Page 149 of Pride: The Rogue
It hadn’t been mindless lust that bound he and Livian. The minute their worlds collided, he and Livian were destined for one another…maybe long before that; since the beginning of time.
Her expression instantly hardened. “Let us be clear about one thing, Mr. Latimer. I am not the one who hurt Miss Lovelace.” She ran her eyes derisively over him. “You managed to do that all on your own, without any assistance from me.”
That accurate barb proved all the more vicious for the brutal truth to it.
Everything hurt inside. Everything hurt on the outside.
He’d been so sure nothing else mattered more than asserting his place in the gaming hell world. He believed it so much he’d spent these past days with Livian, seeing them as finite. Whenthe truth had been there all along: if she left or wed another man, and if Latimer were separated from her forever, he’d cease to be.
There was no life without her in it.
Except, that’s precisely how he existed in this hellish nightmare—alone, with her gone, and out of his life.
“If you tell me, despite the affection you clearly carry for Miss Lovelace, that your business matters more to you,” the duchess said quietly, “and if you are still willing to enter into a union, I will still hold to the agreement we haven’t yet discussed, but that Lord Dynevor would like us to enter. I’m a woman who was in love with another man. You are a man who is himself clearly in love with another. We share that in common. In sharing those similar grounds, we’d certainly share far more than the majority of couples in polite society.”
She’d marry him still. Everything he wanted for his financial and revengeful future was still within reach.
The only problem was, at this moment, Livian was not, and Latimer couldn’t live without her.
The Duchess of Argyll moved her shrewd gaze over Latimer’s face. “I see, Mr. Latimer,” she murmured.
“Forgive me,” he said solemnly. “I did not—”
The look she gave Latimer turned lethal.
He’d said the absolute worst and wrong thing to the self-assured peeress.
A proud woman such as Lady Argyll wouldn’t take kindly to rejection; she’d take evenlesswell to being an object of pity.
“Now, that we have sorted through all of this,” she said, stiff as stone, “pack your belongings, Mr. Latimer, and remove yourself from my property, at once.”
The Duchess of Argyll started to go.
“Wait!” Latimer called out, unable to stop himself. Not that he would have allowed pride to get in his way. He had already made that mistake once, and it’d nearly cost him Livian.
It might still cost you your lady, the voice inside his head delighted in tormenting Latimer.
For a moment, he believed the regal duchess wouldn’t turn back. And he’d now just ascertained he wasn’t too proud to beg either if need be.
Finally, after an eternity, the duchess faced him.
“Yes, Mr. Latimer?” Her features were so even, and her voice so calm, one may have believed she’d already gotten over her ire.
Latimer made himself speak calmly and measured so as to not further offend. “You are certain you cannot tell me where she is?”
“I’m afraid not,” she answered with so much glee there could be no doubting how very much she was enjoying this moment.
Certainly, he deserved both her loathing and the pleasure she found in taunting him. He’d not been forthright, but then, in fairness, he’d not been forthright withhimselfabout Livian—until now.
His mind continued spinning out of control. Livian being the person she was, would always put other people’s well-being before her own. Given her sister and brother-in-law were expecting a new babe, she’d want to go to them. But would she, given the circumstances that had prompted her to return home?
Which raised terrifyingly insidious thoughts about Livian on the road once more. He’d forced his way inside her rooms—be it unknowingly that a woman rested her head there. What if on this latest journey it were some other man, a dishonorable one, with vile intentions?
Sweat slicked his skin.
The hauntings continued coming.
Strong as she was and had proven against the viscount’s assault on her, last night had proven her vulnerability. Had Latimer not arrived when he had…
