Chapter 15 #3
As they whirled past the outer edge of the dance floor, Theo caught sight of Amalie smiling at him as his cousin touched the Earl of Sommerville’s arm.
The blind, lead agent of the foreign section bent his head to listen to his wife, and a second later, the man grinned with satisfaction.
In that moment, Theo knew what would make Genevieve rethink running from him.
“Do you really think the family will sit by and not meddle in our relationship? And if you think they won’t, think twice. Three of them have already questioned me about you, including my father.”
At his comment, the color drained from her cheeks, and panic replaced her indifferent expression.
Theo had known mentioning his father’s interference would underscore the family’s level of interest in their relationship.
Everyone knew the Earl of Melton rarely interfered in the personal love affairs of others, even family.
Alarm pulled a silent gasp from her, and Genevieve stumbled over his foot as they made a turn on the floor. Theo quickly concealed her misstep by lifting her an inch above the floor for two beats. His move gave her time to recover her composure as he set her down again.
“I see you understand the dilemma of being a Rockwood. They meddle as they see fit.” Theo failed to keep the satisfaction out of his voice, and Genevieve glared up at him.
“Are you threatening me with your intention to encourage the family to meddle, Lord Selbourne?” she asked in a voice tight with anger.
“No, although that’s not out of the realm of possibility. I’m simply pointing out a fact you’ve not considered until just now.”
Genevieve didn’t answer him. There was still a trace of panic visible in her eyes, but the dark look on her face was a clear sign she’d realized he was correct.
Theo could almost see the wheels in her head churning through one idea after another on how to keep the family from interfering.
Silence drifted between them again, and Theo cleared his throat.
“I would like an explanation as to why you left so abruptly that night at the safe house.” At his soft demand, her lovely face darkened even further as her anger dissolved into bitterness, pain, and something that resembled humiliation.
“An explanation?” Narrowing her gaze at him, Genevieve’s mouth thinned with contempt. “Go to hell, my lord, and stay there.”
“That’s not an explanation,” he bit out between clenched teeth.
“You don’t deserve one.”
“Damnit Genevieve,” he muttered in a harsh voice. “If you don’t tell me why you left, I’m going to throw you over my shoulder and carry you out of here like a sack of potatoes.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” she snapped.
“Try me,” he growled. “And if you think the family won’t applaud, look around you.”
Theo pulled her tight against his chest in an embrace they both knew would make eyebrows rise.
Genevieve glanced at the mingling crowd near the dance floor.
A soft sound of dismay escaped her, and he followed her gaze to where Aunt Louisa was talking animatedly with Genevieve’s mother, who was smiling with delight.
“Oh dear Lord,” she whispered in horror.
“Exactly, so are you going to give me an explanation now, or will I be forced to cause a scandal by carrying you out of here in a far from dignified manner?”
At his grim question, Genevieve stared up at him, her pallor alarming. She reminded him of a fox cornered by baying hounds. A vise wrapped its way around his chest. Christ Jesus, when was he going to learn that every time he pushed her to face the truth, she ran.
A voice in the back of his head shouted that he was a fucking half-wit. Regret coiled his muscles into painful knots. He should have found a way to get her alone much earlier this evening. Genevieve inhaled a small breath, and averted her gaze.
“I left because I had no reason to stay,” she said quietly. For some reason, it surprised him that she’d answered his question.
“In other words you ran.”
“I did not run away from you, Lord Selbourne.” The cool indifference in her voice was back, and it infuriated him.
“I’d like to know what you call it,” he snapped. “You’ve been running from me since that day in the croft, Genevieve. Every time I think we’ve settled things between us, you bolt like a skittish foal.”
Genevieve didn’t reply for a long moment, she simply stared up at him as her green eyes darkened with a stark bleakness. Fear streaked through him at the forlorn way she was studying him. With a slight movement of her head, a soft sigh escaped her.
“I told you all my secrets, Theo, but you still don’t understand. There’s no point to any of it.”
The fragility he’d seen in her that day in the croft had returned, and he realized that this time he might actually have lost her. Fear stiffen his limbs as he tried to put into words why she should stop running from him—from her feelings.
“What’s pointless is believing there’s no way forward for us. It’s time to stop running, Genevieve.”
“I’m not running,” she denied in a choked voice.
The orchestra finished the song they’d been playing, and as they came to a halt, Genevieve started to slip out of his embrace. Theo caught her hands before she could leave him and held her in place.
“Yes. You are, mo leannan. We both know it. So, keep running Genevieve. But know this, mo ghràdh, no matter how far or fast you run, there isn’t anywhere on the face of the planet where you can hide from me.”
Out of the corner of his eye he saw people leaving the dance floor, casting looks of amusement or disapproval in their direction.
Uncaring of the spectacle they were making at the moment, Theo took a step forward until mere inches separated them.
Raising her hand, his mouth brushed across her gloved fingertips.
“It doesn’t matter where you are, my love.
My heart will always find you, Genevieve, and I’ll have no choice but to follow you, because life isn’t worth living without you. ”
Hesitation swept across her face, and for a moment, Theo thought she would stop running from him. Seconds later, he saw anguish shimmering in her gaze while a mask of resignation settled on her face.
“You’re right, Theo. I am running. I’m running from a past that will haunt me for the rest of my life. I thought I could escape it, but I can’t. You of all people should know why that’s true.”
Sorrow curved Genevieve’s mouth in in a small smile of pained regret as she pulled her hand free. The moment her warmth vanished from his hand, an icy breeze whirled around him. In that moment, he felt something sharp digging into his chest trying to yank his heart from his body.
Unable to move Theo stared after Genevieve as she walked away and disappeared into the crowd. The sudden sensation of a firm hand gripping his shoulder yanked Theo out of his paralysis. He jerked his head in a sharp movement to see his Uncle Percy at his side.
“Come Theo. I have experience with women who think themselves unworthy of being loved. You need a plan, and we’re going to make one,” his uncle said with a look of sympathy as he guided Theo off the dance floor.