XXIX

Marcus felt the tension and emotion coursing through his body. Who did that man think he was, trying to separate him from Grace? Never! His anger peaked as he tightened his grip on the cane. As he continued walking at a slow pace to maintain the charade of his illness, he couldn't stop imagining the wooden cane striking the vicar's body. However, the soft clearing of Grace's throat brought him back to reality: despite everything, it was he who was walking by her side. He stole glances at her profile, noticing the light in her eyes, the delicate movement of her dress, and the soft scent that brought memories of the past rushing back to him. A past where there were no masks, only love.

"It's such a peaceful place," Marcus said, breaking the silence in an attempt to distract himself from his turbulent thoughts.

Grace smiled at him, her expression just as he remembered—warm and serene.

"It is. That's why I consider it my refuge," she replied, her voice soft and filled with the calm that Marcus envied. "After everything I went through, returning here was the best decision I could've made."

The landscape around them had opened up, fields stretching into the distance. Their conversation flowed intermittently, as if both were lost in their own thoughts. For Marcus, every unsaid word was a reminder of the life he had lost, while Grace seemed immersed in the serenity the village offered her. But there was something in the air—a growing tension with each step they took, a mix of nostalgia and desire that Marcus struggled to control.

Grace glanced at him occasionally, with the same curiosity she had always had, but now there was a hint of unease. Why do I feel so comfortable with him? she wondered. The man walking beside her stirred something familiar inside her, but she couldn't quite place it. His presence awakened memories and emotions she had thought were long buried.

Then, something unexpected happened. Distracted by the view on the horizon, Grace stumbled over a small stone on the path. Marcus reacted quickly, catching her before she could fall. Their bodies collided, and for a brief moment, time seemed to stop. Their faces were mere inches apart, and their lips, unintentionally, brushed against each other.

The contact was brief, but intense enough for both of them to feel a jolt of electricity surge through their bodies. Grace's eyes widened in surprise, while Marcus's heart pounded so hard he feared she could hear it. It hadn't been an intentional kiss, but the touch awakened in Marcus a flood of emotions he had kept locked away for years.

"Sorry," Grace murmured, her cheeks slightly flushed as she pulled away from him, though not entirely.

Marcus, still overwhelmed by what had just happened, struggled to steady his breathing. He was so close to her, so close to the woman he had never stopped loving, that he felt on the verge of losing control. It had been just a fleeting touch, but the desire to feel her lips again was overpowering. His voice came out hoarse, laden with the emotion he was trying to suppress.

"There's nothing to apologize for," he managed to say, fighting to keep his emotions in check.

Grace's eyes locked onto his, and for a moment, Marcus feared she might see beyond the mask, that she could read the truth he was so desperately trying to hide. Something inside her told her that this man, Lord Haspirin, wasn't who he claimed to be. But she couldn't put a name to that feeling, couldn't pinpoint what was unsettling her so much.

They stood there, frozen, in a silence that spoke louder than words. The tension between them was palpable, like an invisible force binding them together, though neither of them was willing to admit it. There was a closeness they couldn't deny, a connection that, despite their efforts to ignore it, remained undeniable.

Finally, Grace stepped back, taking a deep breath, trying to compose herself. What had begun as a peaceful walk was now charged with an odd discomfort. But that unease couldn't hide the attraction they both felt. What had been an accidental touch had ignited a spark neither of them was prepared to face.

They continued walking, but this time the silence between them was no longer one of peace, but of turbulent thoughts. Marcus was still processing what had just happened. The accidental kiss had stirred emotions in him that he had tried to bury for so long. His love for Grace was still as alive as ever, now burning even brighter. He couldn't deny it anymore, and though the lie still stood between them, he knew he couldn't keep it hidden much longer.

Grace, on the other hand, was enveloped in a whirlwind of emotions. The brief touch of their lips, though unintentional, had been enough to make her question everything. Why did she feel something so strong for a man she barely knew? And most unsettling of all, why did that kiss remind her so much of Marcus?

As they reached Grace's home, both of them stopped. The sun hung overhead, casting light on the enigmatic darkness that surrounded them. It was the perfect end to a walk that had begun peacefully but ended up stirring emotions they had both tried to suppress.

"Thank you for walking with me, milord," Grace said, trying to mask her confusion with a smile.

Marcus nodded, not daring to say more. The kiss, accidental though it was, had made it clear that there was still an unbreakable connection between them, one he couldn't keep ignoring. He didn't want to shatter the fragile balance they had created, but everything inside him screamed to kiss her again, to tear off the mask and tell her the truth. But he couldn't. Not yet.

"It was my pleasure, Lady Grace," he finally replied, offering a slight bow of his head.

She looked at him for a moment longer, as if expecting something more—some explanation of what had just transpired. But Marcus remained silent, his gaze locked on her, unmoving. With a quiet sigh, Grace turned and entered the house.

Marcus stood there, watching the door close behind her. His heart was still pounding and his thoughts were in disarray. He knew he couldn't keep up the pretense much longer. Grace was beginning to sense something, and he no longer had the strength to hide what he felt. That accidental touch had sparked something between them, and Marcus wasn't sure if he could stop the fire that was about to ignite.