shrugged. “It doesn't take kindly to anyone. The only person allowed to get close to it was the groomer and theMarquess. I have tried going on it, but it wouldn't let me. Pretty stubborn stallion if you ask me.”
Juliet didn't feel anything but pity for the poor horse. Pity so intense that she didn't know when her feet started to move towards it.
“You did hear me, right?” Weston called, his voice wary. “The horse doesn't take kindly to strangers.”
Juliet moved closer to the horse and stopped right in front of the wooden gate. “It is not an angry horse.”
She stretched out her hand. Weston all but reached for her hands and pulled her closer to him out of fear, but he stopped.
The horse was not reacting negatively to Juliet. In a shocking turn of events, it welcomed her instead. Juliet reached for the horse's neck and let her hand run down. The horse leaned into her touch and blew in satisfaction.
“That is—quite fascinating.” Weston said, his face layered with intrigue and surprise. “The horse likes you.”
“It is not a stubborn horse.” Juliet said, gently petting the happy stallion. “It is only lonely.”
Weston watched his wife continue to connect with the horse, feeling a new wave of warmth flood his heart. One that defied the chill running through his body. At that moment, he could feel impeccably impressed. Seeing her like this, compassionate and gentle, had shifted something in him greatly.
Something he wasn't sure he was ready to entertain.
Chapter Sixteen
Juliet stared at her hand the minute Estelle unwrapped it. The cut was practically gone, and while it still stung ever so slightly, she had almost recovered from it.
“Irene is a brilliant woman.” Juliet said to her maid once she disposed of the cloth. “You know. I think it's time I stop wrapping clothes around it, wouldn't you say?”
Estelle stared at Juliet like she had just dropped from the sky. “I agree that most of the wounds have been healed, but you still need a little time.”
