“I am! I am only…”
He raised an eyebrow as he wondered if Isla might attempt to lie yet again. There was a calm within him that he hadn’t recognized in sometime even as she shifted about. But then she met his gaze and settled down, her shoulders relaxing while a quiet sigh slipped free between those pretty lips.
“Very well. I am not paying attention. I am sorry,” she added quickly. “I did wish very much to see this opera. Today wasunusual, however, and I must admit I’m not quite prepared to enjoy myself.”
“A strange notion because you seem determined to always enjoy yourself.”
She tilted her head. “I do try, don’t I?”
“It is an admirable trait I have noticed,” he admitted without thinking. Then he cleared his throat. “That is, you seem out of sorts tonight. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“No, no, not a’tall,” a tilting portion of her accent escaped for a mere second. “I had a visitor today and I…”
Seeing the smile slip from her face made him cross at once. “What visitor? Who? Are you hurt?”
“I’m not hurt.” She rubbed her wrist while she shook her head, and he wondered if that was supposed to mean something. “It went fine. He left, and I don’t think I will see him again. At least, I pray not. My mother had hoped I might marry Lord Dunn and I think he was hoping as well, but I never made any promises to anyone, I assure you.”
“Very well,” Ronan said while he tried to process this.
Dunn? Is that earl still alive? I swear he’s had half a bony leg in the grave for years. And he’s married. Or did she pass away?I always avoid the man in Parliament. What was he doing, thinking he might marry Isla?
A stroke of protectiveness burned through him at the thought of Lord Dunn even looking at Isla. The two of them were complete opposites. The man was a dreary shadow who whined and smelled. Isla was spirited and bright, sometimes even too bright, but much too good for the likes of him.
Ronan tightened his hands into fists, slipping them onto the armrests to hold back the urge to hurt something. He didn’t need to fight, he told himself. He was marrying Isla. He would protect her.
I’m only doing what a husband should, of course. It means nothing more.
“I could challenge him to a duel if you like,” he said, the words betraying his heart at once.
Isla’s eyes sparkled with amusement like it was a joke. “Would you duel a man for me?”
“Anyone.”
“You don’t strike me as a man of pistols,” she admitted.
As for Ronan, his words were more honest than jest. “I’ve been in the Royal Army, my lady, I can handle pistols, swords, and combat by hands. You have only to say the word.”
“That is very fearsome. It sounds as though you could protect me from anything in all the world, is that it?” Isla asked as she leaned forward.
There was that strange scent again that he couldn’t place. Fresh rain and something floral. He was drawn in, unable to help himself, as he inhaled her as much as he could. Then he blinked and realized they were nose to nose.
Close enough to kiss.
“I… could,” he managed to say, his voice growing low and deep.
A fluttering breath escaped Isla. He watched the way her eyes roved over his face, wondering what she saw. What she thought. What she felt. Was that a pause at his lips? Was she thinking about kissing him as well? His heartbeat pounded hard in his chest.
Pull away, Ronan. Move. Do something.
“How generous,” Isla squeaked out at last. She pulled away. “I appreciate the offer and shall keep in mind. For now, however, I do believe I should be just fine.”
Forcing a small cough, Ronan did the same and kept his gaze elsewhere. He didn’t really see anything. He was too busy thinking about the pearls he’d set around her neck and how nicely they sat over her collarbone. “Very well. I’ve seen enough death myself, really.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, Your Grace. Perhaps in the future then I shall fight the duels in your favor,” Isla offered with a pertness to her tone.
The sobering moment between them had faded. As he saw the grin on her face, he could tell the mood had lightened. They were back to jests where she was happy. This was what he had been aiming to achieve, he reminded himself. Why they had come. How clever Isla was. It was hard not to like the spirited young woman who had betrothed herself to him.
As she turned to finally enjoy the show, Ronan began to frown.
