But when Vera led Lucinda to the door of the room she’d been sleeping in that night, her heart leaped into her throat and her feet refused to move.
‘There must be some mistake,’ she said with a small shake of her head. ‘I’m to stay in the staff quarters.’
‘There is no bed available,’ Vera said apologetically. ‘Mr Skartos suggested this room instead.’
Lucinda’s lips parted in consternation. The last thing she wanted was to be difficult, but she’d purposefully placed herself with the staff, to avoid any blurring of lines between herself and Thirio. Whatever they’d shared was over. She was just someone who worked for him now.
‘It doesn’t seem appropriate.’ She clutched at straws. ‘Is there nowhere else?’
Vera’s laugh was soft and kind. ‘The castle will be overflowing with guests, Miss Villeneuve. Every room is spoken for.’
Resignation hit Lucinda between the shoulder blades.
As Vera began to walk away, Lucinda spun on her heel. ‘Will you let me know when my suitcase turns up?’
She asked the question at the exact moment Thirio prowled from his room, head bent, hands in pockets. She knew then that he hadn’t been watching for her, because he looked genuinely surprised to see her. Almost as if he hadn’t remembered she was coming a day ahead of the ceremony.
‘Lucinda.’ His voice was deep, wrapping around Lucinda’s whole body, drawing her towards him even when her feet stayed firmly planted on the ground.
‘Thirio.’ She dipped her head in a polite greeting.
‘Did your suitcase get lost?’
Vera smiled curtly and left.
‘The airline lost it.’ Lucinda’s words were clipped. She looked towards her bedroom door. ‘I didn’t intend to sleep here. The staff quarters would have been fine.’
‘They get draughty.’
She tried not to let it warm her heart to think that he had made this choice out of concern for her comfort. She stared at him, completely off kilter. It was as though they were strangers, and yet they weren’t. Sheknewhim. Not in an encyclopaedic way, where she could quote every single fact about his life, but in a true and meaningful way. She knew what made him tick. She knew what mattered to him. And most of all, she knew what he was afraid of and excited for. And more than that, she loved him.
Pain lanced her as she forced herself to fully face the truth for the first time, to stare down the hopelessness of loving him, knowing he would not—could not—love her back.
‘Excuse me,’ she said with quiet resignation. ‘I’m going to freshen up before I check in with the caterers.’
‘Have dinner with me tonight.’
It was not a question. But nor was it at all expected. Heat rushed into her cheeks. She forced herself to meet his eyes, as her stomach rolled and flipped and tightened with uncertainty.
‘I don’t think that’s a good idea.’Have dinner with him, her heart pleaded. Regardless of the damage that would be done to that very organ, she didn’t want to take the safe road. She wanted as much of Thirio as he was willing to give to her, even while acknowledging that it would never be enough.
‘Perhaps not.’ He drew closer, his eyes probing hers. ‘Do it anyway.’
Wasn’t that just what her heart had said?
She stared up at him, lost, destroyed, hopelessly wanting. She breathed in, searching for words, and tasted him in her mouth. Her knees went weak. ‘Thirio—’
‘It’s just dinner.’ But he lifted a hand and caught her cheek, touching her as though he couldn’t bear not to.
‘Is it?’ she pushed, forcing him to be honest.
His lips curled in a derisive smile. ‘No.’
‘Then what is it?’ She was surprised by the bold question, but she was also glad she’d asked it.
‘One more night,’ he said simply.
‘And then what?’