The Matter of a Marquess - Jess Michaels Page 0,13

made their way to the surface. He hadn’t seen this woman since that horrible evening when he realized she’d never planned to marry him, no matter what promises they made in secret. She’d lied to him and sent him on a spiral that had nearly killed him.

Looking at her, the emotion that rose in his chest, long-ignored and pretended away, was anger. He was angry that she was still so irresistible. Angry that she was here at his brother’s house when she had to know their connection. Angry that she could look away from him, turn away just as she always had, when he couldn’t stop staring.

“What’s going on is a very good question,” he said, still looking at her even though he was answering Robert. “And only Lady Lovell can answer it.”

“Nicholas?” Katherine whispered, touching his arm and drawing him back to the part of the world that wasn’t Aurora. Such a small world now. Such a dull one. “Please, what is going on?”

“Lady Lovell and I knew each other as children, Katherine. Or didn’t she share that fact with you?” He noted how Aurora flinched, high color re-entering her cheeks. “Or did we know each other, my lady? Did we ever actually know each other?”

Aurora’s gaze jerked back toward him. Tears glistened in her eyes, and for a brief, horrible, wonderful moment all Nicholas wanted to do was step toward her, gather her close, soothe her. Even after everything that had come to pass, he was still such a weak fool.

But he couldn’t be. Not anymore. Not with a future to plan and a life to build. No, he had to walk away, just as she had done all those years ago. Until he could control himself, he had to walk away.

He pivoted on his heel and did so, limping back up the stairs and into the house. But even though he’d cut off the contact between himself and Aurora, the attraction, the thrill of seeing her was still there. He hated himself for it. Hated that years and sorrows and near-death hadn’t cured him of this desire.

But he didn’t hate her. He might have been harsh with her on the stairs, but he hadn’t been able to hate her. And as he entered a parlor and all but collapsed on the nearest settee, he realized that had to change. He had to find a way to hate Aurora. Otherwise, he wouldn’t survive her.

Aurora couldn’t breathe. She stood before her carriage, knees shaking, as Nicholas walked away from her, and she couldn’t breathe. Even when he was gone, she gasped for air.

How could he be here? And how could he be even more handsome than he had been all those years ago? Then he’d been a boy, his face still youthful. Now he was all angles, all soft ruddy beard, all piercing gaze of a man who had seen the world. He was everything she’d dreamed of, everything she’d longed for in those never-ending, empty years…and more.

And now he was here. In a house where she’d sworn to herself he would not be. And he looked at her with utter contempt before he limped away, reminding her of all he’d nearly lost when he bravely saved others. He had suffered enormously in the last few years since his injury. Seeing her obviously increased that.

“I…should…leave,” she managed to say to no one and everyone. God, their eyes as the entire family stared at her. She’d left London to avoid judgment. She would have rather faced off with people who thought her fallen than this.

“No!” Katherine said, racing forward to support her elbow. “I don’t understand what is going on, but you aren’t going. Robert…” She turned toward the duke, who seemed to loom above Aurora on the step, his dark gaze focused far too intently on her. “Go speak to your brother. Selina, Derrick and Morgan, go with him. He seems to need all of you. And Aurora, you come with me and Lizzie.”

The groups broke apart, and Aurora felt she had no choice but to do as Katherine had suggested. Plus, she had no interest in getting back into the bumpy carriage and taking a three-day ride back to London. She’d depleted her monthly funds already with the trip over.

So she was trapped.

Her head bent, she followed Katherine and the other woman into the house. They walked in front of her, whispering, and her stomach jolted. It seemed humiliation was bound to be her constant companion now. A