She caught her breath. “Because Kirkford orchestrated my actions in order to cause the most pain he could.”
He seemed to consider that for a long moment, then he nodded. “We don’t want to inspire the man to become another enemy. Right now there are plenty of complications without that. But I don’t want you to go to him. You were already physically threatened and I can’t have you face his anger.”
“You think he’ll be angry?” she asked.
He shrugged. “How could he not be, losing you?” She gasped at the assessment, but he didn’t allow her to respond. “Let me go speak to him. Then if you wish to write a letter afterward, I won’t object.”
She tensed. Her…well, she supposed she could call Stenfax her fiancé now…her fiancé and the man who had offered as her protector. She couldn’t imaginethatmeeting would go well. Especially since Stenfax felt so unable to do anything about Ambrose. Winstead could very well suffer the consequences he didn’t deserve.
“Don’t take your anger out on him,” she whispered. “Please promise me that.”
He arched a brow. “Worried about him, are we?”
“No,” she said, hating his sharp tone. “Worried about you. Only you, Lucien.”
She leaned up and briefly brushed her lips to his cheek, then turned toward stairs and away from Lucien. Away from the feelings he no longer felt. Away from the future that she’d once so longed for, but now felt locked in painful stone.
Lucien sat in a quiet parlor, awaiting the arrival of a man who did not expect him. To give him news that could set him off in God knew what ways. He probably shouldn’t have been the one giving this news, given the fact that he would now wed Elise.
But he felt impotent in this situation. He had bid farewell to her an hour before, watching her ride off in Gray’s carriage with her head bent. He had not allowed himself to touch her, to really connect with her, as she left his house as his fiancée.
It seemed there was more of a wall between them than there had ever been, and he shifted in discomfort at that acknowledgment to himself. This wasn’t what he wanted, but he had no idea how to fix it.
The door to the parlor opened and he rose slowly to watch Theodore Winstead enter the room. The younger man looked calm in the face of his uninvited presence and shut the door quietly behind him.
“My lord,” he said, his tone only a touch wary.
“Winstead,” he replied, forcing some level of common politeness as he extended a hand. “Thank you for seeing me.” Winstead nodded as he shook Stenfax’s hand. Then they sat. “I assume you know why I’m here.”
Winstead tilted his head. “I can only hazard a guess that this is about the Duchess of Kirkford.”
“Yes,” Stenfax said softly, examining the man closely for his reaction. How much did he want Elise? And how far had things truly gone between them? “It is about Elise.”
Winstead stood with a sigh and crossed to the sideboard where he poured two whiskeys. “I think we could both use these to buoy us through what seems is going to be a very uncomfortable discussion.”
“I know you offered to be her protector,” Stenfax said flatly.
Winstead froze in the midst of pouring and said, “I see.”
“It isn’t going to happen,” Stenfax said, bracing for whatever reaction Winstead might have to that statement.
There was none for a moment, but then Winstead turned. His expression was clear of any emotion, though he held Stenfax’s gaze evenly. He handed over the drink and Stenfax took it, though he didn’t drink. He wanted a very clear head in this moment and it was already clouded enough by jealousy.
“No?” Winstead said as he retook his seat calmly.
Stenfax shook his head slowly. “No. Elise is going to marryme.”
Winstead was silent for what felt like an eternity, and then said, “Is that what she told you, or is it merely your hope that she will agree?”
Stenfax stared. There was no fear in this young man, despite Stenfax’s superior title and what he knew was his bad attitude. He found himself rather liking Winstead, despite himself.
“I asked her this morning,” he said softly. “And she agreed.”
For the first time, Winstead frowned, and he set his drink on the table beside him. “She never mentioned that was a possibility.”
Stenfax shrugged. “Likely because she didn’t realize it was. Circumstances have changed and this is the best way forward for her. For us.”
Winstead examined him closely and then said, “Well, I can see why she would inspire such an action. She’s a remarkable woman.”
