Page 61 of The Rogue’s Offer

But she refused to let him see what his actions and words had done to her. Years of humiliation at George’s hand gave her the strength and wherewithal to bury her pain. Despite her desire to flee the room, Ophelia straightened her shoulders and lifted her head to steadily met Mathias’s gaze.

“You said that with great flair, Mathias,” she said quietly and with as much dignity as she could muster. “Unfortunately, your attempt to degrade me lacked the finesse my husband perfected during our marriage. But I commend you for your effort.”

He jerked slightly at her words, but his expression didn’t change. Ophelia met his gaze unflinchingly, and she saw something undefinable darken his eyes. If she didn’t know better, she might have thought it was anguish. The silence between them was taut with tension until he bowed slightly.

“I shall bid you good evening, my lady. And please accept my best wishes on the occasion of your forthcoming marriage.”

Ophelia didn’t move as he stepped around her and walked out of the library. The hard thud of the door closing behind Mathias made her jump. The sound echoed loudly in her ears as her heart shattered. A shiver rippled through her. The icy chill coating her skin made her hug herself in an effort to warm her arms.

She’d allowed Louisa and Constance to make her believe Mathias cared for her. She’d been a fool to even consider the possibility, and it was a mistake that had cost her dearly. Behind her the soft click of the door opening made her draw in a sharp breath. He’d come back. Ophelia whirled around to see Gideon walk into the library with a look of concern his face.

“Are you all right, my dear?”

“Yes.” She turned away again as tears of disappointment welled in her eyes.

“Why am I not convinced of that?” The somber note in his voice was as gentle as his touch as he forced her to face him. He drew in a sharp hiss of air at her expression and muttered an incoherent oath. “I’m going to make the man pay for this.”

“What do you mean?” Startled, Ophelia stared up at him in alarm.

“Gilchrist.”

“Oh no, Gideon, please.” At her soft plea, the earl’s mouth twisted in a wry grimace of disgust.

“He doesn’t deserve your love, Ophelia.”

The statement made her gasp in horror. Was her love for Mathias that evident? Could people see it on her face? Dear God, did Mathias realize the extent of her feelings? The thought made her body grow as cold as if she’d was standing naked in a bitter winter wind. Her humiliation and pain would far surpass anything George had ever done to her if Mathias knew the truth. Another sound of regret escaped Gideon.

“Other than your friends and me, no one else has any suspicion of your feelings, my dear.” Gideon pressed a light kiss to her forehead and pulled her into a kind, comforting embrace. “Everything will be all right, Ophelia. As time passes, the pain will ease.”

Something in his voice said he’d lost at love with the same depth of pain she was experiencing now. Closing her eyes, she pressed her cheek into his chest. Whomever the woman was who’d broken Gideon’s heart had turned her back on a good man. A quiet sound whispered in the room, and her eyes fluttered opened as the library door slowly swung open to reveal Mathias’s tall figure.

The sight of him in the doorway made her stiffen in horror as she realized how it must look to be in Gideon’s embrace. For a fleeting moment his features reflected an expression she thought was pain. It vanished as an icy mask of contempt hardened his features into the façade of chiseled stone.

Their gazes locked, and the scorn in his eyes sliced through her as if it were a sharp blade splaying her open in one vicious blow. With one last sweeping look of condemnation Mathias turned and disappeared from sight. A soft moan of despair escaped her as her body went numb and she sagged against the earl.

“Ophelia,” Gideon exclaimed softly as he bore the weight of her against him. Struggling to contain the cry of anguish ripping through her, Ophelia pressed her forehead into his shoulder.

“Please take me home, Gideon.”

At her strangled request, he bent over her slightly and lifted her head to study her face for several seconds. He turned his head to look at the empty doorway then back to her. Ophelia averted her gaze from the questioning look on Gideon’s face. After a brief second, he murmured his acquiescence and linked her arm with his to lead her out of the room.