Chapter 28

The challenge to make Rolland smile had led her to this moment, and she had no regrets. She wanted to be in his arms, wanted his full attention, wanted this moment. And such longing pushed away all the voices in her head telling her that they were too different, until the only noise remaining was the thudding in her chest.

A stuttered breath escaped, and her eyes locked on his mouth. All her life she'd wanted one thing: to belong. She'd been kept from her home and been teased and neglected at school. This wasn't where she'd imagined finding her heart's desire—certainly not while pretending to be someone she wasn't. But her rational thoughts were far from her mind, and likely not even in the vicinity any longer. It was her feelings that had remained, and those told her she was safe and wanted with Rolland. This was what she'd desired all her life.

"Show me," she whispered, her daring words surprising even herself.

His own battle seemed to come to an end, with her words as the victor. His head came down, and his mouth grazed hers, shooting fire through her limbs. He was giving her an escape if she wanted it.

But she didn't.

In that moment, it didn't matter if she were a fish and he were a bear with no possible home together or future. In his arms she was transformed into the person she had always wanted to be—a person someone could cherish. She stood on her toes and met him halfway, pushing herself into his kiss.

If one touch could spark the sound of a heavenly orchestra, this was it. Their tandem movements created the sweetest harmony she would never hear. It was only meant to be felt.

Indiscernible voices echoed through the stairwell, coming their way. Rolland stepped back first, leaving her lips tingling in his absence. He stared at her, his eyes dark and smoldering and a whisper of a smile touched his mouth. "My compliments to your singing."

She was quiet for a moment, staring at those heart-stirring lips. "Thank you. That... that was a riveting story." Her voice came out airy, like words carried on the wind.

He grinned wider than she'd ever seen him do, and he was the most handsome man she'd ever seen. "It wasn't the one you requested, but perhaps you found this tale preferable."

The voices grew louder, pulling them back another step. Rolland turned to rest his elbows on the closest window. There wasn't time to catch her breath or compose herself. Perhaps such an experience wasn't meant to fade so quickly. It was the kind of memory that seeped through the veins and flooded every part of the body until the heart and mind surrendered with a promise never to forget.

When the duke and duchess entered the tower, Theresia could barely eke out a greeting. She smiled at them, although to be honest, she was already smiling, and found her own window to duck into. The fresh air whipped at the curls by her cheeks, refreshing her after the heat Rolland had brought to them.

What had his kiss meant? She was well on her way toward a life as a Roma, and he was still the son of a baron and the captain of some great naval ship. But, for a brief second, she had belonged to someone. And for now, that was enough.

His Grace mentioned some correspondence to Rolland, and the two of them fell into an easy conversation. How could Rolland act so naturally when she was still floating higher than the tower?

Tansy came up beside her and pointed to the wildflowers below. "Did I ever tell you that the given names in my family are all flower names?"

"No." Theresia was grateful for the distraction from her whirling thoughts.

Tansy regaled Theresia with one story after another about her aunts—the very ones who lived at Rose Cottage. Before she knew it, she was following Her Grace back down the stairs, leaving Rolland and His Grace behind.

"Forgive me. I shouldn't have prattled on so," Her Grace said. "A break from Ashbury Court has been good for me."

"Nonsense. I enjoyed the stories. Your aunts sound like the best of women."

Tansy's white-blonde hair bounced with each descending step. "They were my life for so long that a few weeks without their company feels like years."

"They'll be home soon, won't they?" Theresia tucked her arm through Her Grace's to offer a bit of comfort, surprised by her own courage in doing so. But, oddly enough, the fear of rejection didn't follow.

"In a few weeks, yes. I cannot wait. Do you have family you're anxious to see again?"

It was an innocent question without an underlying motive, but it caught Theresia off guard. "I..." Immediately she thought of her stepmother, but that connection had never really existed. The disappearance of the vase had severed any last shred of hope there. "I have family friends," she finally said, thinking of Mrs. Bedrich and Johan. Would she ever see them again? They had lives of their own and little financial security to be able to meet their own needs, let alone hers.

"I am glad you have people who care about you." The look of pity in Tansy's eyes said far more than her words did.

Theresia needed a change of subject. Observing Tansy's mood, she thought she knew just the thing. "Do you want to walk around the outside of the castle for a bit?"

"I'd like that."

They went back the way they'd come before leaving the ruins. Theresia glanced over her shoulder for a glimpse of Rolland. He was still in the tower, but even though she was determined to be good company for Tansy, her thoughts were still with him.

She and Tansy continued down the path toward the carriages. "It must be hard to have so many people in your house for so long. How do you manage it?"

Tansy gave a little shrug. "Marcus does so much that I cannot complain. But I admit it will be nice to have more time to establish our life better with just the two of us."

Just the two of us. Why did that phrasing conjure up an image of Theresia and Rolland? Her cheeks warmed, and she had to turn away so Tansy would not catch it.

At the same moment, a carriage began to roll forward. Theresia stretched her neck, attempting to see who was inside and leaving early. The face that appeared at the window made her start.

Godfather?

This time her shock did not hold back her feet. She gasped and waved frantically to him. "Wait! Please, wait!"

He smiled and waved back, acting completely oblivious that she was calling out to him. Even after his acknowledgment, neither he nor the driver seemed intent on stopping.

"Who is that?" Tansy asked.

Theresia let her hand drop and sighed. "The same person I thought I knew in town the other day. Now I am certain of it."

A loud bang came from inside the broken castle, and a woman screamed.

Tansy and Theresia looked at each other, and without a word, they raced back toward the ruins.