Don’t touch her…
But it was too late. He was already reaching for her, turning her to face him, his fingers sliding under her chin, tipping her face up to his. The study was dark, but the footmen had lit the lamps in the hallway, and the light caught the curve of her cheekbone, her shadowed blue eyes.
“What ofyou, Juliet? You never said how your family’s scandal affected you.”
Her lips curved in something that wasn’t a smile. “I was a romantic child, Lord Cross, and when I grew older, I became a silly, starry-eyed, romantic young lady with foolish notions about love righting every wrong, and triumphing over every adversary, but it’s more of a struggle now, to retain my faith in love.”
It was, somehow, the worst thing she could have said, and he caught his breath as pain seared through him. “But you haven’t utterly lost faith, have you? You still think love can triumph, don’t you?”
Why did it matter to him? He’d long since given up whatever faith he’d had in love, if he’d ever had any to begin with. What difference did it make if she had, as well?
Yet he was holding his breath, waiting for her answer.
“I think… I think you were right all along, Lord Cross.”
He didn’twantto be right, not about any of this. “I was right about what?”
She caught his wrist and, as gentle as a whisper, drew his hand away from her face. “Romeo and Julietisn’t a romance. It’s never been anything but a tragedy.”
And with that she was gone, melting into the shadows as if she’d never been there at all.
ChapterFifteen
Juliet passed silently through the entryway, her hems whisking over the checkered marble floor, the muted tap of her slippers louder than they should be as she mounted the stairs, one slow step at a time.
She’d tried her best, and it hadn’t done the least bit of good.
Tap.
Of course, it hadn’t. How could she have believed a few words from her would somehow undo the damage a lifetime of paternal slights, misjudgments, and cruelties had done to Miles? She, who was even now sinking under the weight of her own mother’s betrayal, despite all her flailing and thrashing to keep her head above water?
Tap.
It didn’t matter that every word she said to him had been the simple truth. Emmeline was right. The truth had much less power than a persuasive lie, especially the lies one believed about themselves.
That he was cold and unkind, and deserved to be alone. That he could isolate himself, and the worst wouldn’t happen to him, or to those he loved.
That loneliness wouldn’t break his heart.
Hewasn’tcharming, no. Indeed, he was surly and impatient, with a sharp tongue and an even sharper glare, and forthright to the point of arrogance.
Tap.
Why, she’d never encountered alesscharming man in her life.
Or a more loyal man, or a better friend, or one more determined that his cousin be happy. Or a kinder one, though he took pains to hide it under a prickly layer of barbs.
A man with the handsomest dark eyes she’d ever seen—
“Ah, here you are at last, Miss Templeton.”
She whirled around, her hand flying to her chest. “Oh! Lord Boggs! My goodness, where did you come from?” What in the world was he doing, lurking in the shadows like that? He’d nearly sent her toppling down the stairs!
“I’m not a patient man, Miss Templeton, and you’ve kept me waiting for some time tonight.” He caught her arm, his grip tight.
“I beg your pardon? I hadn’t the faintest idea you were waiting for me, my lord.” Nor did she see any reason why he should be. She cast a pointed glare at his hand, but instead of releasing her, he pulled her closer.
“Come now, Miss Templeton, don’t be coy. You must be aware I came here for you, and quite a lot of bother it’s caused me, too.”
