Page 78 of Rogue Lyon

Before Jules could continue, she went on.

“Love is a magical feeling. It makes you happy, it makes you jealous, it makes you want to be with a person with such intensity, you can barely even breathe when you are apart.”

He nodded slowly. He understood that. A recent lesson, but yes, he knew what she was saying.

“That person’s smile makes you smile. Their pain hurts you. All you really want to do is make the rest of the world disappear so that you can be together in your own little bubble, content in the wonderful feelings you have. And…” She wagged her finger at him. “If that person loves you the same, I do believe, that is one of the great riches in life. More than money, more than art, more than power, love is the wealth we should all strive for.”

Jules rubbed his chin. What Mrs. Dove-Lyon was describing matched exactly how he felt about Meredith.

How did she know?

“So, my question to you, Mr. Habsburg, is now that we’ve established you are in love with Miss Meredith Jones, is she in love with you?”

“Love.” His eyes widened. “You think I am in love with her?”

“Without a doubt.”

He shook his head, then nodded. His heart squeezed and he swallowed, his throat suddenly tight.

Love.

He was in love. That was what these feelings were.

Heaven’s above!

Mrs. Dove-Lyon, in her wisdom, had seen straight into his soul and given a name to the intense emotions he’d been experiencing.

“I… But… I mean how…and I don’t know.” He held out his hands. “I have no idea if she is in love with me. She can barely look at me, and last time we spoke, she slapped me so hard, my teeth rattled.”

“Good for her.” The widow picked up a small, brass bell and rang it.

“What… What are you doing?”

“This matter must be resolved tonight.”

Lysander opened the door. “Yes, ma’am?”

“Could you fetch Miss Meredith Jones, please. I wish to speak with her.”

Lysander made a low, growling sound that seemed directed at Jules and then closed the door.

“Now we wait.” Mrs. Dove-Lyon picked up a sheaf of papers and began rifling through them.

Jules’s heart was pounding. He paced to the right and to the left. His palms were a little sweaty as he stopped in front of a landscape painting and studied the sky and the trees.

Deep breath.

Deep breath.

He had to play this right. There would only ever be one woman for him. And if he let her slip through his fingers, it would be the biggest loss of his life.

Chapter Nineteen

“There, there, please stop crying.” Nancy patted Meredith’s shoulder. “What’s done is done.”

“It will not help the situation,” Bethany said. “Once a rake, always a rake.”

Meredith sobbed harder. She’d been such a fool. So naïve. Gullible and… And wanton.