Even in the dimness, she could see color spreading over his chiseled cheekbones.
“You are right, of course.” He cleared his throat. “I have no excuse except to say that I was an idiot. In my desire to fit in with the popular set, I did something inexcusable. I hurt you, and I humbly beg your forgiveness, knowing that I do not deserve it.”
His direct apology surprised her. She hadn’t expected him to acknowledge the truth of what he’d done. At the same time, she realized that it didn’t matter any longer. The incident, which had once seemed monumental, was in truth naught more than a molehill in her life’s journey. A speck compared to the vast, mountainous terrain that was her relationship with Sinjin.
Her husband—hewas everything. Her heart clenched.
“Forget it. I have,” she said.
“You mean that?” Brockhurst came closer, hope rippling over his features. “I’ve carried the guilt of what I’ve done for so long that—”
“I said forget it.” Just because she didn’t hold a grudge any longer didn’t mean that she wanted to have some cozy conversation about his feelings. “Now I really must—”
“I never told anyone about your secret,” he whispered.
Her heart thudded. She caught a rustling sound, and her panicked gaze swept over the dense, towering hedges. No one there. It must have been the breeze she heard or the blood rushing in her ears.
“You must have wondered why I didn’t tell a soul,” Brockhurst went on, “why I never revealed what you shared with me. I’ll admit I was shocked when you told me that you could, well,seepeople’s emotions. You know, theirauras,”—his hand drew an orbit around his head—“glowing around them. You must understand I’d never heard of such a thing before, and it confused me. I panicked because even though I started courting you because of the wager, I was developing feelings for you.”
She stared at him, stupefied. What in heaven’s name was he blathering on about? More importantly, how could she get him to promise never to reveal her secret?
“I was afraid to act on my feelings because you were so… different. I waited too long, and Revelstoke snapped you up. But now that I see how unhappy you are, I can’t hold the truth back any longer. I love you, Polly,” he declared. “I always have.”
Before she could react, he yanked her into his arms, his mouth landing on hers. She struggled, trying to get away, shoving her palms against his shoulders—and he went hurtling backwards through the air.
Did I do that? she thought, disoriented.
A large, familiar figure stepped into her line of vision.Sinjin.Her joy at seeing him fizzled at the sight of his aura: a bonfire of fury so intense that her heart shot into her throat.
He faced Brockhurst, his hands balled into fists.
“I’m going to kill you for touching my wife,” he snarled.
Brockhurst scrambled to his feet, his clothes disheveled, his palms held out in a placating manner. “Revelstoke, we can talk about this—”
Sinjin’s swift punch landed in the other’s gut, Brockhurst doubling over with a loud groan. The sound snapped Polly out of her paralysis, and she dashed over, grabbing Sinjin’s arm before he swung again. His bulging muscles leapt beneath her touch.
“Stop this,” she said urgently. “Nothing happened. He—”
“Touched you. Kissed you.My. Wife.” In the moonlight, Sinjin’s eyes were pitch black. “No one touches you butme.”
His vehemence sent a bolt of alarm through her. She held on, insisting, “It was nothing.”
“If it was nothing, then why did you lie to me?” he said savagely.
“I didn’t lie—”
“You told that fop yoursecret.You confided in him—but you didn’t tell me, your own husband!”
Even as Polly’s heart drummed in her chest, gasps and whispers made her head swing around. Her panic escalated as she saw the gathering guests, all of them drawn to the unfolding drama. She turned desperately back to Sinjin.
“Let’s not do this here,” she pleaded. “I’ll explain everything once we are in private—”
“What will you explain? That you canseeemotions? Bloodyaurasglowing around people?” he exploded.
The heat of stares burned into her. Whispers turned into excited titters.Always said that chit was peculiar… Don’t matter how pretty the belfry is if bats are loose in it…The pyre of social disgrace burst into flame. Heat licked behind her eyes, and she drew a choking breath.
But Sinjin wasn’t done.
