AllFreeNovel
Share Us
*
Nicholas stared atthe closed door. Hushed voices chased slivers of light across the floor. He longed to go to her. To tell her he forgave her. That he would forgive her anything. Had she lain with another man out of loneliness, perhaps he could. But she had betrayed him in the worst of ways. She’d given her heart. And not to some distant acquaintance, or better yet, a stranger. She’d given it to his brother. How was Nicholas to move past that?
He rested his forehead against the frame. Anger warred with despair. He wanted to hit something. Instead, he threw open the door, startling Catherine and her maid.
“Leave.” He focused on Catherine’s face, searching for fear. There was a brief flash of bewilderment, but she recovered quickly from his abrupt entrance, her face becoming a tranquil mask. When had she perfected that art? He’d used to be able to read her like a book.
The girl hovered.
“I said leave.” He fought to maintain a level voice, although fury was fast winning the battle waged at the threshold.
The girl scurried to the main door, pausing to look back.
“I’ll be fi—” Catherine began.
“Now!” Did the girl think she could ignore his command? She quickly left the room, and he glared at Catherine.
“There was no need to be so rude. You frightened poor Sadie.” Turning her back to him, she picked up a brush and began pulling it through her hair. It was darker in this light, all hint of red muted. Waves of silk flowing over shoulders, which were barely covered by a chemise. His wrath plummeted to his cock. Lord, he wanted her.
He took the few steps to stand behind her, recapturing her gaze in the mirror. Was she intimidated by his entrance? By his presence? Did he want her to be? He leaned in, smelling her hair, the scent of jasmine spiking his desire. She sat rigid. Unaffected. The woman he loved, immune to him. When would he accept that she was not his? Would never truly be his?
“I’ve just come from Father,” he said.
She said nothing, just watched him in the mirror. Raising the brush, she stroked again, her hand shaking. Not so unaffected.Didshe fear him?Damn, when had he ever doubted her feelings? This was not how it was supposed to be between them.
“We will host a wedding dinner in a week’s time. You are the mistress of this house, so I leave the guest list and the details up to you.” He turned to leave.
“No.”
He paused, taking a deep breath. “No?” His throat constricted on resurging anger. “No?” He repeated it slowly, unable to believe she had the audacity to argue after what she’d done.
“It is too soon. Daniel has been gone but three months. It’s not proper.”
“Not proper,” he bit out. “Not proper?” He placed his hands on her shoulders and stared at her in the mirror, fighting the urge to squeeze until she showed some emotion, some hint of the pain that ripped through him.
“What is not proper is that I left for the continent to fight, wanting to make the best life for us…foryou.” He paused, steadying his breathing. “What is not proper isyourinability to remain faithful. What—is—not—proper isyouchoosing my brother. You wanted an earl. Neverme. I was but a stepping-stone until the real thing came your way.”
“Nicholas,” she began, her eyes shimmering in the candlelight.
He waited, but she said nothing more. He forced his fingers to uncurl and let go of her shoulders, disgusted because he wanted more, wanted something, anything, from her that said he mattered more than Daniel or Daniel’s damn memory. He strode to the door.
“I don’t want this…celebration.”
His sire had vilified the word too.
“Then take it up with your father.” There was no satisfaction in the slamming of the door.
