“I have only been in love with one man in my life, and I can assure you it is not Sir Phillip Gifford.”

Her words didn’t seem to mollify him; indeed they seemed to anger him. “Then who is it?”

She stared at him for a moment, shook her head, and laughed.

He scowled angrily. “I don’t see anything amusing. I asked you a damned question.”

Still laughing, she put her hand on his cheek soothingly. “You, Alex. I meant you.”

Chapter 18

18

ALEX STARED AT her dumbfounded. “You meant me?”

She smiled so sweetly he thought his heart might break from overfilling. “Aye. Whatever else the future holds, you can trust that.”

He was too stunned by her declaration to pay any mind to the odd warning of her words. She loved him?

God, he was an idiot. The luckiest damned idiot in the world. “I’m sorry. I’ve acted like a complete arse, haven’t I?”

Her mouth twisted. “Maybe not complete. Although next time you climb a tower and crawl through a window, it might be easier to remove your mail first.” She shook her head. “I should have liked to see you squeezing through that.”

“It wasn’t easy,” he said wryly. He looked down into her beautiful upturned face and felt his heart swell all over again. “I’ve no excuse other than that I was out of my mind with jealousy at the thought that you might love someone else, when I am completely, thoroughly, and even more out of my mind in love with you.”

She smiled back at him, eyes shining with happiness. “I’m glad to hear it.”

He cocked a brow. “But not surprised?”

She gave him a distinctly female shrug. “I hoped that you might after what you confided in me. You’ve kept that vow an awful long time.”

“Believe me, I know.”

She laughed at his tone, but then sobered. “Still, I wasn’t sure after . . .”

Her voice fell off, and he cursed inwardly, knowing what she’d been about to say. “She’s an old friend, Joan. Nothing more.”

“I know that’s what you said.”

“It’s the truth.” He thought for a moment and realized no harm could come from telling her now. “She’s married to someone I once considered a close friend. She was here in secret visiting her brother, and I didn’t want to say anything that might put her in jeopardy. You have probably heard her name mentioned before: it’s Rosalin Boyd.”

She didn’t look surprised. Actually she looked more distressed. “You don’t need to tell me this, Alex.”

She tried to turn away, but he caught her chin and forced her gaze back to his. His finger swept the velvety curve of her cheek. “Yes, I do. I want there to be no secrets between us.”

Now she looked pained.

“Did I say something wrong?” he asked.