Page 28 of Forbidden Duke
Every cell in her body flared with heat and her pulse was so fast she couldn’t think. Harry had left her for another woman that was more attractive and knew how to wear makeup. Blackwell claimed to want to marry her, but he’d already asked another woman. He’d leave her too. Everyone else lefther.
Cold seeped up herspine.
Blackwell left the boathouse and walked toward her, stopping in front of her. She couldn’t greet him; her voice had deserted her. An older man put a rowboat into the pond from the pier. “Are you ready,Donna?”
The last place she wanted to be was on that small boat with him. Not now. She took a step backwards and lifted her chin. “How many women have you proposed to,Blackwell?”
“What?” His gazenarrowed.
She crossed her arms. Harry had denied at first that he’d cheated on her with the woman who became his girlfriend after Donna left. Blackwell’s defensive tone reminded her of that moment. She swallowed back the fire that grew around her heart, threatening to burn right through her. “The question was clear. How many possible brides do youhave?”
He stepped forward, his expression guarded. “I only want you,Donna.”
Until the prettier, better, duchess came along. She knew better than to believe in this impossible dream he tried to weave in front of her. She stepped backwards. “I don’t know if I can believethat.”
His hands went into his jean pockets. “Why not? I told you that I must marry soon. I thought I saw a woman walk past on the path—who was it? Of course, I have a backup plan—how was I to know that I’d meetyou?”
He had told her about the law. But he hadn’t mentioned that the woman was perfect in every way and should honestly be the first choice. The fire was leaving her body, turning her heart to ash. “Your backup plan is young, blonde, blue-eyed, thin and beautiful. I’ve already been left for a more beautiful woman and I can’t deal with thatagain.”
He straightened as if she’d hit him. “Donna, I’m not Harry. Don’t put his mistakes onme.”
No, Blackwell was far worse. With Harry, she hadn’t felt loss or that she might never recover. Donna wanted to run away and not look back. “I’m not, Blackwell. I just met your futurebride.”
His brow scrunched with confusion. “It was Chelsea, the Earl of Paston’s younger daughter then. I’ve never even met her inperson.”
She let out a snort. This was too much. He needed to simply walk further on the path and find perfection. He didn’t need to waste his time here. “She’s touring your property. Go find her then. Look, I’m going to wish you every happiness in the world. She’s clearly more qualified to be a duchess than I would everbe.”
He tilted his head and stared at her like she’d transformed into Medusa with snakes for hair. “You’ve not even going to give us a chance, are you? I can’t make you believe that you’re who Iwant.”
No. His words were impossible and tears burned as if she was going to cry. “Why me? I don’t understandyou.”
He lifted his brow, took his hand from his pocket and reached for hers. “Because I fell in love you that moment in the bar where you swallowed the beer just to prove you could. Love is in my heart, but it is clear you don’t feel thesame.”
Her ears buzzed and she shook her head. He loved her? Her parents had loved her but they’d deserted her. Love couldn’t be trusted. Harry had claimed to love her but he’d cheated. “You can’t meanthat.”
His body stiffened and he stood straighter. “I realize now it’s one-sided and I won’t bother you again,Donna.”
Oh goodness. He didn’t understand at all. How couldhe?
He turned and walked down the path, away fromher.
She sank back onto the bench and her tears fell. She wiped her face but more tears took their place. She closed her eyes as water dripped from her cheeks onto her lap. “What have Idone?”
Years ago, Donna had gone to a therapist, knowing she used the loss of her parents to avoid living life to its fullest. Then Harry called off the wedding after admitting he cheated on her and she’d lost her job. She’d come here to figure out what she wanted with her life, not fall in love. Love hurt when she lost it and she’d lost over and over again. And yet here she was, stopping herself from feeling and hoping to block out what might be the best thing in her life. She’d ruinedeverything.
