At that, her face lightened with amusement, though she said nothing. Cormac picked up the pen again. “My last condition is that I want you to experience anything and everything you could not do because of your blindness. Whether it’s reading, painting, dancing—anything you ever wanted to try, we will do.”
She fell silent, not at all enthusiastic, as he’d hoped. “Lord Dunmeath—”
“Cormac,” he corrected. “When we are alone, I’m wanting to hear you say my name,a chroí.”
“Cormac, shouldn’t we... do the thingsyouwant to do?” she ventured. “If you’re dying?”
Her words stopped him all of a sudden. He’d been so focused on getting her to agree to the marriage, he hadn’t truly stopped to think of what he wanted. Because in all honesty, he didn’t think the marriage would last very long.
But her words struck him with a thoughtfulness he hadn’t considered. A heaviness caught his heart that she would consider him when all he wanted was a few months of happiness with her.
“We will,” he said. “We’ll do them together.”
*
“Are you ready?”
Emma’s heart was pounding as she rested her hand upon her father’s arm. “I am.” She’d returned home three days ago, and since then, she’d been caught up in a whirlwind of wedding plans. Cormac had made most of the arrangements, asking her about flowers and what she wanted for a wedding gown. Because there was no time for something new, she wore the blue ballgown with the raised embroidery. Lucy had helped her with her hair, and strangely enough, her stepmother had been kinder than usual—almost as if she felt guilty for what she’d done.
But Emma wasn’t ready to forgive her for the auction, despite it being her wedding day.
“Are you pleased with the man you’ve chosen to marry, Emma?” her father asked. “I know he’s helped me with my debts, for which I’m grateful. But if you do not like him, we can find another way.”
“No, I do like Lord Dunmeath,” Emma admitted, “but I am nervous about living so far away from home.” The thought of being in another country, with strangers who probably wouldn’t want her to be the lady of their household, terrified her.
Her father began walking with her the sixteen steps that remained before the doorway to the drawing room. They would be married by special license. The one Lucy had claimed to have had apparently been false, but Cormac had managed to acquire the real one that was necessary for the wedding.
When they reached the door to the drawing room, someone pressed a bouquet of flowers into her hands. The fragrant scent of lilies and roses made her smile, and as they continued into the room, the aroma seemed to surround the room.
Cormac had done this for her, she realized. Though she could barely see anything, the floral fragrance was a gift she’d never anticipated. Within her heart, she felt an unexpected tug of gratitude.
And then, there was music. She heard the sound of violins, and the beauty of it filled her heart. It was a second gift she’d never expected.
This was more dangerous than she’d realized. The earl had done everything in his power to give her an unforgettable wedding day, but the fact remained that he was going to die. She didn’t know how much longer he had or what would happen, but an invisible pang struck her like a physical blow.
We cannot fall in love.
It was one of the most fundamental rules they’d agreed upon. And despite the swell of happiness that threatened her, she forced herself to put an invisible wall around her heart. She would not let herself feel anything beyond friendship. She simply couldn’t. But even then, the thought of losing Cormac brought an ache to her chest.
Her father stopped walking, and a moment later, he gave her to Cormac. Her bridegroom took her hand and gave it a light squeeze, just as the musicians ended their song.
“You look beautiful, Emma,” he murmured.
“Thank you.” After a slight pause, she added, “And thank you for the flowers and music. They are lovely.”
After that, they spoke their vows and were married. Cormac brushed a light kiss upon her lips and then she heard the applause of the guests. She guessed there were perhaps a dozen people, and soon enough, she heard the congratulations of Lady Ashleigh and her husband, along with Lord and Lady Scarsdale.
Mrs. Harding and Mr. Gregor were also there, but it occurred to her that no one from Cormac’s family was here. Did that bother him? She didn’t know what to think.
The rest of the morning and afternoon blurred into a celebration with good food and more music. Then her new husband asked her to dance.
A refusal came to her lips, but then she realized there were only friends and family here. What did it matter if she stumbled? He’d given her so much, and this was what he wanted in return. It wasn’t right to say no to such a small request.
“All right,” she agreed.
But to her surprise, Cormac guided her outside. He let go of her hand for a moment, closing the door behind him.
“Can you still hear the music?” he asked, as he took her hands.
