Valentine by Grothaus Heather

Author:Grothaus, Heather [Grothaus, Heather]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781601833976
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2014-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Mary held her breath as she watched Valentine lower his cup, and she tried to gauge his reaction to her impetuous words. She was likely a fool for declaring such a thing to this man, who would want nothing less than to be saddled with an inexperienced innocent who seemed to do nothing right.

“You are caught up in our journey, Maria,” he said. “Our adventure. It is exciting for you. Now,” he added quickly. “But in three months, a year, you would find little novelty with me.”

His overly kind tone stung. “You mean you would find little novelty with me after that time, don’t you? You are used to variety, scores of women at your beck and call.”

He looked at her for a long moment and then shrugged, his gaze going to the cup he raised to his mouth. “Perhaps. Yes, perhaps that is what I mean.” He drained the cup and set it down on the table with a sigh and met her eyes again. “Is it no kinder for me to tell you this now than to allow you to throw away a certain future?”

Mary felt her cheeks heating with embarrassment, and she wished she would have simply kept her mouth shut rather than force Valentine to try to reason her naive and sudden declaration away. But she was no prideless wretch.

“You’re right, of course,” she said with a sigh, and forced herself to give him a smile. She hoped it was bright enough. “After all, I never considered you as a proper husband. Thank you for sparing me that humiliation.” Mary stood.

Valentine’s mouth thinned for an instant, and then he gave her a tight smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Certainly.”

Of course he was uncomfortable; they still had hundreds of miles left to travel together. He was probably worried she would romanticize over him the entire way.

She turned away toward the bed. “I think I shall lie down for a while. This morning has been a trial.”

“Of course,” Valentine said, and she heard the screech of chair legs behind her. “I shall leave you to your privacy.”

“You needn’t go,” she said, turning around again and holding out her hand. “It’s not as if I fear you will accost me in my sleep.” She gave a little laugh, although she felt a nauseous pit in her stomach. Somehow that declaration sounded more pathetic than her earlier plea.

He shook his head as he slung his satchel over his arm and backed toward the door. “It is no trouble, Maria. There are some things I must do, any matter.”

“Oh. All right, then,” she said lamely as he stood with his hand on the latch. “Good-bye.”

“Good-bye.” He stood there a breath longer, looking at her. Then his full mouth quirked with his now familiar grin. “You will feel happier after a rest.” He opened the door and was gone.

Mary stood staring at the door for a long time after she heard the lock scrape and his footfalls disappearing down the corridor.

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