Page 79 of You Only Love Twice
He didn't know if there was anusor athem. All he knew was he had to save her.
But he tried to put the concept into words for his oldest friend.
"We've had no peace. We've never had a chance to be. She is pain, and suffering, and torment to me, but she is also hope, and light, and laughter. Perhaps we'll never have that peace. Or a chance to discover if there could ever be more. But is the cost of my life worth the price of hers? Yes. I think I would die for her, and there would be no bitterness earned in pursuing such oblivion. As long as she lived. As long as I knew she was still out there, safe. I would pay any price for her."
"Let us hope it don't come to that," Silas murmured. "You're the only bastard I actually give a damn about."
"You're only saying that because you want to stay in my good graces."
Silas tipped the tankard of ale toward him. "There's that too, you mad bugger."
Chapter 17
Gemma rapped on the door to Malloryn's private chambers at the Hamilton residence in Kensington. "You sent for me?"
There'd been a message waiting with Herbert that morning when she hauled herself out of bed and downstairs for some very much needed tea. Her one consolation was that Ava and Ingrid were in a similar condition.
Inside the room, she saw the duke examining his choice of cufflinks as his valet watched on. Malloryn's icy gaze flickered to her, and then he turned to his valet. "A moment, Edwards. Perhaps you can see if the bride needs anything."
The valet vanished and Gemma shut the door behind her.
The ceremony was to take place in the formal chambers of the Hamilton house. In light of the threat against the queen, it wasn't ideal, but it had been too late to make other arrangements.
Malloryn shot her a cool look. "The guests should be arriving shortly. I'm sure Ingrid and Ava filled you in on events last night?"
The queen would be in attendance today, and while the Company of Rogues had been busy while she'd been gone, they'd made no headway on the Chameleon issue.
"She has, though I was under the impression I was no longer working the Chameleon case."
He ignored the bite to her voice. "Are you recovered?"
The request took her aback. She hadn't even been entirely certain she was still on the guest list. "Yes."
"Good." He peered at himself in the mirror, his expression blank as he fiddled with his right cufflink. "I need you to be focused today, Gemma. While I'm not certain whether to return you to the field to face your ex-lover again, I would like you to assist with the queen's safety. You would see any threat coming long before the rest of her guards."
A truce then.
Despite her aching head, there was a clarity within her this morning she hadn't owned the night before.
And as much as Malloryn drove her crazy, she did care for him. Perhaps more than he allowed anyone else to do.
"Here," she murmured, crossing over to him. "You're butchering this."
Malloryn gave himself and his cufflinks over to her.
Gemma swiftly did them up, and then straightened the shoulders of the black velvet coat he wore. Every inch of him looked dangerous and dashing. His close-cropped dark auburn hair gleamed in the gaslight, and his usual assortment of rings splayed across his fingers. All eyes would see a man who held an incredible amount of power, and wielded it with a dispassionate hand, but they'd never realize how loyal and true he was to those he considered his.
"Perfect. You look perfect," she said with some satisfaction, for he'd tasked her months ago with choosing his wardrobe for the occasion.
"How is Isabella this morning?" he murmured.
"Do you really want to know?"
For the first time, Malloryn looked uncomfortable. "She's barely speaking to me. We quarreled."
"I know."
"About the wedding."
