“I can’t even begin to fathom its worth,” said Aveline.
Geoffrey couldn’t, either, but he could see why his uncle had wanted it so badly. Even if the man had never touched the larger stones, the hundreds of smaller ones could have been sold off and kept him well for years to come.
“Whatever its value, it’s not that of three men’s lives,” Liliana said, tears glistening in her eyes even as she held the corselet reverently.
Geoffrey turned the Bramah lock on the parlor safe in his study, securing the corselet until Liliana decided what she wanted to do with it. He slanted his eyes to her now, where she paced in front of his desk. The others had long departed, claiming reports to write and such. He’d been glad to see them go, but now that he had Liliana alone, fear kept him from asking her what was truly in her heart. Instead, he asked the easy question. “Have you any idea what you’d like to do with the corselet?”
She stopped and looked up, seemingly startled by his voice. Her eyes strayed to the safe and her brows dipped, giving Geoffrey the impression that the treasure was the furthest thing from her mind. Which led him to think that her troubled expression did, indeed, have something to do with him. His throat tightened.
“I can’t keep it,” she said. Despite her protests, the consensus of the men was that the treasure should belong to her. Aveline reported that Triste had no heirs, and Liverpool decreed that since Triste had given the corselet over to Liliana’s father, it should by rights go to his daughter. He only asked that Liliana be discreet, should questions arise.
Geoffrey considered urging Liliana to take to her bed, to get some rest and look at things with fresh eyes tomorrow. But he knew that wasn’t in her nature, and besides, the idea of passing the night not knowing what Liliana was thinking made him shudder. He couldn’t risk waking up in the morning only to find she’d run off again.
“You could sell it, I suppose,” he said. “I’m certain your father would have liked for you to have the security that kind of wealth would offer.” But the conversation felt lame upon his tongue. It was time he quit acting the coward and broach the subject that really mattered. “Of course, you have no need of any more security than you’ll have as my wife.”
Liliana looked down, almost as if in shame, and something inside Geoffrey withered.
“I will not be your wife.”
Even though he’d known in his gut that was what she’d say, her words still pierced him. “I know today’s revelations have been a shock,” he said, not even minding the desperation in his voice. Good God, he’d nearly lost her before his very eyes today, and just that glimpse had shown him he couldn’t bear not having her in his life. “But, Liliana, please, given some time I pray you can forgive my unfortunate family connection—”
“It’s not that, Geoffrey.” She tilted her head. “Do you think I would hold you responsible for your uncle’s actions?”
Panic squeezed his chest. If that wasn’t the reason…“Then why?”
Liliana’s face crumpled and she turned away from him, taking with her his very heart. “Do you know why I convinced your uncle to take me to the folly today?”
Geoffrey gave a slow shake of his head, as sound would simply not squeeze past the constriction in his throat.
“Because I knew that was my best chance to be rescued. I knew once you discovered I was gone you would immediately assume I’d betrayed you again and doubled back to get those letters.” Everything in her posture, from the defensive way she wrapped her arms around her torso to how she slunk back from him, cried out her hurt.
Geoffrey closed his eyes so she wouldn’t see his shame.
“There can never be love without trust, Geoffrey, and you don’t trust me.” Her voice broke. “Therefore, you will never love me.” He heard a rustle of fabric and then her hand slipped into his, and she gave him a gentle squeeze.
He opened his eyes, staring down into shimmering violet pools.
“And life is too short to live without love,” she said. “For both of us.” She sighed, and a watery smile crossed her face. “I never knew I wanted love in my life until I met you. And I thank you for teaching me that.” She took a shuddering breath. “And I’m sorry I lied to you. My intention was never to hurt you, but I did and I was wrong. You deserve better.”
Liliana let go of his hand. “I hope one day, a woman comes along who earns your trust and your love.” She moved to walk away from him.
Geoffrey couldn’t catch his breath. He couldn’t just let her leave.
He dropped to his knees, snagging her hand as she brushed by.
She stopped and turned her head, doubt and hope mingling in her face.
And that hope gave him hope. Dear God, she did love him, he knew it. And yet she was just as certain he didn’t love her. Simple words of love would never suffice after the things he’d said to her. What could he say to make her believe him?
“I lied to you, too,” he said.
The corners of her kissable lips turned down in confusion.
“When I told you that love didn’t matter.” Geoffrey knew that nothing short of baring himself to Liliana would make her understand, would make her trust his love. He swallowed the emotion clogging his throat, desperate for his words to come through strong and clear. “When I told you that I’d never love you—that I didn’t love you—it wasn’t true.” He drew in a deep breath. “I didn’t want to love you, but I couldn’t help myself.”
Liliana didn’t move, only stared, her eyes glassy and disbelieving.
“I told myself you were selfish and manipulative like my mother, but I could feel regret radiating off of you. My mother doesn’t have a remorseful bone in her body. I was a fool to think you were anything like her,” he murmured. “Some things can be faked, but not the core part of a person, not who they are underneath. And your intelligence, your spirit, your passion for the well-being of others—all of the things I love about you—I knew to be real. But in my anger and my hurt, I didn’t want to see it.”
Geoffrey reached out and took her other hand, and his hopes leapt at her tight grip, as if at least some part of her didn’t want to let him go. If he could convince her of the truth of his feelings for her, maybe she wouldn’t feel she had to.
“Later in life, my father admitted he’d known who the countess was on the inside. He’d just foolishly hoped his love could change her. But I don’t want to change anything about you. Certainly, I’d like to change the circumstances that brought us together. I wish you hadn’t felt the need to lie to me, but I understand why you did. And I forgive you.”
A tremble ran through Liliana, and a single tear slipped from her eye, but she didn’t release her grip on his hands. “You say you love me, but by you going immediately to the folly, your actions show me differently. There can be no love without—”
“Trust?” He blew out a breath, knowing he was on shaky ground. “I won’t lie—the thought did cross my mind. So much has happened in the past few days, so many pillars of my life upended. But I think you’ve got it backward. With love, there can be trust. It will grow. It’s already started.”