Page 55 of Sweet Siren
"Oh, I—well..."
"I need to know." He pinned her with his gaze. "If you and I are to be friends, you must tellme."
"Yes." She bit her lower lip and fidgeted with the brim of her hat. Then she looked up at him. "He was thoughtful. Gentle and not atall—"
"What?"
"Aggressive. He'd never had to be. All that he had was inherited, given to him, nary a question as to his right to it. He was the most pleasant man to be near. Never fought. Neverargued."
That sounded like a condemnation of Killian's own past, damning criticism of his own behavior. "Isee."
She reached across the coach and took one of his hands. Neither of them had on their gloves and her skin was warm, her touch reassuring. "No, youdon't."
"You consider me opposite ofhim?"
"In many ways,yes."
He could take umbrage at that. "But it's clear, my dear, that you lovedhim."
"Oh, I did. How could I not? He did save me from poverty and my family's poor reputation. He introduced me to the business of decorating. Showed me how to tell the authenticity of a Chippendale chair or Pugin's wallpaper. I can tell you if mahogany is from Honduras or Mexico and if the French polish on it merits the highest price. I owe him much." She had tears in hereyes.
He rose and sat beside her. Looping one arm around her shoulders, he drew her to him. "I've made you sad. I didn't meanto."
She nestled her face in the crook of his neck. Holding her was heaven. She was supple—andtrusting.
He stroked her hair. "I'm glad to know you loved him. He sounds like he was a wonderful man and a good husband. He must have been exemplary to have gained yourlove."
She sniffed and pulled back. Her fingertips caressed his cheek. "You are a good man,too."
He dropped a kiss into her palm. "I learned tobe."
She rested her head on his shoulder and gazed up at him. "How?"
"I fell in love with a woman who would bear no shenanigans from me. No cards. No dice. No fancyladies."
"Yourwife?"
He nodded once. "She helped me see that some actions of mine needed reforming. I needed, she said,principles."
"I likeher."
"She was right. I...was lax in one negotiation. And the mansuffered."
Liv went still. "How?"
"He died. Took his ownlife."
"You knew?" Her voice was a whisper ofhorror.
"I heard from my banker in London. After his death." Killian hated to recall it. "I force myself to recall the details. It keeps me...focused."
"And your wifeknew?"
"I told her. I shared everything with her, especially my remorse overthis."
"That's the way a marriage should be," she said with a waterysmile.
He considered this woman in his arms, so sensitive and yet so strong. "I would have liked yourhusband."
