The King's Bride By Arrangement - Annie West Page 0,63
that I’m special to you, that you care.’
‘I do care.’ Sparkling eyes snared hers but she fought their terrible pull.
‘Of course you care. You’re a decent man. But you don’t love me. And that’s what I want. A man who loves me.’
For a long, long moment he stood, unmoving, looking down at her from his superior height, his expression unreadable.
‘That night I tried to kiss you, the night of our betrothal ball, it wasn’t what you thought.’
Of all the things he might have said that was the least expected. Why wasn’t Paul agreeing that it was time she left? Why rehash the past?
‘My father had a word with me after our betrothal.’ Paul’s mouth quirked up at one side but she read no amusement in that lop-sided smile. ‘Too late, he told me I shouldn’t assume you wanted to marry me. He mentioned you’d been seen with a handsome young count in Tarentia. But that you’d been made to give him up to do your duty and marry me.’
Eva’s head jerked up. She knew who he was talking about. She’d gone on a date with the count, had kissed him, and thought about doing much more with him, to cure herself of her infatuation with Paul. But when it came to the crunch she’d shied away.
Paul spread his hands. ‘I was a young man with a young man’s pride, so perhaps I didn’t handle it well, but I had to know how you felt about me.’
‘That’s why you offered to kiss me?’
He inclined his head. ‘When you declined and looked at me with that frozen stare I knew you didn’t really want to marry me. I decided then and there to set you free.’
Eva stared, amazed at this new explanation for the excruciating scene she remembered.
‘I told my father I was calling off the engagement.’ Paul’s expression turned grim. ‘That’s when he informed me he’d already spent the portion of your dowry that was handed over on our engagement. I had no way of paying that back so no way of releasing you.’
Eva stared, realising how well that explained his distance, always polite but never anything more than that.
‘Thank you for telling me.’ The truth made it better somehow. ‘But you didn’t love me then and you don’t now.’ She was proud of the fact her words sounded even, almost crisp. ‘So it’s better that I leave.’
Warm fingers folded around hers and Eva looked down to see his strong hand cradling hers. The sight made her heartbeat blip and her breath hitch.
‘No, I didn’t love you, Eva.’
Her breath released in a silent sigh. The truth shouldn’t hurt. She’d known it so long she should be used to it. Yet the pain was there, the ever-present ache behind her ribs.
‘But I do now.’
‘Sorry?’ She swung her head up to meet eyes of heart-stopping blue and an expression that made her insides dance. He wasn’t smiling. If anything, Paul looked grave.
‘I love you, Eva.’
She tugged her hand but his grip held. So did that stunning, bright gaze, like lapis lazuli.
‘Don’t, Paul. You don’t have to pretend. I’ll tell you if there’s a baby, I promise.’
‘This has nothing to do with whether or not you’re pregnant.’
Her heart stuttered then took up a chaotic rhythm.
‘I love you. That’s why I don’t want you to go. Because I want to marry you and spend the rest of our days together.’
Her lips trembled. Eva realised her control was crumbling. Any minute now there’d be tears, for this was too much. She blinked and straightened her crumpled mouth.
‘You want someone to share your burdens, that’s all. But believe me, Paul, there’ll be women lining up to the other side of the island once they know you’re single again.’
‘I don’t want any woman but you.’
She opened her mouth but her words died when he pressed his finger to her lips.
‘When you came to St Ancilla this time, I’d resolved to end the betrothal. But, when it came to it, I was strangely unsettled. I knew it was the honourable thing to do, but it didn’t sit right and I didn’t know why. Later that night, I discovered why.’ He drew a deep breath that expanded his chest hugely. ‘I wanted you, Eva. I’d never known anything like it—desire so brutally potent it cut through every scruple, every good intention to keep my distance.’
Heat licked Eva’s veins. She knew exactly what he meant. It had been like that for her too. It still was.
Stiffly she shrugged. ‘Lust. That’s all.’
His