Still stunned, Tiffany shook her head, trying to clear the fuzziness in her brain. “Mother, no one knows?—”
“Shut up.Shut up!” Mother was pacing now, waving her hands in agitation. “I will not allow you to ruin what I have worked so hard to build!”
The inn?
Tiffany’s fingers rose to her warm, swollen cheek. Her teeth ached. Was that normal? “What is that, Mother?”
“Your reputation!” the baroness shrieked, as she whirled back around to point a long finger at Tiffany’s nose. “Your reputationas the most desirable marriage prospect in a generation! And if word of your folly were to somehow escape these walls, and it was discovered you are not quite as virginal as everyone thinks?—”
Tiffany gasped. “But Iam! We did not—” She bit down on her vow that they didn’tdoanything, because while she was still a virgin, she had been irrevocably changed. “I am a virgin.”
She’d done nothing more than having her heart opened, then shattered.
Mother’s sneer told her she didn’t care for the protests. “It matters not. If word gets out you were alone with a man, even your beauty could not save you. And then where would I be? Left with merelyBonnieto try to marry off and better my lot in life!” She threw up her hands. “Daughters!” She wailed theatrically, as she whirled back toward the corridor to the rest of the inn. “My penance in life is daughters who cannot bring me the wealth I deserve!”
As she watched her mother stomp out of the room, muttering about beauty and men and bargains, Tiffany’s eyes clouded with tears.
Yesterday in York, Lysander had said her worth was more than just her beauty. He’d said such wonderful things about her, and in that moment, Tiffany knew the truth: she’d gladly give up her beauty, if it meant she could have him.
Not as Lysander, and not as Lunzie, but asboth. She’d thought she loved Lysander, with his charm and wealth and grace and handsome face, but when he’d snubbed her, she’d realized those things alone weren’t worth loving him.
It had taken Lunzie—with his coarse dress and easy-going attitude and fun-loving smile—to show her what she wanted in life. What she wanted tobe, and who she wanted to be with.
Her head hurt, and her cheek throbbed in time with the ache in her heart and the heaviness of her eyes. Choking back a sob, she allowed herself to sink to the table beside her bag.
She’d failed in her reason for going to York, but she’d learned so much more. She’d learned about herself, and abouthim, and now she knew what she wanted.
Starting today, she’d no longer allow her mother to control her life. She would no longer rely on her beauty to make her way in the world. She’d take what Lysander—nay, whatLunziehad taught her, and she’d strive to make life better for those around her.
That’s what he’d said he liked about her after all: her caring nature. Well, from now on, Tiffany vowed she’d share more of that and less of her beauty.
She’d learned how, thanks to him.
Dropping her forehead to her hands, Tiffany allowed the tears to start anew.
He’d changed her life, and she couldn’t even thank him.
How could Lyon stand to live in a place like this?
Lysander rested his head on the arm of the cushioned settee and scowled up at the exposed ceiling beams, darkened from centuries of smoky fires. OliphantCastle was something out of the Dark Ages, and it was no wonder its lord had gotten a reputation as a barbarian.
Ye’re sounding like Tiffany now.
Aye, but Lyon washisbrother, and he was allowed to call him a barbarian.
Because heisone.
Grunting in irritation at his own stupid rationalizations, Lysander lifted his brandy.
“That stuff’ll kill ye,” growled his brother from behind him.
Lazily, Lysander swung his gaze to rest on Lyon, who stood in the doorway.
Without a shirt.
Cocking a brow at his brother, Lysander settled back against the settee. “Then why do ye keep it in yer study?”
Lyon grunted as he stalked across the room. “As a test.”
