Pricing The Heart

Chapter 27

He loved her, Eloise realized that evening as she stood in the mausoleum with David. Why else would he turn away from her when she so freely offered herself to him? She knew it wasn't honor that restrained him, for there was nothing dishonorable about claiming a woman he had rightfully purchased. Nor was it because he was repulsed by her appearance, for as she stood with her arms around his waist, she felt his desire in his taut muscles.

No, something stronger, much more powerful than his need to satisfy his lustful desires, held him back, and she thought the only force more powerful than lust was love.

Stunned by the realization, she stood silently for several seconds. It felt unreal that he might fall in love with her, especially because he had made it known from the beginning he couldn't love her. Yet, as her fingers slipped up his chest, she felt his love in the wild pounding of his heart and in the weariness that immediately marred his features when she told him how cold she was that evening. She saw love in his decision to strip himself of his coat and hand it to her, and as they sat by the window, she felt it in the way her heart skipped when he referred to her as 'my dear.'

Did he know he was in love with her? Eloise spent the entire evening wondering if he did. The next morning, when he kissed her with a tenderness she hadn't experienced before and made the comment about anchoring her to her 'rightful' place by his side, she was nearly certain he was aware of his feelings. She had hoped he might tell her he loved her that morning on the carriage ride home, but he said nothing, and after she walked in on the horrendous fight between him and Jon, she hadn't seen him since.

She heaved a breath as she rose to her feet and turned from Adam's sleeping form. It was unfortunate that David and the duke had fought earlier—even more so that David had concealed himself from her all day. She considered going to wait for him in the garden tonight, but the idea offered no comfort, for she was certain he wouldn't show up; she knew because she had seen the look of raw pain in his eyes earlier before he stormed off. There was a part of her that feared she might wake up the next morning to find he was gone again.

Oh, but she couldn't let him leave. She ached to be near him, to speak to him and confirm the suspicions of her heart. She wanted him to take her in his arms and confess to loving him; the mere thought of which quickened her heart.

She loved him dearly. She had always known of her love for him, even if she had fought for several weeks to keep it buried under the fear of not being loved in return. But tonight was different. Tonight, there was a hope that her love could be returned, and it was that hope that pushed her to go in search of David.

Closing Adam's door silently behind her, she made to go to David's bedchamber, but was forced to a halt by the sound that drifted to her from the music room. She stood listening to the sound of the piano for several seconds, each stroke of the keys laced with the anguish of the one who sat playing, and instantly, she knew it was David.

Turning stiffly towards the music room, she entered to find David with his head bowed over the pianoforte. He raised his head briefly at the sound of her entry, hooded eyes resting briefly on her, before returning to the pianoforte.

"David," she began, her gaze fixed on him as he meted out his frustrations on the keys. The music possessed the room, causing her to doubt he heard her. She crossed the room to his side, the smell of liquor immediately filling her nostrils. "David," she tried again, this time placing a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm not in need of company," he murmured, his gaze still on the keys.

Unwilling to be dismissed, she settled on the bench beside him. "Perhaps it is I who needs your company." She watched a muscle work in his jaw as his fingers glided across the keys. "I beg that you not ignore me, my lord." She touched his wrist, stopping him.