Her friend had shadows under her eyes again. Marietta wished for the hundredth time in the past two hours that Slade hadn’t been called away to Washington. She might not dread Dev’s arrival quite so much if she knew he lurked outside the door.
She rested her hand on Barbara’s arm. “You have been working too hard.”
“Nonsense.” As always, Barbara’s smile beamed warm and peaceful. “There is just too much to do to be idle. So many families suffered from that terrible storm, and the injured soldiers cannot tend themselves.”
“That is no reason to neglect your own well-being. And when I think of you going about those neighborhoods—” A shudder cut her off.
Barbara shook her head. “Oh, Mari. The men who may view you as someone to steal from merely ask me to visit their ill children or tend their wives during their lying-in. I am one of them.”
More like one of the angels. Marietta stood again and walked to the window. The front door of Dev’s house opened. “Perhaps you should retire early as well, Barbara.”
At the silence that greeted that suggestion, she turned to find her friend’s lips pressed together. “Is something the matter?”
Barbara set aside her book. “I promised Slade I would not leave you alone with him. Not today.”
Irritation sputtered to life. Much as she appreciated his concern, surely Slade realized that bringing Barbara into the mix was a terrible idea. “You know well he will simply ask to see me in another room if he wants to be alone with me.”
Her friend looked sterner than she had ever seen her. “That doesn’t mean you hand him the opportunity. Be wise, Mari.”
She was trying. If he demanded to see her alone and Barbara refused to leave… She glanced out the window again. He was on the front walk now, and his expression shouted that he was in no mood to be refused.
Her throat went tight. Barbara might be mild under normal circumstances, but she didn’t take promises lightly. And a confrontation between them would not end well.
Her decision made, Marietta ran toward the exit.
“What are you doing?”
She ignored the alarm in Barbara’s tone. “I will lead him to the back garden. Walker will be able to see us.”
Not waiting to see whether Barbara approved, Marietta pivoted into the hall and made for the door. The first tap had just sounded when she pulled it open.
Surprise cloaked his face. “Mari. You are opening your own doors now?”
She smiled and stepped out into the warm twilight. “I was waiting for you.” True enough, if without the happy expectation he would wish. She pulled the door shut. “It is too nice an evening to spend indoors. Will you join me in the garden?”
“Gladly.” Pleasure lit his eyes for the first time in weeks as he tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow. She felt his gaze on her face as he led her around the corner. “The bruises are gone, I see.”
“Mm-hmm. And I imagine with the victory news, there will be many a ball we can attend together.” The very thought made unease spread its wings within her, but what else was she to do?
“I suppose so.” No satisfaction laced his tone. It must be eclipsed by the mention of the victory he would deem defeat. “Or…your mourning will be over in another two weeks.”
Thirteen days, to be exact. A mark on her mental calendar that at once thrilled and terrified her. She would be free, finally, of the confines of grief. But that meant she would be in the direct path of Dev’s expectations.
“You cannot know how I long to see you in full colors again. In that green dress, perhaps. You know the one.” Desire made his voice husky and sent a shiver of warning up her spine.
She knew the gown, all right, and saw again the way Dev had looked at her when she wore it to a ball. Heard again the whispered proposal he had made when Lucien left her side to fetch her a lemonade. She had laughed him off as always, but it had been too difficult. She had known then that she must put a halt to the attraction before it led her down a path she didn’t want to tread. Had vowed, silly a step as she knew it, never to wear that dress around him again.
It was the last colored gown she had donned. The very next night Lucien had gone out late when he got word there was trouble at the rail station. And an hour after that, it had been not her husband who came home, but the police, with the news of his murder.
“Mari.” Dev halted her at the trellis, under the newly blossomed wisteria vine. Its sweet fragrance whispered through the air, lending a mood she didn’t want. He slid his hands onto her waist and pulled her close. “I need you tonight.”
She couldn’t look at him, couldn’t bear to see that dark light in his eyes. “Dev, I cannot…I will not. Not again.”
His hands slid up her back, possessive and undaunted. “Marry me, then. Now. I can call the minister and get whatever license we need within an hour.”