Page 73 of Bound to the Heartless Duke
Cecilia almost gasped at the sudden change in attitude.
“You threw a spoon at his head,” she pointed out, watching her with disbelief.
“It was a small spoon,” Lily muttered, looking away.
“And now you’re engaged?!”
Lily cleared her throat before letting out a deep sigh. “Things changed.”
Magnus remained silent throughout, his expression unreadable.
Cecilia looked between them, suspicion flickering behind her eyes. “So, tell me. What exactly changed between hatred and lifelong vows?”
Magnus raised his eyebrows. “The usual things. Circumstance. Conversations. Tense moments.”
“Not helpful.” Cecilia pursed her lips.
Magnus leaned back in his chair, looking entirely too amused. “She asked, I said yes.”
Lily’s eyes widened, and she elbowed him. “That’s not what happened!”
“Well, it was a little bit like that,” Theo chimed in, as though he had been there when everything happened.
Lily shot him a glare, and he hid a smile behind his mug.
Cecilia was watching the three of them like a hawk. Then, after a moment, she asked, “Does this have anything to do with Nathan?”
Tense silence ensued. Probably because of the look Lily and Magnus exchanged.
“In part,” Lily finally replied.
“What part, exactly?” Cecila’s voice softened.
Magnus exhaled slowly and rested his hands on his knees. “There were certain… arrangements.” He paused, carefully choosing his words. “Nathan had made some questionable ones regarding Lily’s future, so I offered an alternative.”
Cecilia frowned in confusion. “What kind of arrangements?”
“An engagement to someone else,” Lily replied. “Someone I could never possibly?—”
Suddenly, a new voice sounded from the doorway. “Ronald Bailey.”
They turned their heads in the direction of the voice.
Nathan was standing at the door, still groggy from sleep. He stepped into the room with a yawn and absolutely no sense of timing.
“You’re all up terribly early. Was someone shouting earlier, or was that just a dream?”
Magnus’s unreadable expression turned into one of anger once he saw her brother.. “Nathan?—”
Nathan blinked, before taking in the seating arrangement. “Oh, are we talking about the marriage?” He let out a dry laugh. “Yes, well. Quite the thing, isn’t it, dear sister? Can’t believe Magnus agreed to marry you after winning the house.” He stepped closer to the group of four.
Cecilia blinked twice. “Excuse me?”
Even Theo set down his teacup, looking up at Nathan for more information.
Oblivious to the fact that he was making things even worse, Nathan continued, “Especially since I bet our house at his?—”
Magnus stood up at this point. “Nathan.”
