Read Online Forged by Love: Even Gods Fall in Love, Book 4 by Lynne Connolly - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lynne Connolly
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“I only met her once. Ask your mother.”
“I’m asking you.”
He let his mind return to the interview. “Attractive, practically dressed, although that might have been because she’d been travelling. Worried, naturally. What do you want me to say?”
She fingered the slightly worn brocade on the arm of her chair. “Just that. I was curious, that’s all. You could say she’s my rival. If she’s truly the mother of his children and his wife, of course he must deal with her.” She glanced aside, but he was beginning to understand those slight movements. She was avoiding meeting his eyes. He didn’t know why, but he saw that instant of vulnerability and grieved for it. She could not appear in public like this. All the little signs would display her distress to more people than just him. It would seal her fate.
“Lyndhurst denies marrying her, and she has confessed that although he promised, they never conducted a ceremony.” That had come out late last night, after intensive questioning by Amidei, but the lady had stuck to the rest of her story. She wanted retribution. She wanted marriage. “That isn’t your scandal.”
Turning her head to face him again, her eyes were bright, her brow smooth. “No, it is another woman’s problem. But I care more for that than for my troubles. After all, I have money, and a place I can go to. She is disgraced, an unwed mother. Only one solution remains to her. She must marry. Preferably the father of her child, which for all intents and purposes is Marcus.”
She had surprised him with that statement. Caring more for another woman was not a trait Venus was known for. Perhaps it revealed the part of her that was Virginie. In that case he liked that part, and he wanted to discover more about her.
He made a rash promise. “I will do everything I can to help. If Lyndhurst is responsible, he needs to pay attention to his duties and marry Rhea Simpson.”
She nodded, her features cold as stone. “And I will not conduct an affair with a married man.” A muscle at the corner of her mouth twitched. “I know what I’ve done. Eros shot me in an attempt to break an enchantment I’d cast on the woman he loved. But he used a lust spell. However, I considered Marcus a candidate, and I allowed myself free rein.” Lifting her hand, she drifted her fingertips over her mouth. “I fell deeper for him. Perhaps we could have our happiness after all. Neither of us was attached, so what was the harm?” She closed her eyes and sighed, then opened them again. “Now the thought of giving him up is hurtful.”
He didn’t tell her she was no longer under Eros’s spell. Now was not the time. He noted the way she tried to distance herself from the statement, even while she was saying it. “You are addicted to him.”
At least she laughed, although the sound was mocking. “You are a fool. I control love—I do not succumb to its spell.” She smiled. “I should be able to overcome this small setback, should I not?”
Harry smiled reassuringly. “You should indeed. I cannot help, having nothing to do with the softer emotions.” Except forge armour for her, and she would probably not thank him for that. “I came to inform you that the Pantheon is rallying around you.” At her frown, he explained, “We are putting it about that the woman who helped you out of the ball is not your mother. You were distressed, and she stepped in to help.”
“But she is my mother,” Virginie said. “I won’t deny her again.”
Chapter Six
With a sense of regret, Virginie watched the man who had gallantly rushed to her aid. Did he but know it, but the box containing the rose was resting in her pocket. She had been concerned it might get damaged or lost in the packing. Why she should care so much for it defeated her, except it was a beautiful object. When she’d first seen it, its beauty had suffused her with feelings she’d considered lost, emotions she’d pushed aside. He deserved
“I only met her once. Ask your mother.”
“I’m asking you.”
He let his mind return to the interview. “Attractive, practically dressed, although that might have been because she’d been travelling. Worried, naturally. What do you want me to say?”
She fingered the slightly worn brocade on the arm of her chair. “Just that. I was curious, that’s all. You could say she’s my rival. If she’s truly the mother of his children and his wife, of course he must deal with her.” She glanced aside, but he was beginning to understand those slight movements. She was avoiding meeting his eyes. He didn’t know why, but he saw that instant of vulnerability and grieved for it. She could not appear in public like this. All the little signs would display her distress to more people than just him. It would seal her fate.
“Lyndhurst denies marrying her, and she has confessed that although he promised, they never conducted a ceremony.” That had come out late last night, after intensive questioning by Amidei, but the lady had stuck to the rest of her story. She wanted retribution. She wanted marriage. “That isn’t your scandal.”
Turning her head to face him again, her eyes were bright, her brow smooth. “No, it is another woman’s problem. But I care more for that than for my troubles. After all, I have money, and a place I can go to. She is disgraced, an unwed mother. Only one solution remains to her. She must marry. Preferably the father of her child, which for all intents and purposes is Marcus.”
She had surprised him with that statement. Caring more for another woman was not a trait Venus was known for. Perhaps it revealed the part of her that was Virginie. In that case he liked that part, and he wanted to discover more about her.
He made a rash promise. “I will do everything I can to help. If Lyndhurst is responsible, he needs to pay attention to his duties and marry Rhea Simpson.”
She nodded, her features cold as stone. “And I will not conduct an affair with a married man.” A muscle at the corner of her mouth twitched. “I know what I’ve done. Eros shot me in an attempt to break an enchantment I’d cast on the woman he loved. But he used a lust spell. However, I considered Marcus a candidate, and I allowed myself free rein.” Lifting her hand, she drifted her fingertips over her mouth. “I fell deeper for him. Perhaps we could have our happiness after all. Neither of us was attached, so what was the harm?” She closed her eyes and sighed, then opened them again. “Now the thought of giving him up is hurtful.”
He didn’t tell her she was no longer under Eros’s spell. Now was not the time. He noted the way she tried to distance herself from the statement, even while she was saying it. “You are addicted to him.”
At least she laughed, although the sound was mocking. “You are a fool. I control love—I do not succumb to its spell.” She smiled. “I should be able to overcome this small setback, should I not?”
Harry smiled reassuringly. “You should indeed. I cannot help, having nothing to do with the softer emotions.” Except forge armour for her, and she would probably not thank him for that. “I came to inform you that the Pantheon is rallying around you.” At her frown, he explained, “We are putting it about that the woman who helped you out of the ball is not your mother. You were distressed, and she stepped in to help.”
“But she is my mother,” Virginie said. “I won’t deny her again.”
Chapter Six
With a sense of regret, Virginie watched the man who had gallantly rushed to her aid. Did he but know it, but the box containing the rose was resting in her pocket. She had been concerned it might get damaged or lost in the packing. Why she should care so much for it defeated her, except it was a beautiful object. When she’d first seen it, its beauty had suffused her with feelings she’d considered lost, emotions she’d pushed aside. He deserved
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