The woman Margaret saw—cheeks flushed, bosom heaving, and brown eyes glazed with pleasure—lookednothinglike the plain and graceless social disappointment she’d known and accepted for most of her life.
Then again...what if she’d been relying upon the wrong mirrors? She had found her own reflection in, first, her aunt and uncle’s chillydisapproval and then her fellow students’ outrage at what they saw as her ‘intrusion.’
But ifthiswas the woman her husband truly saw...
Ifshe believed what he had said to and about her, not only just now but also earlier tonight...
Wait. Her mind abruptly snagged on the irrationality of that thought.
Wasn’t he the one person she trusted most in the world?
If that statement was accurate—and it was—then whyshouldn’tshe believe him over everyone else...especiallypeople who had never given her good reason to respect any of their opinions?
Awash in inchoate emotions, sensations, and revelations, she twisted abruptly in his grasp, ignoring a distracting flash of light in the corner of her vision as she moved. All of her attention was focused on the absurdly handsome man who stood before her now, visible once more, blond hair rumpled and hazel gaze tender, smiling down at her as his arms loosely surrounded her:
Her husband. Her partner and ally. Her dearest friend.
And...?
Uncontrollable emotions swirled within her, far too tumultuous to categorize. Therewereno words available that could express what she was feeling now...
At least, no words that felt remotely safe. Even the faintest hint of a logicalidentification, hovering at the back of her mind, made her feel as if she was suddenly teetering on the brink of a precipice, in danger of losing everything that had kept her secure for years.
It was so much easiernotto speak at all! Holding his gaze and breathing quickly, she placed her hands flat against his chest and tipped her head to one side, baring her neck in wordless invitation.
Telltale amber sheened across Lord Riven’s hazel eyes in response, and an answering thrill ran through her. He took a deep, shuddering breath as she watched with anticipation.
Then he shook his head, lips curving into a rueful smile. “No, thank you, my dear. I won’t indulge myself now—not so shortly before your expedition.”
“But it wouldn’t onlybefor you! I...I would enjoy it too.” Margaret felt suddenly absurdly shy under his gaze, with so much raw emotion running through her. What if he could somehow sense it and found it hopelessly gauche, just as her aunt would have termed such a display? It had taken heryearsto learn how to properly hide her feelings. Now, she had to swiftly duck her head and focus on the silver buttons of his waistcoat only to hide her expression...
But he leaned even closer, folding his arms around her until her cheek was warmly pressed against his solid frame. “Iknow,” he murmured into her hair. “I read your paper on the matter.”
“I remember.” She tightened her fingers around his jacket, clinging to its comforting stability. “Unlike most people, you even read the footnotes.”
“My wife has informed me that a careful reading of the footnotes isessentialfor judging the worth of any argument.” His laugh was almost soundless, but she felt it against her like a second soothing embrace. “I’ll read everything you write with pleasure for the rest of our lives, Lady Riven—but Iwon’tsend you out to study dangerous creatures when you’re already faint from blood loss.”
“Pfft.” She made a face against his chest. “It’s not as if you ever take too much at a time. So long as I take care with my diet?—”
“I fed from you only two nights ago,” he said firmly. “That is more than enough, and I willnotrisk your safety. Konrad has already offered to send up a glass of pig’s blood for me before I take my rest.”
“Ugh, pig’s blood,” she grumbled. “You hate that taste.”
“And yet, somehow, I believe Imightprefer it to the experience of rising from my sleep tonight to learn that you’d fallen into the Diamantensee in a state of dizziness—or been yanked into it against your will and felt too enervated to fight back.”
A knock sounded on the door, and he stepped back, pulling his jacket gently free from her fingers and leaving her unanchored. “There. That will be Konrad with my meal now.”
Another incoherent protest rose to her lips as she watched him walk to the door...but as the demands of logic stirred within her, she forced herself to swallow it back down.
How could she argue? Rationally, he was correct. It had been years since she’d accompanied her parents on any of their expeditions; this time, she would be conducting her own fieldwork without their expert guidance. Of courseher wits should be at their sharpest for her first interactions with the nixen; otherwise, how could she make full use of that rare opportunity? Any sensible scholar would spend the next few hours preparing for that meeting with an in-depth review of every relevant note or reference to the legendary key she soughtandthe powerful water spirits who might be its guardians.
And yet...
Closing the door behind Konrad after an exchange of pleasantries that Margaret barely heard, Lord Riven lifted his full glass of blood in a rueful toast. “You see, my dear? My needs are fully met. You may safely focus on your own preparations.”
“Of course.” Margaret sank into her seat at the vanity before the mirror, organizing her papers and books before her with automatic care. Inside, though, none of her emotions would allow themselves to be so neatly shuffled into order.
She had never before struggled to focus on her studies. But for the first time that she could remember, all of her instincts were tugging her in a different, entirely un-scholarly direction...and insisting that she had left something essentialundonein the room behind her.
