Page 74 of The Moonstone Pirate
“I’m trying. You know how hard this is for me. I cannot help worrying for your safety.”
“I know, but I do not need you to be a watering pot. It does not help at all. In fact, it irritates me.”
“Shedding a tear or two does not make me a watering pot. I would be doing the same for Parrot, so do not get so full of yourself. And stop being so mean to me.”
He groaned. “I am not being mean to you.”
“Yes, you are,” she said, sniffling. “Shouldn’t someone care about what you are doing, since you obviously have no care for yourself? I will be better in a moment. Even you must admit, it is a lot to absorb. Draco, does this assignment scare you at all?”
“Of course it does. This is why I prepare in advance as best as I can. I try to leave as little as possible to chance. Any man who jumps in without fear is a fool and won’t survive long.”
“Will you promise me you won’t do anything foolish?”
He nodded. “My goal is to live a long and healthy life, and not have my hair turn gray worrying over you.”
“Worrying over me?” She regarded him in confusion. “I ought to be the least of your concerns.”
He sighed again. “I wish it were so, but you seem to have made your way to the top of my list. What are all my good intentions worth if I cannot protect you, and you are hurt? What is my heart worth if you ever come to harm?”
“Dear heaven,” her uncle muttered.
“I am not making any declarations to your niece, Burness.” Draco glanced at her uncle, frowned, and then turned back to her. “Be strong for me, Imogen. Be as strong as you were when the Irishman sailed into my cove. You handled my staff andDeandra brilliantly. I could not have done better myself. So I know you have it in you to be fierce and brave.”
Fierce?
Brave?
No one would ever use those words to describe her. She cried if she came across a kitten with an injured paw.
In that moment, Imogen realized she was not cut out for intrigue. Yes, she was a good puzzle solver, but this was all. She did not have the temperament to carry out the dangerous and dirty assignments required to protect king and country.
Well, perhaps if matters were dire enough she would rise to the occasion. However, for everyone’s sake, she hoped her resolve would never be tested.
She also came to another dismaying realization. Even though Draco thought she was pretty and had kissed her with delicious ardor, she was not the sort of woman he would ever wish to marry. Had he not just told her uncle that he was not making her any declarations?
Which meant that when he’d kissed her ardently before confronting theDrogheda’s captain, it was only because he thought he was going to die. Despite all his assurances, he was not safe at all and did not expect to survive.
He would not have kissed her otherwise.
But having survived the encounter, he would have married her if she had insisted on it. Because of that foolish kissing pact. She had let him out of it, of course. Marrying someone who did not love her was the worst thing she could possibly do.
Had he asked herthequestion, she would have answered it.
All he had to do was ask her if she loved him.
Her answer…yes.
She loved him desperately and wanted nothing more than to share a lifetime with him.
But he had no intention of ever asking her. He was tough as nails, and used to adventure and intrigue. He was experienced in the ways of the world. He wanted an exciting woman to marry.
She was not exciting.
She was a butterfly.
This was what Draco called her because he thought she was delicate and too soft-hearted.
However, she did not think of herself as delicate. Yes, she was soft-hearted, and did seem to cry often when in Draco’s company. But this was only because danger surrounded him, and she was truly concerned for his safety.
