“Oh?” By the look on her face, Aiden wondered if she was relieved that she wasn’t the only damaged person in the room. “How long ago was that?”

“Nearly a year ago,” he said, smiling to himself. “Around this time, actually.”

Antonia asked, sitting up straighter. “What was her name?

“Lisa Brennan. She’s moved to Paris to teach at the Sorbonne.”

“Was there someone else?”

Aiden shook his head. “As far as I know, just Victorian literature and job opportunities.”

Antonia sighed. “That’s good, at least. I wouldn’t wish what happened to me on my worst enemy.”

“That’s thoughtful of you,” Aiden said with a chuckle. “But I’m not blameless in my relationship with Lisa.”

Antonia studied him. “How did it end?”

“It’s hard to say,” he said, carefully choosing his words. “If she had one foot out the door, I’m sure my priorities weren’t in order. I didn’t know that she was unhappy or that I was moving too slow for her. I thought she liked Galway, that she might want to build a life there with me. But I think she wanted us to be an academic super duo. Perhaps she had it in her mind that we’d get tenure together and I was dragging my feet.”

“Are you still trying to get tenure?”

He gave a mirthless laugh. “Aye, I’m trying. I’ve got a year before they review everything, but it’s still nerve-racking. Although she and I were quite different, Lisa was right about one thing: I had my head buried in the sand while this was quickly approaching. I’m paying for it now.”

“What happens if you don’t get tenure?” Antonia asked, nibbling on her bottom lip.

Aiden stared at her mouth and realized he didn’t want to talk about this anymore. He wanted to nibble on her lip instead. “The university is going to have to let me go,” he said.

“You’ll lose your job?”

“That’s how academia works, my dear,” he said with a rueful grin. “It’s not as liberal as you think. But don’t fret, I’m steadily working on it. I’ve got a conference next week and I’m going to put out a book proposal.”

“If you need help with your proposal,” Antonia said in a bashful voice. “I’m qualified to assist you.”

Aiden paused. “Really?”

She nodded. “Sure, I won’t know everything about your subject matter, but I know what makes for a good nonfiction proposal. My first editing job was at my university’s press.”

It was a generous offer that he had nothing to counter with. The sweet glow in her cheeks touched his heart in a way he didn’t think was possible. “That would be lovely. Thank you, Antonia,” he said, glancing away from her. Unsure what to do with himself, he went back to his drink.

“So you’re steadily working on your career. What about the relationship part of your life?” Antonia asked, tilting her head. “Did you want to marry Lisa?”

“Perhaps,” he said. “It took me awhile to realize that I wanted to get married, but just not to her I suppose. When we first started out, I thought she was an efficient woman...” Aiden trailed off when he saw Antonia frown. “That’s a terrible way to describe her.”