Page 45 of Bound to the Heartless Duke
He shouldn’t have said it; he hadn’t meant to. It was none of his business. And yet the words had come out without permission, and her face?—
Christ, the way she had looked at him…
When did he become like this?
He rubbed a hand over his face, cursing under his breath.
It wasn’t just Lily. It was Nathan, too.
Her brother had always had a reckless streak, but this was different. Nathan had become increasingly annoying, having wrapped all his hope around Ronald Bailey as if the man were a lifeline. As if the man’s mere interest in his sister could wipe away years of poor decisions.
Magnus didn’t believe and had never believed in salvation through suitors. And Lily sure as hell didn’t need saving. She was supposed to be more than that.
Yet, watching her make herself smaller to make Nathan feel taller… it got to him, more than it should.
The wind picked up as he crossed the last hill overlooking the southern pasture. When he got there, he paused, letting the breeze dry the sweat on his neck.
Now, this was the air he was talking about. Below him, the land stretched out toward the horizon, dotted by broken carts and rusted troughs with the occasional one-armed scarecrow.
Medlin had once thrived. That was evident. So had Lily.
Magnus sat on the low stone wall that wrapped around the field, letting the silence settle around him. He could still feel the ache in his chest, except now it was full and constant. He had thoughtthe distance would help, yet there his mind was, returning to everything that concernedher.
He didn’t want to want her. It complicated things. She wasn’t his to want.
But every time she looked at him like she knew something he didn’t, every time she flinched at the truth but didn’t run from it, drew him closer. Every touch, every almost kiss. It pushed him against his better judgment. Against logic.
Hell, against his survival instincts.
He didn’t need another war, especially not one of his own making.
“Running off again?”
The voice startled him enough that he nearly dropped his coat. He twisted around, brows lifting to show his surprise. He had not expected to be found there.
Especially not byher.
Lily stood before him, her hair pinned up in a messy bun, her cheeks flushed from the heat and her walk. She hadn’t dressed up for town or tea. She wore nothing but a simple blouse and a grass-stained skirt, and a stubborn expression.
“Did Nathan send you?” Magnus asked, his voice rough.
She rolled her eyes. “Nathan thinks you’re off seducing old Lady Cartwright. I told him you were likely brooding in a field.”
He huffed a laugh despite himself.
“And you came to confirm?” Helooked up at her.
She walked closer. “I came because I’m tired of your pretending you don’t care.”
That stopped him cold.
She looked at him,reallylooked at him for a long while. In that moment, the sun felt even brighter with the loud silence.
“I don’t,” he lied with a shrug.
“You do.”
He stood up then, the tension winding tightly under his skin. “Even if I did, it wouldn’t change anything.”
