“Diana?” he said her name gently, reaching out across the card table and taking her hand in his. “What is it?”
“The other night,” she began slowly, looking down at their joint hands, “you wouldn’t tell me what it was you wanted to say.”
“Because it is hard to tell,” he whispered.
“It is not so hard for me.” Diana lifted her chin, deciding it was time she was brave. “I love you, Owen.”
His reaction was an instant one, sitting forward in his seat and his lips curving into a smile.
“Diana, please –” They were not quite the words she wanted to hear in response.
“You do not have to say it back,” she said, pulling her hand out of his. “I needed you to know.” She slowly stood from the table. He stood too, rounding it quickly and coming towards her. “I will not be scared of telling you. How could I be? When I feel it so utterly and so completely? I know what is in my heart, Owen, even if you wish to deny what is in yours.”
“It is not that I wish to deny it.”
“What is it then – mff!” She didn’t quite finish her sentence, for his lips found hers, silencing her with a kiss.
“I am scared of saying it,” he whispered, pulling back just enough so that his lips moved against hers.
“Why?” she asked quietly.
“Because what if we lose each other?” he asked. “Won’t it then be so much harder, parting, knowing what we feel for each other?”
“Well, now you know how I feel,” she said, lowering her gaze towards his chest. The mention of them losing each other broke her, making her hands lift and rest on his chest, clinging to him.
“I do.” He moved his head back down towards hers, as his fingers tapped her chin, lifting her gaze back to his. “You can tell well enough how I feel without me having to say it,” he murmured softly. “I love you too.” When his lips closed over hers, she was instantly passionate, reaching up to him and wrapping her arms around his neck.
“Yet …” He tried to speak between kisses, but she kept finding his lips again, making it difficult and drawing a chuckle from him. “Have we not just made it harder for ourselves? If I lose you now, Diana – I do not know how my heart could bear it.”
“Then let us make a promise.” She reached down and threaded her hands through his.
“What kind of promise?”
“One where we vow not to lose each other. Come what may, whatever happens, we will try to stay together. Even if it has to remain a secret.” She added the latter part with a sad smile, one that he mirrored.
“I wish it didn’t have to be a secret.” He bent down towards her another time. “Had life been different, Diana – had you not been married, I want you to know, I would have asked you.”
“Asked me what?”
“To marry me.” His words made something inside her tingle with excitement. She couldn’t stop the breadth of her smile, nor did she wish to.
“You would have?” she asked excitedly.
“In another life, it seems.” He bent towards her again, heading for her lips.
“In another life,” she agreed, reaching up for a kiss. She was so busy absorbed in the thrill of that kiss she was barely aware of sounds elsewhere in the house. Even as Owen threaded his arms around her waist, pulling her up towards him, all she could think of was that touch, not the banging and clattering behind them.
“Wait,” Owen murmured between their kisses. “What’s that noise?” Their gazes connected just as a voice echoed through the corridor.
“Where is my butler?” Gilbert’s voice rang out loudly. He was back early.
Diana didn’t have time to say anything. The door banged open with her hand still resting on Owen’s chest and his arms around her waist. They only had time to flick their heads towards the doorway, to find Gilbert standing there, staring agog at the two of them.
Chapter 27
“God’s mercy.” The curse that left the duke’s lips was sudden. Owen released Diana, knowing it was too late for that. “What is going on!?” he cried, hurrying forward so quickly that Diana began to retreat across the room. “Diana, you had your arms around the butler!”
She ran away from him, heading for the nearest settee, trying to put that between her and her husband. Owen could see the fear clearly in her face, so strong that her cheeks were as pale as snow and her eyes were restless, even darting to the door as she contemplated escape.
