“You cannot mean it, Tristan,” Juliana laughed. There was an edge to her laughter.
Tristan shook off her hand. “I amYour Graceto you,” he said sharply. “Juliana, I have been clear. Our relationship is over; you must see that. I am a married man, and it is beneath you to pursue a married man. You always said that you would not lower yourself to chase a man who did not want you, didn’t you?”
Juliana frowned. “You are different.”
He sighed. “Can you look me in the eye and tell me that you love me? No, you cannot, because you do not. Juliana, the world is at your feet. You are talented and remarkably charming. You knew all of this about yourself long before you met me. You do notneedme, but this is becoming an obsession. Love is not a game, my dear. You do not win or lose.”
She shook her head. “You don’t understand.”
“No, I think that perhaps you do not understand. Goodbye, Juliana. I would be obliged if you would not contact me again. I wish you no ill will, but this really must stop now. Speak to me again, let alone touch me, and I’ll make you sorry.”
He did not give her a chance to respond, turning away at once.
Through the crowd, Tristan could see directly over to where his cousin and Madeline had been standing. A rush of fear ran through him when he saw that Madeline was no longer there, and James stood alone.
He pushed through the crowd, his momentum nearly sending him crashing into his cousin.
“Where is she?” he gasped. “Madeline—where has she gone?”
James blinked stupidly at him. “Gone?”
Tristan growled. “Oh, you’re useless.”
Ignoring his cousin’s yelp of protest, Tristan plunged through the crowd again, this time aiming for the road they had entered by, the one that led back to the river.
It was dark, of course, and there were fewer lights strung along the riverside. He relied mostly on the silvery light of the moon to illuminate his way. He was not disappointed. Up ahead, he spotted a familiar silhouette climbing back into the boat that had borne them here.
“Madeline!” he cried, voice carrying easily along the quiet river. She flinched, so he knew that she had heard him, but did not stop clambering into the boat.
He raced toward her, skidding to a halt just as the boatman was preparing to cast off. He jumped neatly into the boat, makingit rock and yaw wildly, and the boatman yelped in alarm. Madeline, who sat huddled in her cloak, held up a hand to forestall the casting-off.
“Get out of the boat, Tristan,” she said wearily. “I am going home. I will send the boat back for you as soon as I reach the other side. I will take the carriage home and sendthatback for you. Don’t be concerned; you will not have to look around for a way home.”
“That is not what worries me, you little fool,” he growled. “You ran off because you saw Juliana speak to me, didn’t you? Well, I told her never to speak to me again.”
Madeline shook her head listlessly. “It isn’t about Juliana.”
Tristan blinked, confused. “I don’t understand.”
“I want to go home, Tristan. That’s all you need to understand.”
He stared at her, not quite able to pinpoint when the conversation had gotten so far away from him. She wouldn’t even look at him.
What have I done? Why does it seem that every time I am making progress with her, she pulls more determinedly away?
Perhaps she hates me after all.
He was not sure what impulse made him lean forward, curling his palms around her cheeks. At any rate, he kissed her, and she did not resist.
Her lips were soft and smooth against his; her face was chilled from the sharp night air. Tendrils of her hair, carefully curled, hung against her neck, brushing softly and teasingly against the backs of his hands.
She did not prevent him from kissing her, but neither did she kiss him back. Tristan pulled away, a niggle of worry sounding in the back of his mind.
“I care for you, little fool,” he whispered. “Why won’t you believe me?”
She swallowed and looked away. “You are very good at kissing, Tristan. You must have had a good deal of practice. And you’ll get more practice, I daresay.”
He let go of her entirely, sitting back with a frown.
