“As I have said,” Marcus told her, softly, aware of the gentle warmth swirling through him as her thumb ran back and forward over the back of his hand. “I believe that he will do whatever he must to separate you from me. I believe he knows that I…”
Trailing off, Marcus closed his mouth, refusing to state that he loved her. He could not do it, not when she was so upset, when he had already overwhelmed her with the truth about Lord Penforth.
“This cannot be allowed to continue, however.” Lord Trevelyan came over to join them. “Lord Penforth cannot simply be allowed to continue in such a way.”
“Then you have a plan to remove his threat?”
The heat between them was gone as Marcus looked to Lord Trevelyan and then back to Lady Almeria. Her hand still clasped his, but it was not as tight, her fingers not seeking to lace through his own. Sighing softly, he nodded.
“That is our intention.” Seeing her eyes flare, he tilted his head to Lord Trevelyan. “It was Lord Trevelyan’s thought. He thinks we should find the gentlemen whom Lord Penforth surrounded himself with, and demand that they show loyalty to us rather than to him.”
Lady Almeria caught her breath. Her mouth was a round circle, and her eyes flared.
“And how will you make that demand?”
Leaning forward, Marcus settled his hand atop their joined ones so that she could look directly into his face.
“We will not threaten, but we may bribe. We would not ever do something as cruel as Lord Penforth has done to us, but there must be a way to demand their loyalty. It may take a great deal of coin, perhaps even a favor or two, but if it can be done, then we must try.”
Lady Almeria took in a deep breath, nodding slowly.
“I can see your reasoning, but what happens if they cannot be bought? Then what will you do?”
Courage built like a fire in his chest as he held her gaze.
“Then I will tell the truth,” he said honestly. “And I will tell it in front of as many of thetonas will listen. I have no doubt that Lord Penforth will then gather his friends and have them refute everything which I have said, but I shall have Lord Trevelyan, and I also have my reputation. Perhaps combined, both will be enough to protect me.”
Fresh tears clung to Almeria’s eyes but she nodded, sniffing lightly.
“And you shall have me, Marcus,” she murmured as Lord Trevelyan tactfully turned his back again. “I have no interest in Lord Penforth, not in any way. I have no enjoyment in his company. I find him to be arrogant and conceited.” She took a deep breath and then looked back at Marcus steadily. Something formed in Marcus’ stomach like a coiling snake, ready to strike, his heart beating painfully again. “And besides which, I do not love him. He may claim to love me, but I do not think that his form of love is one I want in my life.”
“No, he does not love you.” The words were pouring from a place deep within himself, no longer held back. “I know what love is, Lady Almeria. I know what it feels like to be so lost in love that one can barely think! I know how it is when a single word, a single look from the object of one’s affection is so overpowering, it makes the entire day seemed to fill with bright sunshine, but at the same time, dazzles one greatly, one cannot look anywhere else. I know the depth of love that sends a craving, clawing hunger into one’s soul, desperate for it to be satisfied, furious with a hunger for words of affection to be spoken in return. No, Lord Penforth does not love you, Almeria. He may state that he does, but I have no doubt that it is a lie. He seeks you only because of who you are and because of what you can offer him. I know that for certain.”
Lady Almeria’s eyes flared, but she said nothing, the only sound in the room was his own quickened breath. Did she realize the significance of what he had said? Did she understand that he was speaking of her and what she meant to him?
“I…” Almeria trailed off into silence and then threw a glance to Lord Trevelyan. She took another breath and then rose from her chair, letting his hands go. “I should return to Lady Yardley. She is waiting for me in the carriage.” She gave him a brief smile. “I am grateful to her for her trust in me, but I can’t ask her to linger too long.”
Feeling as though another moment had been snatched from him, Marcus rose to his feet.
“Almeria, if you would only wait but another moment, I –”
“I shall remain close to Lord Penforth, for the moment.”
Almeria looked from Lord Trevelyan to Marcus, and back again, and as his friend ambled towards him, Marcus had to accept the moment was truly gone.
“I… yes, I suppose you should.”
There seemed to be nothing else to say. The chance to reveal his own heart would come again another time.
“Yes, we want him to think that all is well,” Lord Trevelyan confirmed as Lady Almeria nodded, looking anywhere but Marcus’ face. “And when we have been able to speak with Lord Wilson – the gentleman I believe was present that evening – we will be able to make a plan for what will come.”
“A plan I am to be included in.”
Lady Almeria lifted an eyebrow as she finally caught his gaze, offering him a small smile.
“Yes, of course.” Marcus murmured his agreement, his emotions rising into a great swell before crashing down over him. How much he wanted to say and how little he had the opportunity to speak! “Allow me to accompany you back to Lady Yardley.”
Marcus hurried forward, but Almeria only smiled and shook her head.
