Alexander wrinkled his brow. It hadn’t been all that long since he left Marianne by the lake, but he’d expected her to come back by now. That she hadn’t…
“I need my horse,” he said, trying to keep the concern from his tone and from his heart. An almost impossible task when he had a sinking feeling that Marianne’s absence did not bode well. “Now.”
Marianne walked along the road, but she had no idea where she was going. All she knew was that she couldn’t go back to face Alexander again. Not now at least. She needed space.
She needed to figure out what to do after one confessed one’s heart, only to have it soundly rebuffed.
She stopped, stepping off the path, and bent her head as tears gathered in her eyes. She balled up her fists and pressed them there, willing away the weakness of her tears. Failing miserably. She wanted to sink down into the grass by the road and just cry. Or scream.
But she couldn’t. Back in London, her sister awaited. She had to figure out what to do so that Juliet would be protected.
“Oh God,” Marianne whispered. “I cannot even protect myself.”
There was a thunderous sound in the distance. A rider was approaching. Marianne turned to face the person and her breath hitched. Even from a distance, she recognized Alexander’s frame. He was heading straight for her and he was coming fast.
She smoothed her hands over her gown and straightened her shoulders, trying to put on her bravest face as he pulled up short and swung from his horse. He tossed the reins aside and crossed the distance between them. His expression was lined with worry and anger as he caught her forearms.
“Where were you?” he asked, giving her a gentle shake before he pulled her against his chest.
She felt his heart pounding as he cradled her close, and she couldn’t help it. Despite his rejection of her, she wrapped her arms around him and clung to him, breathing in his scent and his presence. Soon enough she knew she would lose both, for he couldn’t want her to stay here after everything that had happened today.
She wasn’t sure she could bear to stay even if he would allow it.
“Answer me,” he said, stepping back. “Why didn’t you come home?”
She flinched. “Home?” she repeated. “Your Grace, we both know that is not my home.”
His lips pressed hard together. “You know what I mean. You said you would return after me, but I’ve been searching for you for almost an hour, and now I find you heading up the road that leads away from my estate? Do you know how dangerous that is?”
She folded her arms, forcing herself to take a step back from him. “I-I wasn’t leaving. I don’tthinkI was leaving. I just…I couldn’t go back. I couldn’t face you after…after…”
He bent his head. “I’m sorry, Marianne.”
She caught her breath. His tone sounded so truly grieved and apologetic. But she couldn’t let herself be lulled. She shook her head. “You needn’t be. You could have been kinder in your rejection, of course, but you have made it clear you feel nothing for me. I just don’t know if I can stay here in that cottage you have offered, after this. I would hate to cause you discomfort and I don’t know if I could encounter you and—”
“Please be quiet,” he interrupted.
She arched a brow. “I’m sorry?”
“You talk and talk, Marianne,” he said, and he laughed. She stared, for she had never seen him smile, not in any real way, and here he was…smiling. And he was beautiful. So beautiful that her heart hurt to look at him.
“I—”
“Honestly,” he grunted, then caught her hand, tugged her forward and kissed her.
She was so surprised by the action, she didn’t fight it. She just melted against him, letting him explore her mouth right there in the middle of the road. And when she was thoroughly breathless and dizzy, he let her go.
“I shall remember that is the only way to make you stop talking. Though I must be honest that I rather love the way you chatter. Every word brings life back to my heart,” he said.
She blinked at him as those words, those lovely words, pierced into her soul. But he couldn’t mean them. Not after what had happened earlier. “I—”
“Please, let me tell you this,” he said softly, and she closed her mouth. “Marianne, when I realized you hadn’t returned, I was terrified. I have been searching for you, fearing the worst, knowing that if something happened to you, it was my fault.”
She shook her head. “No. You made yourself clear from the beginning in what you wanted from me. I was a fool to allow my heart to convince me that there could be more.”
“No,” he said, and he reached out to take her hand. His rough palm felt like heaven in hers. “I was a fool to think that I could bring you home and not have you permeate every part of me, every part of my world. You have, Marianne. And that terrified me. It still terrifies me, truth be told. But there is one thing that frightens me more.”
She stared at him. He was…softer somehow. More connected and gentle as he spoke to her.
