“I was an idiot. Besides, Erik would have run me through for lusting after his sister.”
She giggled softly. “Did you really lust after me?”
He winked at her. “Are you serious? How could I not?” When she continued to giggle, he continued with his story. “At any rate, you and your silly friends went to the lake to swim and you swam out too far. Your legs became entangled in the underwater grass.”
Emberley’s smile faded. “I remember,” she murmured. “I would have drowned had it not been for you and Erik. You two jumped into the lake and risked your lives to cut me free. I remember that you in particular spent a good deal of time under the water cutting my legs free. Once Erik brought me back to the shore, he had to practically drag you out of the water as well. You nearly killed yourself trying to save me.”
Gart’s green eyes were intense. “As I would do the same thing today,” he said softly. “Never doubt for a moment that I would kill or die for you, my lady. I have been doing it since you were young. Therefore, your husband does not frighten me. Not in theleast. I would willingly go to the vault or worse if it meant you would be safe and whole.”
She sighed, understanding his point. Having known the man most of her life, he had proven his selflessness time and time again. As her brother had also been, Gart was a man of extremely good character and altruism, qualities that were very endearing.
“I understand and appreciate your chivalry,” she said quietly. “But this situation is different. I am married and….”
He cut her off. “And your husband is a fool,” he rumbled. “He does not deserve you, Emberley. Has he been treating you this way since you married him?”
She averted her gaze from his probing eyes. “Aye,” she whispered. “We have been married for eight years. It has always been this way.”
Gart shook his head, turning his gaze to the lancet window and the blue sky beyond. He could smell the sea wafting in on the breeze, as Dunster sat right on the coast. Seagulls cried as they rode the drafts and he watched them a moment, his thoughts lost and tumultuous. There was so much on his mind that it was difficult to isolate only one thought. But he did know one thing for certain.
“I am sorry,” he finally muttered.
She watched his handsome profile, her gaze moving over his big body, long torso, and very long legs. “Why?”
“Because,” he admitted, turning to face her. “I should have married you and saved you from all of this.”
She smiled again. “You are being foolish,”
“Why?”
Her smile grew. “Must I answer that question?”
“If I want you to, you will.”
She shook her head at him as if she truly thought he was foolish. “In the first place, you had no interest in me and in the second place, you and my brother were full of dreams of big warsand big glory. A wife did not fit into those plans. Moreover, it would have been as if I had married my own brother. You and Eric were too close.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “Do you still feel that way?”
“What way?”
“That I am as your brother?”
Her smile faded. “Nay,” she whispered. “I see you now as a very dear, very old friend. It has done my heart a world of good to see you and I shall miss you when you go.”
“A few minutes ago, you were asking me to leave. Do you still want me to leave?”
She regarded him closely. After a moment, she weakly nodded her head. “Aye.”
“You do?”
“Aye.”
“Well, I am not going anywhere. I cannot leave you like this.”
“But I wish it.”
“I do not care. For once, I will not bow to your wishes.”
“Even at the cost of Julian killing me should he discover you here with me?”
