He nodded, his jaw tight, the light in his eyes flaring.
She hesitated. Her parents had based their marriage on the truth. “I debated running away again and decided against it.”
He leaned on the mantel. “Go on.”
“Therefore, my intention is to make the best of our situation.”
“That is reasonable,” he nodded.
“How shall we get along? Once, we were almost friends,” she blurted, more nervous than before. She swallowed hard and reached for his hand. As she took it, he tensed and she felt it. “We can be friends. I am certain of it. I have been very angry these past weeks, but I have thought a great deal about this, and now I wish to start over. Tomorrow is our wedding day. What better foundation for a marriage than friendship?”
He simply stared as if mesmerized at her.
“Devlin?”
“Is this a ploy?” he asked carefully.
“No,” she said quickly. “But I cannot be married to a man I cannot laugh with and speak with. I cannot be married to a man and bear his children if we cannot stroll in the park and ride horseback together and in general, engage in a pleasant camaraderie. We are going to share our lives, Devlin, and that is worthy of friendship.”
For a moment he was silent. “I do believe you asked me for my friendship once and I failed you miserably, Virginia. It is very bold of you—and brave—to ask me yet again.”
“But is it too much to ask?” she cried. “Are you saying you have no wish to be friends? That you only wish to share my bed and sit across from me at supper? That is not acceptable to me, Devlin,” she warned.
He stared. “So this is the criteria for our marriage, then? Laughter, conversation, long walks and hacks across the countryside?”
With great dignity, she said, “I cannot live in a cold, barren union, Devlin. Surely you know me well enough now to know that.”
“I doubt it will be cold or barren,” he said swiftly.
“You are avoiding my question,” she said as calmly as she could.
“Yes, I suppose I am.” His jaw flexed. “You seem to think I am a gentleman of leisure, that I will be home and at your beck and call. I am a military man. Two days after our union I am going to war, Virginia, and my tour will last six months.”
She felt crushed.
“But when I return,” he said seriously, “we will take long walks and horseback rides, if that is what you wish. And if you say something amusing,” he said, his gaze intent, “I will make every effort to laugh.”
Relief overcame her. Her knees buckled. “Thank you, Devlin.”
He smiled just a little and then he shook his head. “You remain unpredictable, Virginia.”
“Then you shall not be bored,” she replied. He was going to try to be a real husband to her! Her elation began, swiftly increasing. He wasn’t willing, oh no, stubborn man that he was, but he had given in, he had conceded, he was going totry.
He smiled a little at her. “I do want you to know this. In this marriage, your every need will be met. I have already made it clear to my steward that you will lack for nothing, and if there is ever any problem, there is Adare to turn to, or Tyrell or Sean. And you have yet to meet Rex or Cliff, but they are as noble.”
Some of her elation vanished. Her every need would not be met, not unless Sean was right and she was the woman who could save Devlin’s soul. But she had won enough that day and she refused to dwell on that.
“Thank you, Devlin,” she said. She smiled at him and turned to go. Her bare feet were numb from the cold stone floors.
“Virginia?” His tone had softened remarkably and she whirled.
“Now that I have had time to consider it, I am not displeased about our union. I think we will do well together, in the end.” He smiled a little at her, his gaze searching.
Stunned, she met his gaze. His smile was small but genuine and it reached his gray eyes, and somehow, it stole her breath away.
He seemed to flush as if embarrassed with his small confession—or perhaps he was merely a bit warm from the fire.
Virginia turned away. She remained in terrible danger. One small smile, one soft look, and she was as hopeful as ever. To enter a union so one-sided, to love a man who refused to ever return her feelings, a man obstinately dedicated to hatred and revenge, was surely madness on her part. But then, the human heart knew no reason.
