“I didn’t.” He’d given an enormous amount of attention to herMona Lisamouth. “Show me.”
Lily’s fists tightened.
Roen’s eyes dropped to Lily’s clenched hands. “Is that what you really want to do?”
“I thought you were being kind not to ask about them, but now you’re telling me you’re just blind.”
He said nothing and continued to regard her expectantly.
Lily’s mouth flattened. The creases at the corners of her eyes deepened. She held out her fists, splayed her fingers, and kept them there until Roen waved them down. “See?”
“Actually, I don’t. The knuckles on the third and fourth fingers of your left hand are perhaps larger than the others, and the pinkie on your right hand curves left, but I think what you see is what your hands looked like when your fingers were broken, and what you feel is the pain that accompanied it. I would suppose that more than three of your fingers were damaged, so that means they healed remarkably well. What I see are capable hands and that makes them not only lovely, but also interesting. I would be pleased if you would allow me to mark the occasion of our wedding with a ring.”
When she didn’t respond except to take a calming breath, he added, “I wouldn’t expect you to return it if we divorce.”
“You meanwhenwe divorce.”
He shrugged. “If you prefer.”
Lily shook her head. “It feels wrong. Let’s not argue about it. You agreed to my terms. That was one of them.”
“You’re right. I won’t bring it up again. Is there anything else? You have a gown?”
“I have something suitable. You?”
“A suitable suit.”
“Good. I’m assuming that you know we will live here. There are three bedrooms upstairs. One for the boys, one for the girls, and mine. You can keep your belongings in my room but you’ll have to sleep on the sofa.”
Roen’s eyes slid sideways as he regarded the overstuffed piece of furniture. He wondered if it would swallow him. “It looks short.”
“It won’t be if you curl on your side.”
“Of course. Curl on my side.” What curled was Roen’s lip. “Won’t the children find it odd for me to be down here? You and your husband shared a bed, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Then?”
“If they ask, which I doubt, I’ll tell them you snore.”
“You have answers for everything.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment, although I’m not sure you meant it that way.”
“Mm.”
“I think we’re done here.”
“Are we? What about the kiss?”
“The kiss?”
“I think that’s the customary conclusion to the ceremony. Even a civil one.”
“Customary, perhaps, but not required. Ben and Ridley won’t expect it since you’re going to explain it’s not a... not a...”
“Love match? Is that the term you’re searching for? Somewhat old-fashioned, isn’t it?”
