Page 78 of A Duchess to Unravel
“I believe our plans are proceeding as we wished,” he answered. “I am making my way through my work, you have provided me a shield from the mamas of theton,and I have settled the issue with your stalker. I would say all is going quite well.”
Theo was relieved that the confident, somewhat cocky air of authority had returned to Alistair’s tone, but still, something did not feel quite right. Tentatively, she reached across the table and placed her hand over his. Alistair’s eyes darted to hers immediately, and her heart warmed as she saw that fire she now adored spark once again in his eyes.
“I never properly thanked you for taking care of that issue for me,” she told him.
Alistair’s thumb smoothed over her knuckles as a fleeting smile traveled over his lips. He then shook his head and brought her hand to his mouth.
“You do not need to thank me, little kitten,” he said, then kissed her knuckles, “I only gave what was promised.”
This time Theo’s smile was warm and genuine, and she let loose her tense posture as she heard her pet name. Perhaps things were all right after all.
The hope quickly vanished, however, when she freed her hand from his and moved to caress his cheek, only for him to move away from her touch and straighten in his chair. She slowly pulled away from, suddenly embarrassed by her own forwardness, and felt her shoulders and back stiffen yet again.
“Speaking of promises,” Alistair went on, going back to carving his meat into small pieces. “Have you given any thought on where you want to live after our deal has concluded? You arewelcome to stay here, of course, but if it does not suit you, I want to be able to acquire whatever property you wish.”
Theo was not ready for the ache that slammed into her heart upon hearing his question. It stole her breath and blurred her vision. She sat back in her chair, trying to pull in the sadness that had suddenly flooded throughout her.
“Theo?”
Alistair’s voice sounded distant and echoed as Theo fought to draw in a breath.
“Theo,” he repeated, and she felt his hand slide over hers. “Are you quite well?”
“Theo,” Alistair repeated, concern rising through him.
He moved quickly out of his chair, kneeling at her side as he reached for both of her hands. Their reunion had been awkward, yes. He hadn’t planned on staying distanced from her for so long. The intimacy of their last moment together had alarmed him, frightened him even. Yet he’d thought they’d been making their way back to a familiar place when Theo suddenly went pale and stalk-still in her chair.
She wrested her hands from his, blinked, then moved out of her chair, stumbling away from him as she did so.
“I am fine,” she breathed.
She wasn’t though. She still looked far too pale for Alistair’s liking and her eyes still had a wild, lost look to them that had him on edge. He took a step toward her, and she hurried back.
“I should leave,” she said, her tone flat.
Alistair went to take another step toward her, but he stopped himself and tightly gripped the back of her abandoned chair to keep himself in place.
“What? No, that is not what I am saying,” he ventured. “I just wanted to know if you were comfortable here.”
Theo shook her head, stretching a hand out as if telling him to stop.
“No, you are right. We have accomplished what we both wanted. There is no need to keep this charade for another month and a half.”
Charade.
Alistair felt his heart still at the word. His grip on the back of her chair tightened, the wood creaking under his force.
That was what this was, wasn’t it? What it always had been. And Theo had just made it clear that she was ready for it to end. He reached for words but found only mournful silence in his chest.
“My brother,” Theo said, at last breaking the tense silence, “He has two other houses. I believe he still owns his bachelor estate in London. And our family home in the country. I shall confer with him, see if I am able to take up residence in the country.”
“No!” The word left his lips with emphasis he could not hold back, stilling the conversation yet again.
This was not what he wanted.
“I--I mean,” then silently cursed. Heneverstammered. Never was afraid to say what he wanted.
He drew in a shaking breath, willing his body to regain control. Even if it felt as if his livelihood was slipping through his fingertips.
