Page 81 of A Virgin for the Duke of Depravity
Margaret turned back to face him, this time with her hands on her hips. She leaned toward him, stomping her right foot. The sound echoed through the cavernous library.
Leo could not believe the words she had said. He had been so careful to make it clear to her from the start that he could not love her. He did notwanther to love him.
From the very beginning, when she stumbled into his book club, he made it clear to her that he was undeserving of love. He claimed her, but he tried to keep her at arm’s length so that this did not happen.
How had he failed?
He stood up and walked toward her slowly, giving her the chance to turn away from him. When he got close to her, she stared at him defiantly, daring him to respond.
“What did you just say?” he asked.
But she only looked at him. He knew for a fact what she had just said, even without having to hear it again.
Her silence was her answer.
“Repeat it,” he demanded, louder this time.
He knew he was yelling at her, but he could not stop himself. If she thought him beastly, perhaps it was for the best. She had confessed herlovefor him.
Maybe he could change her mind with his rude behavior.
“Oh, yes,” she said. “Didn’t you know? I’m in love with you, but you want nothing to do with me. And why is that, again?”
Leo did not say a single word. He did not move a muscle or let out the breath he had been holding this whole time.
His silence only pushed Margaret to continue, to build her case against him. She let out a breath that almost sounded like a choked laugh. One hand flew to her throat, as if she could hold in a ragged sob.
“You are too afraid that I am going to be like someone I have never met. But I am not your brother’s wife. I belong toyou, as you told me countless times since I came here a week ago.”
“Margaret—”
She cut him off with a raised hand and a shake of the head. Leo knew instinctively that she needed to get this off her chest. He had the opportunity to share his pain, his past. It was only fair to allow her to do the same.
He took a step back from her and let her continue.
“Do you honestly think I would be able to hurt you, that I would be able to hurt those girls? All I ever want is to make you smile.”
“I know I haven’t made this easy—”Leo started.
He wanted to rebuff her argument. There was no question that she would never hurt the girls. Deep down, he knew that she would never hurt him either, but there was so much pain there.
Pain that she didn’t cause, he reminded himself.
She was winning him over, convincing him that he could be a different person.
“You think that I could ever belong to you without loving you first?” Margaret clapped her hands, as if letting him know that she had finished her speech. “This is a great way of thinking, husband.”
Leo felt the shock of her claim echo in his veins again.
When was the last time anyonewantedto spend time with him, apart from Aaron and Theresa? When was the last time someone went out of their way to make him smile?
Margaret loves me.
The words echoed in his mind deafeningly.
He knew he had to act quickly if he was going to persuade her. Before he could think too long and hard about the ripple effect this would have, he stepped between her and the door.
Margaret turned away from him, disgust written all over her face. He could not blame her for thinking that he was selfish. She had admitted to something honest and real, whereas he had hidden behind his past.
