Livy’s brows arched over her knowing green eyes. “I can tell something is going on between the two of you.”
“How, pray tell?”
“I can’t explain it, exactly. But you have some of your old sparkle back.”
“I wasn’t aware I had any to begin with,” Pippa said wryly.
“You’ve always lit up any room you entered,” Livy said.
Years ago, Cull had said something similar, Pippa recalled with a pang. She could hardly remember being that happy, carefree girl; it seemed like a lifetime ago.
“If I may be frank…”
Amused, Pippa asked, “Do you know how to be otherwise, dear?”
“Hadleigh says I’m as subtle as a brick through a window,” Livy said ruefully.
Pippa chuckled. “Your husband adores you.”
“I know.” A dreamy look flitted through Livy’s eyes. “And you deserve the same.”
Pippa tensed. “I have no intention of marrying again—”
“Oh, I don’t mean marriage, necessarily. Just that you deserve to be happy. Since Longmere died, you haven’t been yourself.”
“Grieving has that effect.”
Livy drew a breath as if she was about to say something difficult. “You were changing even before he died.”
Frowning, Pippa said, “How do you mean?”
“Your light, Pippa. When you were with Longmere, he dimmed it.” Livy bit her lip. “I didn’t see you as often after you married, but when I did, you always seemed distracted. Or worried. And when I saw the two of you together, the attention was always on him. On his art. When anyone could see that you were the better painter—”
“Don’t.” The clamp of guilt made it difficult for Pippa to breathe. “There is no comparison. Longmere’s art was everything to him. He hadn’t reached his full potential. If he had lived, who knows what he could have accomplished—”
“Well, it’s true that his last piece showed considerable improvement over the rest.”
Palms sweaty inside her gloves, Pippa held herself still beneath Livy’s keen gaze. She’d vowed to herself that she would not betray Longmere’s legacy. The one thing she’d given him that he valued.
“He never had a chance.” She forced the words through her constricted throat. “To show the world who he could have been.”
“I don’t mean to cause you distress, dear.” Livy’s delicate features creased with concern. “I care about you and want to see you happy.”
Pippa shaped her lips into a smile. “I’m getting better.”
“I have seen glimpses of your light returning.” The teasing note in Livy’s voice alleviated some of the tension. “Whenever we’re talking about Mr. Cullen.”
“That light you see is the glow of irritation.”
“I’m married. Trust me, I’m aware of what irritation looks like.” Livy’s grin was impish. “I see it all the time in Hadleigh’s eyes.”
Pippa shook her head fondly. “You couldtryto be less of a brat, dear.”
“What fun would that be? Besides, Hadleigh likes me as I am.”
Livy’s confidence sparked a flame of yearning in Pippa. To have such unconditional love—
“And it’s obvious that you have an ardent admirer as well. Why else would Mr. Cullen be trying to protect you?”
