Maile shifted. “Tell you what?”
“Tell me how bad it was for her. I have to... I have to make up for every tear she shed.”
“Because you pity her?”
He shook his head. “I only want to make up for my mistake.”
“And what was your mistake, Nicholas?”
He turned back to Tani. “I gave up.” Their path had been so open and easy before that. A crown prince and princess merrily walking hand-in-hand. The royal family, before the villain arrived and threw the realm into chaos.
“Do you think the outcome would have been different if you hadn’t given up?”
“I don’t know,” he admitted. “But I want to try again.”
“The obstacles are gone now?”
He thought of his father. “No. But I’m better prepared to handle them. Him.”
“Your father doesn’t approve,” Tani guessed.
“Would you approve?” he hedged.
“No. I think you’ll hurt her again.”
Fair concern. “I won’t.”
“Have you told Brendan you’ve been seeing Livvy?”
“Yes,” he responded.
She raised an eyebrow. “I can’t imagine he was pleased,” she replied with the kind of sardonic air that came from someone who knew Brendan well.
“He wasn’t. My grandfather and sister gave their blessing, though.”
Tani’s hand jerked, tapping her mug. It jostled but didn’t spill. “John?”
“Yes. He holds no ill will against any of you. He never has.”
A yearning need filled Tani’s eyes, and she took a sip of her coffee, her hand trembling. When she put the cup down, she looked away. He wanted to wait for her to compose herself, but the clock wasticking. He needed to find out where Livvy was and get to her before she had more time to dwell on all the reasons they couldn’t be together.
“He didn’t want my father to buy you out. Neither did I. That was a shitty deal Brendan gave you.”
“It was.” A smile played over Tani’s lips, surprising him. “I don’t resent you or your father for that deal.”
“You weren’t in the right state of mind to—”
“Don’t tell me my own state of mind,” she said, forestalling him with quiet dignity.
“Yes, ma’am.” He shoved his mug away. “My grandfather would probably like to see you. He’s not getting any younger.”
Her sigh was deep and long. “None of us are.”
He was well aware of that, acutely conscious of every second and minute and hour he had already lost with Livvy. “Can you please tell me where Livvy is?”
There was a long silence. Just when Nicholas was ready to get up, Maile spoke. “Her brother is in town.”
Tani made a small sound, and Maile cast her a sympathetic look and named a hotel. “I assume she went to see him.”
