Posted by Leslie on June 22nd, 2010 | 3 Comments

A splash of color raced up her neck and onto her cheeks. “You made those plans, not me. But I don’t know why I thought you would help any way. You won’t risk yourself for anyone.”

The carriage rolled to a stop, but Markham refused to let her alight from it. Had he not risked himself for her last night at the ball? As Lucinda confirmed, they continued to discuss the scandal all night. “Why do you say that? Last night—”

She drew her belongings close to her heart. “You care about society and what they think of you. That’s what motivated you last night. Not protecting my honor.”

The door opened but Markham waved the footman away and yanked it closed. “I was protecting you from that man.”

When she finally looked up at him, the shadows darkened her eyes again. “You were preventing further scandal to yourself. You can’t really care for me, or anyone else, unless you can feel…and you have no emotions.”

Of course he showed no emotions, he was an excellent learner. Emotions led to rash decisions and impulsive actions. He learned that lesson when Emily paid the ultimate price.

“I have emotions. I just don’t share them freely the way others do.”

But did he really? He spent many a hard hour learning not to feel. Sentiment makes you weak. Yes, his father had taught him that well enough, only he didn’t listen as a young man. He would heed the warning now.

“Oh, have we arrived already?” Lady Harkmoor collected her things. “I wasn’t asleep. Don’t think I wasn’t paying careful attention.”

Miss Parker sighed. “Please let me out, my lord.”

Markham moved aside. His stepmother’s cousin exited first and then Miss Parker, taking all vitality and warmth with her.

His head spun with the need to understand her. He’d need more than careful skill to peel back the layers of her secrets, to find the core of her heart. He would need time and patience.

But he had neither.