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Oh, blast.That sounded like a dodge. Or, perhaps—
“Royal, are . . . are you involved with someone else?” she asked, trying not to sound as appalled as she felt.
He scoffed. “Ainsley, between trying to be a good father and dealing with the demands of Logan’s business, I’m run ragged. The fair maidens of Glasgow are not my priority.”
“I wouldn’t blame you if you were,” she said. “It’s not as if you ever thought you’d see me again.”
Instead of answering, he reached up and tugged on the bow under her chin. “Why are you still wearing this blasted hat?” He untied her bonnet and tossed it in the general direction of a chair by the fireplace. It hit the edge of the seat and tumbled to the floor.
“That’s a new hat,” she protested. “And it wasquiteexpensive.” She’d made a point of going on a buying spree before she left London. God only knew when she’d have access to her funds again, if ever.
Royal tipped her chin up. “Lass, you are completely daft if you think I would waste my time capering after other women. If you don’t know that by now, you’re not as smart as I thought.”
“You’re not exactly the sort to caper at the best of times,” she said, trying to make a joke.
Better to joke than to cry. Most days, her mood was so flat that she wondered if anything short of an explosion could jolt her back to life. But after glimpsing Tira and sharing her misfortunes with Royal, a tide wall had been breached. Her emotions were surging with an intensity that almost overwhelmed her.
His smile was tender as he stroked a thumb across her cheek. “No capering with this leg.”
“I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable,” she said after a few moments of fraught silence. “It’s such an ugly story.”
He leaned in, so close she could see gold flecks in his green gaze. “My only discomfort was on your behalf, love. Never think I blame you for anything.”
She had to repress the impulse to kiss him, because the thought of kissing any man, even Royal, still made her a little nervous. “Sir, you’re making my eyes cross.”
“Imp.” He dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose before sitting back. “I mean it, Ainsley. You can’t blame yourself for what Cringlewood did. The bastard should be drawn and quartered.”
“I’m very grateful for your support, truly. I also know the immensity of what I’m asking of you. I’ve caused so much trouble for you these past few years, and it’s hideous of me to try to take advantage of you again.”
His smile turned rueful. “Any number of times I have wished for nothing more than for you to take advantage of me.”
Her heart sank. “But no longer?”
He hesitated a fraction too long. “As I said, it’s a complicated situation.”
Ainsley swallowed her stark sense of dismay. She refused to make him feel guilty, not after everything he’d done for her. For Tira’s sake, shewoulddo the right thing.
“I understand, and I’m sure I’ll manage somehow. If . . . if you’ll just let me spend a little time with my daughter before I leave Glasgow, I’d be immensely grateful. I promise I won’t make any trouble.”
His brows snapped together. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“You obviously don’t want to marry me. I’m trying to say that I understand and I’ll manage,” she replied with what she thought was commendable patience.
“Ainsley, I never said I wouldn’t marry you.”
Her heart kicked out a hard thump. “Then you will?”
When he hesitated again, she almost shrieked in frustration. “Royal, will youpleasejust tell me exactly what you do mean?”
He grimaced. “Sorry. It’s not you. I’m worried about what this will mean for Tira.”
She’d thought endlessly about that too, in the dark reaches of the night. “Are you afraid I won’t be a fit mother? Because you must know I would never hurt her.”
“Don’t be daft. I know how much you love her. But that’s the point. How do we continue protecting Tira from Cringlewood if you’re in her life?”
“I don’t think that’s a concern anymore. It’s been five months, and simplyeveryonebelieves Tira is your daughter. Your family did a splendid job in that respect.”
Ainsley felt quite confident in that regard. There’d not been a speck of gossip about her long absence from London. Some might not understand her reasons for jilting Cringlewood, but her friends thought her long exile in Scotland punishment enough.
