“Me.But how?”
“Hell if I know.Do you want to figure it out?”
“Yes.I… I feel a bit like Mary Sullivan myself right now.I need to know myself, need to understand whatever it is I can do.”
“I’ll help you.We don’t have to tell a soul.Just you and me.”
“Like old times.”
“Indeed.”Like all of time.He hoped.
Her throat bobbed.“I-I-I k-killed him.”
He stopped them mid step and cupped her face in his hands.“Hush, love.”He kissed her softly, chastely.
“I did.”
“Blame me.”
“I can’t.”
He understood that.Better to take responsibility.“You had to.”He set them back toward Temple’s terrace.“We have both now killed, tried to, but you did so to save yourself.”In a twisted way he’d been trying to save himself, too.But it was better to let that old self die.The Marquess of Fordham would never have met Sybil.“I don’t think it will make it easier for you.”
She watched their shuffling feet for several slow steps, then she looked up at him, that chin set with firm determination.“I do not intend to feel guilty for very long.I likely saved his wife.Can you imagine being married to that man?”
He kissed the top of her head.“God you’re ruthless.I love it.”
“Love,” she whispered.“Did you mean it… in the forge?”
“Yes.”Another whisper, though it was the truest thing he’d ever said.True things seemed fragile.He didn’t want to break it.
Temple’s terrace came into view, a column of bright marble in the distance.
She slowed, and he wanted to, but he sped them up until they were right in front of his door.He pulled the collar of his jacket snug around her neck, and he tipped her chin up with his knuckles.
“I’m a liar.There’s no reason to trust me.But I’m not lying about that.I never will.If there’s one pure truth in my life, it’s that, Sybil.And I don’t want you to doubt that, though I understand if you do.”
“No, Apollo, I?—”
“Wait.”He clenched his hands in to fists to keep from reaching for her.Not right now.Not yet.“I do not know how you feel about me, and?—”
“Apollo.”
“—that’s well and good.Whatever it is you feel, I want to earn it.I don’t want you spitting out some nonsense because we’ve just been through hell and back, because we have secrets together, because you think you’re ruined or something absurd like that.”
“I’m not ruined.”
“Of course not, but… let me earn you.I mean… I m-mean…” Holy Hades, it was difficult to get the words out.He swallowed, tried again.“I mean let me try to earn you.Will you?Let me do that?”
The step she took toward him was so very small, but her body listed forward at the same time, and she lifted her chin even higher, lifted to grant him the most kissable smile he’d ever seen.And scoundrel that he was, he would sup from it on the street in broad daylight as long as she damn well let him.
The door was flung open.
But Sybil did not flinch.Still she lifted her smile, their chests almost touching with every inhalation.
“Sybil!”Temple’s gruff voice.“Good God, you’re free.”
She licked her lips, holding Apollo’s gaze.Almost a dare, and when he didn’t take it, she faced her brother.“I am free, and I will remain so, and I have much to tell you.But first you must know that this man”—she pointed a defiant thumb in his direction—“is going to court me.Properly.And with a very clear purpose toward marriage.When he comes to the door, you will let him enter, and when he finally asks Father for my hand, you will not object.”
