They sprang apart like guilty children, and Nora could feel heat flooding her cheeks as her brother took in the scene before him. Clearly, they looked suspicious, especially with how they tried to stay apart yet their hands were still locked together.
Cecil's expression was quite unimpressed with the sight that lay before him.
“I see the fifteen minutes were well spent,” he said dryly.
Before either of them could respond, Cecil's fist was flying toward Godric's face. The duke saw it coming but made no move to dodge, clearly prepared to accept the blow as his due.
But Nora was faster. She threw herself between them, her hand catching Cecil's fist before it could connect.
“Cecil, no!” she exclaimed.
Her brother's eyes widened in surprise, and he immediately pulled back, cradling the hand that Nora had grabbed. “Nora, what –”
“We are going to be married,” she announced, lifting her chin defiantly.
The silence that followed was deafening. Cecil stared at her as though she had just declared her intention to sprout wings and fly to the moon.
“You are going to be what?” he asked faintly.
“Married,” Nora repeated firmly. “Godric has asked me to be his wife, and I have accepted.”
“Absolutely not,” Cecil said immediately, finding his voice. “Nora, you cannot be serious. This man lied to us, used us –”
“I know what he did,” Nora interrupted. “And I know it hurt you, Cecil. It hurt me too. But I also know that he loves me, and I love him. And I refuse to let the mistakes of the past destroy our chance at happiness.”
Cecil opened his mouth to argue, then seemed to actually look at his sister – really look at her – for the first time. Whatever he saw in her expression made him pause.
“You truly love him,” he said, and it was not really a question.
“I do,” Nora confirmed. “More than I thought it was possible to love anyone. And I know you are angry with him, and you have every right to be. But I am asking you, as your sister who loves you dearly, to please give him a chance. Give us a chance.”
Cecil's jaw worked as he struggled with some internal conflict. Then his gaze shifted to Godric, who had remained silent throughout the exchange but was now watching Cecil with something that looked almost like fear.
“If you hurt her again,” Cecil said slowly, his voice low and dangerous, “I will kill you. I do not care if you are a duke, or if we were once friends, or if you saved her life. If you make my sister cry, if you give her even a moment's unhappiness, I will hunt you down and make you wish you had never been born. Are we clear?”
“Perfectly,” Godric said, and there was no hesitation in his voice. “If I ever hurt her again, I will hand you the weapon myself.”
Cecil studied him for a long moment, then released a heavy sigh. “If this is truly what you want, Nora, then I will not stand in your way. But know that I am watching, Ironwell. One misstep, and –”
“I understand,” Godric assured him. “And Cecil... I am sorry. For everything. For using our friendship, for betraying your trust, for putting your sister in danger. I know words are inadequate, but please believe that I never meant for things to go as far as they did. You are – you have always been – the best friend I have ever had. The only friend, really.”
Something in Cecil's expression softened slightly at that. “You are an absolute bastard, you know that?”
“I do,” Godric agreed.
“And I should throw you out of this house and never speak to you again.”
“You should.”
“But apparently my sister has terrible taste in men,” Cecil continued, shooting Nora a look that was equal parts frustration and fondness. “And since I love her more than I hate you, I suppose I am going to have to learn to tolerate your presence in our lives.”
Hope flickered across Godric's face. “Does that mean –”
“It means I am not going to stand in the way of this ridiculous engagement,” Cecil clarified. “But it will take considerably more than a few pretty words for me to forgive you. You will have to earn back my trust, Ironwell. And that is not something I grant easily.”
“I would not expect anything less,” Godric said. “And I swear to you, Cecil, I will spend however long it takes proving to you that I am worthy of that trust. You are my only friend, and I-I would very much like to keep it that way.”
For a moment, Cecil said nothing. Then, slowly, he extended his hand. “Then I suppose we had better start somewhere.”
