Page 95 of Impossible
They left the house and made their way from Grosvenor Square toward St. James’s.
After a few moments, Max said what he needed to, “I want to apologize for last night.”
“There’s no need. The fireworks set you off.”
“I thought we were back in Spain. Then those ruffians surrounded Ada. It was as if I finally had the chance to save Lucia.”
“Christ.” Lucien clapped his hand on Max’s shoulder briefly.
Max winced and pulled away. “That’s where I was stabbed.”
“Shit. Sorry!” Lucien looked stricken.
Then they both laughed. For far too long. Max didn’t remember laughter feelingthatgood.
Lucien glanced at him as they walked past Chesterfield House. “You’re all right, though?”
“The shoulder’s fine.”
“And…the rest?”
“You mean my mind and my demeanor? I won’t lie—it’s difficult. I had a hard time leaving my bedchamber today.”
“Is it often like that?” Lucien asked softly.
“It depends on what you think is often,” Max said wryly. “Ada has a theory that I’m wounded on the inside and finally starting to heal. I think she must be right since I haven’t laughed like that in years.” Aside from laughing with Ada, Max didn’t remember the last time.
“You and she seem to have formed a bond.”
“I don’t know about that, but we’ve become friends, I suppose. She managed to bring me out of my stupor, or whatever you want to call it.”
“How?”
“Hell if I know. I found her thoroughly annoying. She’s also persistent and so bloody cheerful.”
Lucien grinned. “She wore you down.”
“That’s probably the best way to characterize it. But it was more than that. She showed me how I was neglecting the people at Stonehill. I may not care about the estate, but it’s their livelihood, and I owe it to them to keep it up.”
“She did what I was unable to do during my many visits.” There was no anger in Lucien’s statement. Indeed, he sounded almost wistful.
“It wasn’t for your lack of trying. Unfortunately, I think you were doomed to fail—and that was entirely my fault. I was never going to let you save me again. Not the way my mind was working.” Before Ada had brought the light into his darkness. Max met Lucien’s eyes. “I know it doesn’t make sense, but you were there. Surely you know—”
Lucien touched his sleeve. “I know. And I should have realized we were dealing with what happened in very different ways. I never should have expected you to respond as I have.”
“And how is that?”
“Well, I’m not going to discuss it.” Lucien smirked. “Thatis how I deal with it.” He inhaled sharply and looked forward. “Since you are dedicating yourself to Stonehill, does this mean you’ve changed your mind about marrying and providing an heir?”
“Nothing has changed on that front.”
“What about Ada?”
Max nearly stopped. Thinking of her and an heir in adjacent thoughts made him feel… He didn’t know how it made him feel. He flexed his hands as they walked. “What about her?”
“There’s no chance you could be more than friends? That perhaps there’s a chance for a future at Stonehill?”
“You are as meddlesome as Ada.”
