Whatever it was that Miss Simmons wanted to say, it was important enough to require that they remain as hidden as possible. Hugh’s stomach tightened as she looked up into his face and then took both of his hands in hers.
“I have no intention of ending our betrothal or the like, if that is what the worry etched across your face is about.” Miss Simmons smiled briefly, though her gaze remained steady. “As I said, I should have spoken to you of this previously, but with everything that has happened, I quite forgot.”
“Then tell me now,” he said, softly. “What is it that burdens you?”
Miss Simmons closed her eyes and took in a breath.
“It is concerning a conversation I overheard some time ago, as a wallflower. It was between two ladies, and they spoke of you.”
Hugh’s shoulders dropped.
“Another rumor?”
“No, it was not that,” Miss Simmons reassured him, though she did frown. “It was a conversation which I could not fully understand. Two ladies spoke of you, and the situation which had almost occurred with Lady Duthell. One stated that it was most unfortunate, though I could not be certain as to whethershe meant it was unfortunate that you should be caught up in such a thing or that it was unfortunate that you had avoided it.”
Hugh’s heart squeezed.
“I see.”
“I should have told you about this before now, though mayhap it means nothing,” Miss Simmons continued, her eyes dropping to the floor for a moment. “However, it was on seeing the second lady today – the one who, I believe, was speaking of you in such a way, that I realized it was something I ought to have told you long before now. I am sorry I did not.”
“Please.” Releasing one of her hands, Hugh set it to her chin and gently lifted it, so that she looked up into his eyes. “This is not something which you need to apologize for. It is quite understandable, given that so much has taken place! Thank you for telling me now.”
Miss Simmons’ worried expression softened and, before he knew what he was doing, Hugh found himself leaning down, the desire to kiss her beginning to grow like a sudden fire sweeping right through him. It was only when Miss Simmons’ eyes flared in surprise that he stopped himself, swallowing hard and looking away as he dropped his hand to his side and stood up straight.
“Forgive me.” Clearing his throat gruffly, he struggled to look back into her eyes for fear of embarrassing himself further. “I did not mean–”
“I was only a little astonished.” Miss Simmons’ hand squeezed his as she spoke softly, and Hugh finally brought his gaze back to hers. “It is not as though…” Her face flushed, but she smiled, still looking up at him. “I confess that my heart feels an abundance of emotions, Lord Blackmore. It pulls from one to another without any warning but, in the midst of it all, is the awareness that I have a great and growing affection for you. Despite all of the rumors, the difficulties, and the strain which has come with our present circumstances, that affectioncontinues to grow, and that is something which I find myself to be very happy about indeed.”
Hugh did not wait another moment. To hear that her heart sang with an affection for him, much as his own did for her, was too much for him to hear without acting upon it. Putting his arms around her waist, he lowered his head again, taking his time and moving with a great slowness so as not to overwhelm her. Miss Simmons did not hesitate, however. She lifted her chin, closed her eyes, and waited for him to close the distance – and Hugh did so at once.
Their kiss was soft and sweet, the gentleness of her mouth against his sending heat streaking down to his core. Her hands moved slowly up his chest to around his neck, her fingers pushing into his hair as he angled his head just a little. Her hands tightened and Hugh pulled her all the closer, his heart singing for the sheer joy that came with this moment. It was not something which he would ever forget and, as their kiss finally broke apart, Hugh took in a ragged breath, a little surprised at how overcome he was by the simplest of kisses.
“I must hope, Blackmore, that there is something in your heart for me also.” Miss Simmons’ cheeks burned hot, but her eyes searched his face, a clear urgency in them. “I thought that… I had a little hope that there was even the smallest–”
Hugh caught her lips with his again, silencing her concerns and sweeping them away as he held her close. She sighed as he set himself apart from her again, though he kept his forehead resting gently against hers.
“Yes, Rachael. I will admit to you openly that my heart holds a strong affection for you in return. I only wish that I had been bold enough to speak of it before you, so you might have had the assurance of the return of your affections!” Smiling gently, he cupped her face in his hands, looking down into her shining eyes. “I am astounded by your beauty, by your strength, and yourcourage. Your willingness to linger by my side, to hold fast to our betrothal, when many a young woman might have stepped away, makes me all the more grateful for you. I did not ever imagine that I would be stepping into marriage with someone who holds my heart as you do, but now that such a thing has been offered me, it is something which I am all the more grateful for.”
Miss Simmons sighed contentedly and closed her eyes.
“It feels as though nothing else in the world matters aside from my standing here with you,” she said softly, as Hugh found his heart understanding entirely what she meant. “Everything that has concerned me, everything that I have pulled back from, it all seems to be so very little now.” Her eyes opened “Even Lady Alderton’s remarks–”
“Lady Alderton?” Hugh’s smile dropped, his stomach twisting as he looked into Miss Simmons’ eyes, seeing her frown growing in the place of her smile. “Did you say Lady Alderton?”
“Yes, I did.” Miss Simmons took a step back from him, their tender moment gone. “Why?”
Heat ran over Hugh’s skin, followed by a shuddering cold. Squeezing his eyes shut, he turned around completely, putting his head back and groaning aloud as he fought to find something to say.
“That name means something to you.” Miss Simmons drew closer, one hand to his arm as she leaned in towards him again. “Oh, goodness, I should have said something sooner! The moment I saw her and heard what was said, I should have come to tell you at once.”
Hugh shook his head.
“You are not to bear any guilt or blame in this. It is only now, on hearing the name that I realize there may be something significant here… though I cannot understand why it would be.” Miss Simmons’ frown remained, but she said nothing, thinking that the silence would encourage him to explain further, but hedid not. There was too much on his mind. It must be too great a concern for him to share with her at present. “I will not say more yet, my dear lady. Is it not because I have no wish to, but rather because I wish to consider the matter a little more. I may be entirely wrong in all of my thinking, and it would not be right for me to discuss it with you at present, not until I am entirely certain.”
Miss Simmons caught her lip between her teeth for a moment, then gestured to the front of the bookshop.
“Would it help if I were to inform you that Lady Alderton was present, here, at this very moment?”
