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He took her hand in his—a gesture that came to him as naturally as breathing air. A gesture he would never have allowed with previous lovers. Somehow it felt ridiculously intimate. But they were married, so that changed everything...didn’t it?
They turned a corner and a beautiful square opened out before them, lined with trees and restaurants and bars, music drifting out into the warm evening air.
‘Oh, this is lovely!’
Gabriel watched Leonora’s face as she looked around, a rare kind of pleasure flowing through him at her reaction.
She caught him looking at her and she blushed.
He said, ‘You’re unbelievable—do you know that, Leo?’
She looked genuinely confused. ‘Why?’
‘You were born into one of Spain’s oldest dynasties and yet you’re not a snob, or spoilt—which, notwithstanding your father’s fall from grace, you could very well be.’
* * *
Leonora wasn’t sure how to respond to that, but she took it as a compliment.
Gabriel led her to a restaurant on the other side of the square. It looked discreetly expensive. The maître d’ greeted them effusively and showed them to a table that was artfully screened off from the other diners, while giving them a view of the charming square.
They were seated and had been handed menus when Gabriel said, ‘You could very well have sought out a suitable husband at a much younger age. Why didn’t you?’
Leonora hadn’t been expecting such a direct question. No one had ever asked her that before. But she’d certainly always been aware of people’s looks and speculation whenever she’d appeared in public.
She took a breath. ‘I think for a long time I was angry with my father for failing us like that. For being...fallible.’
A cynical expression flashed across Gabriel’s face. ‘I can attest to just how fallible fathers can be.’
‘Once it became apparent that I was the only potential saviour of my family I resented it for a long time. I resented the structures that haven’t changed much since medieval times. This notion of having to be married off for the good of the f
amily name. I was made very aware of the fact that our—my—only real currency was our name and our lineage.’
‘If it’s any consolation, things weren’t much different for me. I alone am responsible for carrying on the illustrious Cruz y Torres name. My sister doesn’t bear that responsibility and I wouldn’t put it on her.’
Leonora shook her head. ‘And you never minded?’
Gabriel picked up an olive and put it in his mouth, chewing for a moment. ‘I never said I didn’t mind. When I was younger I contemplated running away many times. That day when Lazaro Sanchez confronted my father in the street and said he was his son... I actually felt slightly envious of him—that he wasn’t burdened by the family name.’
Leonora looked at Gabriel. ‘Maybe that’s what’s at the root of your issues with him. The fact that you’re a little jealous of him.’
Gabriel leaned forward and took Leonora’s hand. He brought it to his mouth and pressed a kiss to the back of it. He said, ‘I was jealous of him that night when he announced your engagement.’
Leonora’s heartrate picked up. All she could see were Gabriel’s intense eyes, the gold flecks giving them a leonine quality.
There was a discreet cough and with a struggle she looked up at the waiter, for a moment feeling dizzy. Forgetting they were in public. Had they even ordered? She couldn’t remember...
Gabriel let her hand go. Starters were placed down in front of them. They ate in silence, and Leonora was glad of a moment to absorb what Gabriel had said, and to tell herself that his admission of jealousy didn’t mean anything. He had decided he wanted her that night. That was all. He had an ongoing rivalry with Lazaro. That was all.
As if to reinforce that assertion in her head, their conversation didn’t stray into personal territory again. But after the main course had been eaten and taken away Gabriel’s gaze narrowed on Leonora.
‘Did you enjoy today?’
Leonora was immediately rewarded with a flashback to when they’d arrived back at the suite earlier, ravenous for each other. She took a quick sip of wine—anything to cool her insides.
‘It was lovely, thank you.’
He leaned forward. ‘I want you to feel valued, Leo. You’re not just a pawn. We both grew up knowing we bore a responsibility that most people don’t. Our privilege isn’t something we got to choose. But I’m glad that I bear this responsibility with you. I think we can be happy together.’
