“Real? Even if what you say is true, am I supposed to believe you fell in love with Eden in the span of a day?”
Aubrey frowned at him. “Why wouldn’t you believe it? Is she not obviously charming, intelligent, and achingly beautiful?”
“Yes, but…” Lord help him, it had taken Connor years to notice Eden. He’d known her practically from the moment she was born and seen her turn into the lovely young woman who was going to break hearts in her debut Season. But he had been married back then and could not ever permit himself to develop feelings for her. “Of course, she is all those things. Leave me alone, Aubrey. I’ll think about your request.”
Well, he had probably loved her all along but convinced himself it was nothing. Was he not a master at repressing and denying? Even after being free to acknowledge his feelings, he had kept silent. Why? To enjoy the life of a Silver Duke? In truth, just how much had he, Bromleigh, and Camborne enjoyed their notoriety? Not very much, for his part. He could not even bring himself to bed other women once he admitted to himself that he had feelings for Eden.
And yet he had said nothing to her and allowed his exaggerated reputation to take a life of its own and grow out of all proportion. “Thank you, Lynton. It is only fair that she knows the complete truth and makes her decision with all the facts before her. If she chooses you, then know that I will wish you both every happiness, because it would never be my desire to see her unhappy. Unfortunately, I expect she will choose you. Despite my bravado, the painful truth is that I have little chancecompeting against a Silver Duke.” Having said what was on his mind, Aubrey walked off.
Connor could not deny that he and his friends were treated as mythical gods. This would no longer do.
Eden needed a man to love her truly and sincerely. A real man of flesh, blood, and grit, with strong arms to hold her and protect her through good times and bad. She did not need some idol on a pedestal to be worshipped from afar. That Aubrey saw her worth so clearly in a trice was unsettling.
And yet was anything this man said true?
Connor was fairly good at spotting schemers. A man in his position always had to be on the alert. His gut instinct told him Aubrey could be trusted, but his own jealousy was skewing his opinion, and he was never going to trust this man. It was much easier to ignore the truth and consider him unworthy. Aubrey was very good in the role of lovelorn suitor, very believable, and had perfected the ability to cast sincere looks. Yes, he was quite polished.
Connor sighed, knowing he could not deny the obvious.
The poor sod had fallen in love with Eden.
What was he to do now? Tell Eden the truth? Let her be the one to choose?
Aubrey was equal to him in so many ways. Both held titles. Both were wealthy. Indeed, the Lothmeres were perhaps even wealthier than he was.
Aubrey was younger and fitter. Yes, fitter, even though Connor had beaten him at arm wrestling. He would never admit it, but his entire body ached after that exertion.
“Bah,” he muttered.
Most of his guests had retired to their quarters to prepare for tonight’s supper and dance. He was on his way up to the children’s quarters to speak to them about Eden when he remembered she had approached him on his walk becauseshe had something important to tell him. Aubrey’s surprising marriage proposal had interrupted them.
He marched down the hall to her room and knocked at the door. “Eden, it’s me.”
“Go away!”
Oh, not that again.He knocked once more. “You had something important to tell me.”
“Yes, but I cannot tell you now.”
“Why not? Are you dressed? I’m coming in.”
“I’m not dressed!”
And that again, too.“Too bad. You have to the count of ten to make yourself decent. One…two…three…”
The door to her bedchamber flew open, revealing a bespectacled Eden wearing a plain brown robe not even an elderly grandmother would deign to wear. The thing was hideous, and yet heat shot through his veins, for she’d hastily wrapped it around her lithe body and left one shoulder slightly exposed.
His heart was banging like a hammer in his chest.
She had also unpinned her flame-red hair, no doubt preparing for her maid to fashionably style it. But for now, it flowed in a fiery cascade of red-gold fire down her back. “You are a beast, Connor,” she said, but a smile teased at the corners of her mouth. “You do know this.”
“I do,” he replied, nodding. “What was so important that you followed me out of the house to tell me?”
She sighed. “My maid will be back at any moment. You cannot be found in here.”
“I am only at your door. And what does it matter even if I were found naked in your bed? I’ve already told you that I love you and wish to marry you.”
Her eyes had widened at the mention of him naked in her bed, and now her cheeks showed a hot blush. “Now that issomething I would love to write about in my diary. A Silver Duke without a stitch of clothes on in my bed? Would you mind if I embellished the moment?”
