Page 59 of Pride: The Rogue
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to, Livian. Either way, the point is, the moment you say ‘I do’, you belong to the fellow in every way. You’ll be no different than property, and though you’re hoping for freedom, darlin’, you and I both know you land the wrong nobleman, and you’re going to be a broodmare without much time for those honorable dreams and aspirations you have.”
She tensed. “You’re trying to talk me from my decision.”
Lachlan scoffed. “Darlin’, I’ve known you less than a night, and even I can tell not even God himself could sway you if you believe in what you’re doing.” He paused. “That is, if you even do really believe in what you’re doing?”
Tears pricked her lashes.
Not from all the worries he’d raised, but for the admiration which filled his voice when he spoke aboutherand the fact he genuinely cared enough to share his opinion, but not judge her.
Livian fell once more onto her back, folded her hands together, and rested them upon her stomach.
Why should he, this enigma, this stranger who, in the heart of a storm, had come crashing into her life, be everything she’d given up all hope of ever having?
“My partners betrayed me.”
Lost in her own misery, it was a moment before Lachlan’s hushed admission reached her.
She turned her head back towards him. From where he sat, the fire left half of his handsome features illuminated, while shadows played with the other half.
“I’m head of security.” He grimaced. “Or I used to be. The deal isn’t completely closed yet,” he said.
Understanding dawned. “That’s why you were suspicious of my questions.”
He nodded. “Still am, somewhat.”
But he was telling her anyway.
Livian swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood. Cold came up to meet her bare feet. Shivering, she headed over to her belongings and dropped to a knee.
She proceeded to take out the same book Lachlan had come upon her reading and flipped through the pages. The entire time, she felt Lachlan carefully studying her back.
She stopped on a particularly marked page and fetched the small, folded sheet from within. Then, after carefully returning her cherished leather tome, she straightened.
Paper in hand, she approached Lachlan.
He followed her every movement with carefully guarded eyes.
She stopped over him. “Here,” she said, proffering the page.
Lachlan eyed it a moment. Wordlessly, he accepted the small scrap of parchment.
“It’s a note…you can read it.”
Without hesitation, Lachlan unfolded the sheet and read.
As he skimmed his gaze along the letter, she shifted nervously on her feet.
When he’d finished, he looked up. There was a question in his eyes.
“It is from Bertha.” She volunteered that unnecessary information and grimaced. “Which you can clearly see for yourself, and as you’re one who has been betrayed before bypeople who were supposed to care for you, I’m not sure if this makes you further question my integrity and honor.” She glanced down at the letter. “But I loved her like a mother, and occasionally she will find a way to get a letter to me, and I write her back and knowing that,” her voice grew pitchy to her own ears, “would break my sister’s heart. And you now possess evidence of my greatest treachery, and…it is yours as insurance.” Then it struck her. “I know I do not have anything of material value, but this is the greatest thing I possess and the most dangerous information in my possession, and it is now…yours,” she finished awkwardly.
Lachlan returned his attention to the first note Bertha had written to Livian after being sent away.
Livian’s breath came quickly, filling her ears, and making her chest rise and fall, fast.
Wordlessly, Lachlan refolded the note along its well-defined seam.
