A Lady’s Heart Deceived: A Duke of Strathmore novel by sasha cottman

Author:sasha cottman [cottman, sasha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cottman Data Services

Chapter Twenty-Six

Had she heard him correctly? He wasn’t engaged. Maggie tightened the grip of her fingers so hard on the seat that her knuckles turned white. “What did you say?”

Piers slowly nodded. “I said, I am not engaged. Lady Dinah and I broke off our betrothal early in the summer. We agreed to keep things quiet until the time was right to make it public. The day that we arrived in Coventry, I was made aware that Lady Dinah has found someone else. I was planning to write to her and ask that she wait until after Christmas to make the news of our break official. It would save us both having to answer awkward questions during the festivities.”

So, he hadn’t been a cheating swine when he kissed her. But it still didn’t explain why he and his former fiancée were keeping the end of their long engagement a tightly held secret.

Her head was still spinning after this morning. Maggie wasn’t sure if she could deal with another dramatic event.

It would take some time before she would be able to reconcile the depth of Robert’s indifference to her. His softly whispered words of love hadn’t stopped him from condemning her to abject misery.

Him. Do not ever speak his name again. You must think of him as him.

“Would you grant me a boon, Piers?”

“Of course. Anything. Name it.”

“Let’s agree not to make any mention of former loves for the rest of the day. I know you want to explain what happened between you and her, but I . . .” She sighed.

Her efforts at being light and cheerful had taken their toll. Maggie had little left to give.

The warmth of his hand on hers had her fighting back tears. There were times when Piers appeared to have strong instincts when it came to what she was feeling, but in other moments, he seemed to flounder.

But at least he was trying. At least he cared.

They sat in silence, gazing at the city which spread out before them at the bottom of the hill. If only it could be this way between them always. Friends who could share quiet moments.

She lay her head back against the upright of the bench and closed her eyes.

But what if it could be more? Would you dare to risk your heart again?

There was only one way to find out the answer to that question. It would mean having to open herself once more to the possibility of another crushing heartache.

I’m not sure if I would survive it a second time.

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