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fallen for him, but she’d had Aidan’s image to fawn over all this time. It was Aidan whose every move she tracked with a hungry gaze, and it was Aidan she was promised to. That hadn’t changed.
    Eamon leaned forward, his hands hitting the gritty stone floor, and spat out a mouthful of blood. “She’s in love with something that never was.” Eamon spat again and then climbed to his feet. He peered down at his brother through a rapidly swelling eye. “It will be all right, Aidan.” A hopeless laugh left him. “In truth, I’ve eased the way for you.”
    “How, may I ask, is this predicament helpful,” Aidan ground out, “when you knew I’d have to marry the girl?”
    Aidan had never wanted love from Lu. Just a simple agreement. A business transaction. The fool.
    “She’ll be a good wife for you.”
    Aidan looked away, his expression pinched. “I never wanted a wife.”
    “I know.” Bastard.
    As if he heard Eamon’s thought, Aidan glared back. “I never wanted one, but I’ve always known my duty.”
    What could Eamon say to that? He stood silent as Aidan’s cool gaze bore into his flesh.
    “You love her,” Aidan said softly. “That was what you were going to say.”
    Eamon nodded shortly, his eyes averted. It hurt his heart too much to say the words out loud.
    Aidan sighed, the sound loud in the stone room. “And you’d just give her up to me?”
    They were silent for a moment, Eamon’s lips twitching as he fought to keep them shut. But he had to say it. “She was never mine to give up.”
    * * *
    It took Lu a good twenty minutes to hunt Aidan down but she finally accomplished the task. He was in the stables of all places.
    “I thought you disliked horses,” she said as she walked toward the open stall where he was brushing down a fine bay gelding. At the sound of her voice, his head whipped to the side, and his wide gaze landed upon her. Perhaps he was merely shy in person. So she smiled. “Or did I finally turn you to my way of thinking?”
    Aidan stepped back from the horse. “I suppose you must have.” He tossed the brush down and took a step in her direction. Since it had started to rain again, lanterns were lit along the length of the barn, and the light shone bright in his golden hair. He ran a hand through the springy mass of curls. With his full lips and slightly snub nose, he put her to mind of a sweet putto . Which was unfortunate. She did not want to associate Aidan with plump, winged immortal babies.
    His pale blue eyes studied her for a moment, and he shifted his weight to one leg. “I meant to discuss our upcoming nuptials.”
    Good Lord, the way he spoke to her, as if they were new acquaintances.
    “Are you decided upon me, then?” he asked carefully.
    Lu blinked. “Well, of course I am. What a question. I decided years ago. You know I’ve been waiting for this.” She took a step closer and was distressed to see him stiffen. “Aidan… Have you decided upon me?”
    His nose wrinkled. “As you say, this has been decided upon years ago.”
    “Then why ask me?”
    He looked down at his boots. “A man likes to be sure.”
    “As does a woman. Do I not please you?” Please tell me that I please you.
    “Of course. You are lovely, Lady Luella.”
    “Why won’t you call me Lu?” Her throat ached now. “Why are you so”—she waved a hand in the air—“formal with me. After all these years.”
    He paled and ran his hand through his hair again, making the golden locks bounce. “I apologize, Lu. I am… nervous.”
    She smiled a little. “I understand. I’ve been beset by nerves for a week now.”
    Looking off, he nodded then turned back to her. A frown remained on his angelic face. “Lu… can I ask you, how do you see our marriage progressing? That is”—his round cheeks pinked—“how do you see us living day to day? What do you want from life?”
    Not so odd a question, she supposed. Yet the knot of feeling within her seemed to grow. “Oh, I don’t know. I