Page 76 of The Miracle of Love
“For pity’s sake. I am not a jungle animal.” He emitted a low growl, obviously one of frustration with her, but did that growl not prove he was exactly that?
The lone leopard.
“You are a solitary creature. Will you deny it? You flaunt authority. You flaunt rules. Youenjoyflaunting them. You cherish your independence. You dismissed atonbeauty because you did not want to be tied down to anyone, not even the most beautiful, charming, eagerly sought after young woman in all of London.”
“She wasn’t you, Grace.”
“What is so special about me? Pauper. Disgraced family. Overly demanding when it comes to marriage. You take nothing to heart and I takeeverythingto heart. How does this not irritate you?”
“Because I do not see you as you describe yourself.”
She shook her head. “How else can someone like you see me?”
“Someone like me?” He raked a hand through his hair. “What’s that supposed to mean? And since you raised the topic ofseeingclearly, I suggest you work on that a little harder. You are in love with me and–”
“How dare you presume to know my thoughts.”
“You are in love with me and so scared to admit it to yourself that you are tossing every hurdle you can think of in the way to avoid confronting your feelings.”
“My feelings? Well, I’ve learned from a master, haven’t I? You toss those hurdles about with remarkable ease. You’ve strewn them around you so effectively, no one has ever broken through.”
“No one? Is this what you think? Do you trust nothing I tell you?”
He strode to the door without awaiting her response. “Latch this after me. I’m going for a walk.”
He was out the door and disappeared downstairs before she had the chance to stop him. Nor could she follow since he had earlier unlaced the ties of her gown. The sleeves were slipping off her shoulders and her bodice was loose enough to provide a clear view down her bosom.
She had taken off her boots, too.
Well, there was no point in chasing after him.
He was angry because she did not tumble into his arms and joyfully admit she loved him.
She buried her face in her hands. “I do love him.”
What had she done?
Chapter Twelve
Deklan strode downstairsto the inn’s taproom and ordered an ale. There were a few men at the bar, local fishermen by the weathered look of their faces. Otherwise, the place was quiet. He took a seat at a corner table with a clear view to the stairs.
Despite his irritation with Grace, he would never shirk his duty. He would be on his feet in a trice if anyone but the innkeeper’s wife went up those steps. There were no back stairs to worry about either, for the place was small. While comfortable, it was also old and not built for finer folk who employed a staff of servants and wanted to keep them out of the way with use of hidden doors or separate stairs.
Grace.
He sighed.
She wasn’t the problem, he was.
He knew she was in love with him and was scared witless because of it. She wasn’t a timid mouse, but she was a girl with a badly battered heart. After the family upheaval and suddenly becoming a pawn between two countries on the verge of war, she could not bear another ordeal.
Loving him would certainly be an ordeal.
Was he not everything she had accused?
Independent.
Aloof.
