and spun around, catching an empty vase before it crashed to the floor. The world came rushing vividly back into focus. My temples throbbed. My throat went dry. I wanted to reach out and shake her. To demand answers then and there. I wanted to turn around and leave. I wanted to grab her, and take her with me.
Slowly, she turned to face me, the floral vase in hand, a buffer between us. “My lord,” she whispered, curtseying as best she could with her hands full. “Your fiancé should be just a moment.”
I wasn’t sure whether to be shocked or furious.
She’d left without word almost a year ago, and her response was to curtsey? To bring up Miranda? I hated her in that moment. She replaced the vase. I despised her with every fiber of my being.
Yet, I couldn’t look away. Every movement she made drew my attention. The curve of her hips heated my blood. When she slid me a nervous glance under her thick lashes, my pulse pounded. I had to touch her. Had to.
Yes, I hated her.
While I’d been dreaming about her every damn time I closed my eyes, feeling guilty as hell that I’d taken her virginity, she’d been cozy and content. I hated her. Hated the emotion she made me feel. Hated her as much as I wanted her.
“Your fiancé shall be out in a moment,” she repeated.
I took perverse satisfaction when I heard her voice quiver. Good. Let her be nervous. With a desperate look in her gaze, she turned on her heels. Hell, she was truly going to leave. Again.
I reached out, latching onto her upper arm. “Don’t you dare.”
“Release me,” she hissed, those fire-blue eyes flashing up at me. “Or I will tell you exactly what I think of you in front of your fiancé.”
“Do, and we both know this won’t end well for you.”
“Don’t you dare threaten me.”
I gritted my teeth until I thought they’d shatter. Even still, now, somehow, we always ended up arguing. I didn’t want to care where she’d been, what she’d done to survive. I didn’t want to care why she’d left me. I did. “Where have you been?”
“That’s none of your business.”
It wasn’t. She was right. Yet, that year ago, even though I hadn’t wanted to, I’d claimed her as my own. I couldn’t explain it, but she knew it as well as I. And the thought of McKinnon taking her made me furious. Still, even knowing she’d had another, I wanted her.
“My lord.” Miranda swept into the room in a flurry of skirts. It took only one glance at us for her smile to fall, her suspicious gaze dropping to where my hand gripped Ginny’s arm. “Is everything well?”
Ginny lowered her gaze to the floor. “Yes, certainly. I…I tripped, but Lord Chambers was here to help.”
I released my hold. “I was brought up to be a gentleman.”
The words sounded hollow, forced, ridiculous. Everything felt oddly surreal, as if I was in a dream, and not quite connected to my body.
“Of course you were,” Miranda murmured.
The urge to demand answers overwhelmed me. But I couldn’t demand anything of her, unless I wanted to destroy her reputation, her position, and my engagement. Hell. I was going to be married. The realization hit me hard. Brought me back into reality with a swift and uncomfortable kick.
Marriage.
I’d always been resigned to the fact that I would marry. Now, the idea seemed preposterous with Ginny standing before me. How could I think of marrying Miranda when my body was afire for the woman across from me? The woman who was flushed bright pink and doing her best to avoid eye contact?
“My dear.” Miranda slid her arm through mine. Over her obnoxious scent of roses was the same sweet, scent I’d come to crave those ten months ago…Ginny’s scent. Spice and baked good. Vanilla and something I couldn’t identify.
“Miss Lamier,” Miranda called out merrily as a woman swept through the curtains, a pile of material in hand. “This is Lord Chambers, my fiancé.”
“How lovely to meet you,” the woman murmured, curtseying.
Somehow, I managed to nod. Somehow, I managed to pretend as if everything was normal, as if my life hadn’t just been flipped upside down.
“Miss Lamier,” Ginny managed in a quiet voice. “I must go to the shop if I’m to get there before they close.”
“But you already…” Miss Lamier trailed off as she got a good look at Ginny’s face. Her brows drew together, then her attention flashed to me.