Page 71 of Surrender

Low, masculine voices floated into the parlor as Muireall appeared in the doorway. Her expression troubled, she forced a smile as she stretched out her hand and wagged her fingers at her daughter.

“Come along, Sorcha. Genevieve has a visitor.”

Genevieve went rigid as she met Muireall’s helpless gaze. As Sorcha skipped toward her mother, a familiar, tall figure appeared behind Muireall. Dear God. Theo. Shock rippled through her, and the cup and saucer she held rattled as she fought not to drop the teacup. How had he found her? She heard Sorcha pestering her father with one question after another as Theo entered the parlor and closed the door behind him.

The last time she’d seen him, his injuries had made her think he might have permanent damage to his face. But other than the lightest of bruising on his jaw, he was as handsome as ever. Fingers shaking, her teacup clattered against the wood tray as she set it down and sprang to her feet.

“How did you find me,” she choked out.

“I’m rather good at the work I do for the Crown, Genevieve. Did you think I wouldn’t be able to find you, just as you found me at that warehouse?” Theo’s reply was soft, but it held a steely note that alarmed her.

“I…no, I didn’t think you would find me.” As she answered him, he narrowed his gaze at her, the silence between them thick with tension.

“I told you once before that no matter where you are, I’ll have no choice but to follow,” Theo said softly, his blue-eyed gaze intense as he studied her. When she didn’t answer him, he released a quiet sigh. “You came for me—saved my life.”

“There were several of us who were looking for you,” she replied, trying to dismiss the impression that she’d thought to search for him on her own.

“To hear my father and your parents tell it, you were the one who was determined to find me that night. Why?”

“I don’t understand what you’re asking.”

“Why did you come after me, Genevieve, then run away, again?”

“I did not run away—”Theo’s eyebrows arched, then he narrowed his gaze, Genevieve swallowed hard and rephrased what she’d been about to say. “I was not running away from you. I left because I knew everyone in the family would meddle, trying to convince me to marry you. Something we both know is impossible.”

“And going into the East End again? Jamie said you were going to go alone, until your parents stopped you,” Theo said in a soft voice, his words echoing with harsh disapproval. “Why would you do that?”

“Because you are the family’s future.” Genevieve tilted her chin up in defiance. “I told you going back into the East End meant you were signing your own death warrant the moment Freddie learned where you were. Something he almost succeeded in doing.”

“You know why I went back,” Theo said with a frown of annoyance.

“I’d already agreed not to go back into the East End. I didn’t need your protection.” A snort of disgusted anger escaped Theo, and she glared at him. “But you needed someone to help you. The moment I learned you were missing, I knew Freddie had found you. You would have been dead if I—everyone hadn’t gone searching for you.”

“That’s not the real reason why you came for me, though,” Theo said as he took a step forward, then stopped when she retreated. “I want you to tell me the real reason.”

Genevieve stiffened and glanced away from him, her heart pounding in her chest. If she answered him truthfully, it would only encourage him. With a shake of her head, she sighed with resignation.

“It doesn’t matter why. You already know I won’t change my mind about us.”

“Nonetheless, I want to hear you say it.” The steely note of determination made her flinch. Swallowing her fear, she averted her gaze.

“Because I love you,” she whispered. A whoosh of air filled the parlor, and she jerked her head in his direction in surprise. Relief visible on his face, he stepped toward her.

“It was hard enough getting you to say that the first time, but at least I didn’t dream it.” The moment he caught her hands in his, Genevieve shuddered, then jerked free a second later.

“How I feel about you changes nothing.”

“But it does, mo leannan. We love each other. It’s as simple as that.”

“It’s not simple at all, and you damn well know it,” she snapped. “My past makes it impossible for us to be together,”

“Goddamn it, I don’t care about your past. In fact, you’re the only one who believes your past is an obstacle that can’t be overcome when our happiness is at stake.”

“No, I’m not the only one,” she said in a fierce, scathing rejection of his words.

“Who else then?”

“You, Lord Selbourne.” This time she didn’t refrain from hiding her bitterness.