Lena gasped. Her hand instinctively went to her own hair. The resemblance was undeniable. The image mirrored her own features and the lock of hair appeared identical to her own.
“Do you remember?” he asked again.
Something hot pink flashed in the inner vision of her mind.
“I…” Her voice wavered. “I see…China roses?” She looked up in confusion.
“Yes.” His tone was tinged with hope. “We were in a rose garden when you gave me the locket. It was an engagement present. Do you remember giving it to me?”
She stared at the locket.
“No,” she whispered, hanging her head.
She did not notice the way his hand lifted and wavered in the air, reaching out to touch her, hesitating. By the time she looked up again, he’d dropped his hands.
“I am sorry,” she said woodenly. What utterly meaningless words. What else could she say? She felt helpless.
He filled the room, tall, awkward, and silent.
He was a stranger she had once loved.
He was a stranger who had once loved her.
And she couldn’t remember a single thing about him or the feelings they had once shared.
She cleared her throat, and it sounded terribly loud in the room.
“Well. I suppose we shall figure it out, yes?” she said with false cheerfulness and cringed inwardly. Heavens, that sounded awkward. “Eventually.” She fiddled with the string of her apron, which she’d forgotten to take off when he’d arrived.
He looked at her with slightly widened eyes.
“I mean, that’s why you’re here.” She rubbed a finger across the wooden surface of the dresser, as if to wipe away an imaginary speck of dust, just so that she could do something instead of standing in front of him like that.
He didn’t say anything.
Why didn’t he say anything?
She cleared her throat again. “So we can sort this out.” She gestured wildly in the space between them. “This terrible mess. Together. Eventually.” It didn’t sound any better when she repeated it.
“Eventually,” he repeated.
She nodded eagerly, relieved that he had finally said something. “Yes. It will all come together, won’t it?”
He exhaled deeply, as if he had been holding his breath all the time. “I certainly hope so.”
“Good!” She beamed at him. “Excellent.” She rubbed her hands. “Wonderful.”
“Helena.”
Her eyes snapped up. “Yes?”
“Please trust me.”
Her mouth formed an oval. “Oh. Yes.” She chewed her bottom lip and her eyes darted around the room, desperate to avoid his glance. Heavens! She was alone with the Duke in the bedroom. He was a man. A stranger! Even if he was her husband. What an intolerable muddle it all was. At any rate, she certainly shouldn’t be in the bedroom with him.
She paused at the door and took a deep breath. “I have another question.”
“Please.”
