I will see you tomorrow evening at mid—
No, that wasn’t right. It was already after midnight. Tomorrow was already here.
Dear Lord Blacknight,
I will see you this evening for the apology you owe me.
Mrs. Feld
As Brina replaced the quill to its stand, she heard a door open and slam shut, and masculine footsteps ran down the corridor. She looked up as Zane rounded the doorway. His neckcloth was hanging limp and untied. His hair was rumpled as if he’d just risen from sleep. He looked handsome, vibrant. Happy to see her.
How dare he!
And how could he be so inconsiderate as to still make her heartbeat race at the sight of him?
“Thank God, you’re still here,” he whispered.
Was that a smile of relief she saw on his face? Relief that she was still there? Anguish festered inside her. “That’s obvious,” she managed to say and rose.
“I was sure you’d be gone.”
She should have been. It was clear he’d been carousing. She supposed she did look like the dutiful, faithful lady waiting at home for him to return. “I’m sorry I failed to leave before you arrived,” she said tightly.
“I know you’re angry but—”
“You do, do you?” She cut him off and walked toward him. “Angry? Really? No, I’m hurt.”
“Brina, I’m sorry I—”
“You’re about five hours too late for such words, my lord.”
She went to rush past him, but he caught her arm. “Look at me,” he said earnestly.
“No,” she whispered, keeping her head down. She bit back tears that collected in her throat but was unable to keep them from pooling in her eyes as she remembered how he had held and loved her. She choked down a sob. “I don’t want to look at you. I don’t want you to touch me.”
“Listen to me, Brina.” His hand tightened on her arm.
She lifted her head, and then her lashes and what she saw made her want to forget who she was, what she hadvowed. She was deeply, madly in love with him, but she was overcome with such grief.
Zane’s eyes were gleaming too. A breathy sigh of despair pushed forth from her aching lungs. Only with the will of an inner strength she’d developed since being alone did she manage to give him a steely gaze and say, “Let go of me and don’t say anything.”
His face was etched hard with indecision, but finally, he dropped his hand.
“I don’t want your explanation,” she said past a thick throat.
He struck his thumb to his chest. “I deserve to be heard.”
“You don’t deserve any consideration from me!” she lashed out at him. “Gambling, drinking, with women hanging all over you!”
His eyes widened with outrage. “No!” he said bitterly. “No. Listen to me. Gambling yes, but there were no women and no drinking, I swear!”
“As if that matters! What you did tonight was wrong. It shows you don’t care for me or anyone. I made a fool of myself to ever think you cared for me or that I could trust you. I did my best, but I was misled to think you had or could change.”
“That’s not true,” he demanded angrily. “I’m not going to let you say things that aren’t true and get by with it.”
“I don’t have to say anything. Your actions prove it.” Brina bit back the tears again. “You have made choices like this throughout your life.”
“Let me explain, damn—” He bit off the last of the word but swore under his breath as he raked his hands through his tousled hair.
