Page 74 of The Sound of Seduction
Wendy’s nod was barely perceptible, the faintest angle of her chin downward. Her silence stung more than Stan expected, though he knew she was trying. She didn’t look up at him, and yet she didn’t try to free herself again. It was enough for him.
Alex exhaled loudly, the breaking of the moment startling Stan. “Then you need to protect her from List.”
The words slammed into him, breaking the momentum of his thoughts. His spine straightened without him realizing,and his free hand flexed briefly. He hadn’t prepared for this—for Alex to see Wendy as… as one of them. Someone who needed protection. He blinked, his mind stumbling through the consequences of that realization.
Alex didn’t wait for an answer. “Don’t look at me like that. You know I’m right. She’ll be in as much danger as any member of our family now.”
Stan forced himself to breathe, to catch the threads of this new, unexpected turn. His thumb shifted slightly over Wendy’s fingers, grounding himself in the contact. “Of course,” he said, though his voice betrayed him by faltering on the final word.
Wendy hesitated next to him, and he felt her withdrawing again. This time, she moved away fully, her fingers slipping from his grasp with all the grace and inevitability of sand slipping through his hand. His palm cooled where hers had been, the loss sending a pang straight to his chest. Her retreat felt purposeful, though there was nothing stiff in her walk as she stepped toward the hall. He kept his eyes on her for a moment longer than he should before turning back to Alex.
“You mean to help?” Stan asked, his tone wary. Alex had a way of turning help into something sharper, something heavier.
Alex sighed, shrugging with uncalled-for ease. “I mean that you’ve tied yourself to someone who will be a target—not later, but right now. You’ve made this more dangerous for her. And for you.”
Stan squared his shoulders, locking his stance as though planting himself on solid ground. “I would never put her at risk.”
“You wouldn’t mean to,” Alex cut in, irritation bristling beneath his otherwise calm voice. “But you love her, don’t you?”
The question didn’t require deliberation. The answer had nestled deeply within Stan long before Alex had asked it. “Yes.”
The simplicity of the truth, spoken aloud, surprised even Stan. His pulse quickened slightly as the weight of the admission settled.
Alex’s gaze softened, just a fraction, as the tiniest crease formed near the corner of his brow. He exhaled, shaking his head faintly. “More than I ever thought possible,” Stan added, the truth folding out of him like a confession.
“I understand,” Alex said eventually, his gaze steady as though willing Stan to believe him.
Stan tensed, leaning slightly forward. “You? Understand?” His lips curved faintly in disbelief before his brow furrowed, startled by the sincerity in Alex’s voice.
Alex simply shrugged. “Why shouldn’t I? I’ve sacrificed for far less, haven’t I?”
Beyond the doorway, the faint echo of Wendy’s soft footsteps disappeared down the corridor. Stan knew she hadn’t heard Alex’s answer, yet there was no doubt she carried something new away with her. The silence she left in her absence was not empty but charged.
Stan loved her.And that love now lived between them, unshakable as stone, a truth with teeth and consequence.
Chapter Thirty-Two
The night of the ball…
Wendy’s heart swelledand sank all at once as she paced the quiet corridor. Stan’s confession still echoed in her mind, impossibly sweet and utterly out of reach for a nurse bound by duty to London and her brother.
Wendy’s gloved hand skimmed the smooth banister as she descended, her steps unhurried. The delicate rustle of her gown was an exquisite azure blue. Her heart fluttered in her chest, a mixture of nerves and anticipation heightening her senses. She hadn’t seen Stan since he spoke to Nick and wanted to know what had happened.
The gown fit perfectly, hugging her waist, and flaring out in a cascade of silk that shimmered with each step. The neckline, modest enough to be proper, framed her collarbones, adorned with a simple lace trim. She had never felt quite so transformed. “Ready to grow up,” Nick would say. The sense of it—the elegance and unfamiliarity—tightened her stomach, but not in an unpleasant way.
At the base of the staircase stood Nick straight and commanding with his hands linked behind his back. His dark coat, tailored impeccably, added to his natural aura of authority. By his side was Pippa, looking radiant in a sage-green gown, her face lit with an irrepressible smile. As Wendy came closer, Nick’s eyes softened, revealing the kindness that lay beneath his sometimes stern, older-brotherly demeanor.
“Well now,” Nick said, stepping forward to take in her appearance. His smile was warm, his tone brimming with admiration, though there was no teasing in it. “My not-so-little sister.” He smiled wistfully, and there was that sparkle again she’d missed when he was distracted. “Tonight, you’ll be the envy of the ball.”
“But there’s Princess Thea, Pippa, Bea; surely I won’t be—”
“Admired for being a fiercely intelligent and thoroughly beautiful woman inside and out?” Pippa said, smiling at her with all the warmth of a big sister. “They will bite their knuckles and squeeze their fans with envy.” Pippa winked at Nick and gently squeezed Wendy’s hand as she added, “And I can’t wait to watch them turn green with envy.”
Wendy flushed, the words as sweet as they were surprising. She lowered her gaze briefly but couldn’t suppress a small, pleased smile. “Thank you, Nick, for this dress. I hardly recognize myself.”
“You shouldn’t need a gown to know how remarkable you are,” Nick replied simply, though the mischievous glint in his eye appeared a moment later. “But I’ll admit, it’s a fine choice. Too bad I can’t take credit for it.” He extended a hand to help her down the final step.
“Whatever do you mean?” Wendy asked.
