Desmarc smiled at me, then gazed out the sliver of window visible through the curtain. He drummed his fingers on his knee and took another sip of tea.
“Did anything else noteworthy happen today?” I asked after a moment. Like maybe a visit to AIR U? I shifted and crossed my legs in the other direction, trying not to seem too eager. But if he didn’t bring it up, I definitely couldn’t.
“Hmm.” Desmarc continued to gaze out the window. “On behalf of your father, I had a rather interesting visit with a professor at the university today who wanted to talk to me about some recent developments so I could stay on top of what the Revolutionist faction is planning.”
“Oh? How was it?”
“What do you mean?” He finally turned to me.
“I mean how was the campus and everything?”
“The school has an inviting atmosphere, and I found my discussions with the professor most illuminating. If I’d grown up here, I wouldn’t have minded attending AIR U myself.”
I studied him from beneath my lashes. While I hadn’t planned on telling Desmarc about my desire to attend the university until we were married, I didn’t want to miss out on such a perfect opportunity. Desmarc’s admission proved that he wasn’t against women attending the university either.
“You know, Desmarc...” I hesitated at the thought that he might still choose Papá’s side, then steamrolled ahead. If we were going to make a life together, we had to be able to trust one another. “I’d love to enroll in AIR U once we’re married.”
One of his dark eyebrows rose again, disappearing into his head of curls. “Truly?”
“Remember how I said I wanted to do more with my life?”
He smiled fondly. “That day at the Steele.”
I nodded. “I’ve wished to attend AIR U for as long as I can remember.”
“Why haven’t you?”
“Papá isn’t comfortable with the idea,” I murmured softly. Of course, Desmarc didn’t know the real reason Papá didn’t want me around people.
Desmarc studied me thoughtfully while his fingers continued to drum against his knee. My heart thudded painfully in my chest while I waited.
“I can understand wanting more knowledge and power.” A corner of his mouth lifted. “I don’t know any politician who doesn’t want that.”
“So you aren’t against it?”
“As long as it doesn’t interfere with the public appearances and social gatherings we’ll need to attend, I see no reason why I should be,” he said. “We can discuss it more once we’re through the wedding.”
My heart leapt at his response. “Thank you for understanding.”
He smiled, then glanced down at his watch. “I’m afraid I have to go soon, but I wanted to give you this.” He pulled out a small black box wrapped with a red silk ribbon from his jacket pocket—which was draped over the chair—and handed it to me.
“You shouldn’t have.” But I couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across my face.
“Yes, I should have. In fact, I should’ve given it to you earlier, but there was a delay with the order and it wasn’t ready in time.”
“Can I open it?” At his nod, I pulled on one end of the ribbon, letting the silk pool in my lap. Then I pulled the lid off the box, revealing an exquisite watch attached to a delicate silver chain. The lid was engraved with a tiny representation of the city, each district shrunk down and immortalized in metal, down to a delicate line of sparkling blue running horizontally across it for the Steele River and a tiny ruby in the center that represented the Epoch Clock.
“It’s perfect,” I breathed, tracing a finger over its intricate face. Part of me was tempted to take my glove off and touch it to try to learn more about my fiancé right then and there.
“I thought instead of the typical engagement necklace, I’d give you something a bit more practical.”
“I love it.” I leaned forward and brushed a quick kiss against his cheek.
In the main hall, the grandfather clock rang, and we both paused to count the chimes. Seventeen.
Desmarc frowned. “That’s my cue to leave, but before I go, may I?” He gestured to the necklace dangling from my finger on its delicate chain.
“Of course.”
He reclaimed the pendant from my hand and stepped behind me, sweeping my hair to the side to expose my neck. Then he reached around me with the necklace and fastened the lock.
“Thank you,” I whispered again, brushing a finger over it where it nestled between my collarbones.
“My pleasure.” His words feathered across the back of my neck like a warm summer breeze.
I turned around slowly and met Desmarc’s deep green gaze, which darkened as it dropped to my lips. I stilled, my heart pumping wildly. Would Desmarc try to kiss me? In the corner of the room, Cogsley continued to dust along the bookshelves. Some chaperone. Or maybe Cogsley wasn’t programmed to care now that Desmarc was my fiancé.
The air in the room grew charged as if a word might shatter it, and I dared not move for fear of ruining the moment.
For all of Desmarc’s charm and kindness, he had never really kissed me—never even tried.
My heartbeat pounded in my ears, and nerves stole my breath for a moment.
But then Desmarc dipped his head and our mouths met in a startling combination of sensations. The softness of his lips. The heat from his hand on my waist. The faint taste of citrus from his tea.
My hand landed on his forearm as if disconnected from my body, the small touch grounding me in place.
It was soft and sweet and over long before I was ready.
Desmarc pulled back and smiled softly. “I’ve been waiting to do that.”
“I wish you wouldn’t have waited.” I blew out a breath and tried to calm my still-pounding heart. Kissing Desmarc was everything I thought it could be, which gave me hope for our future. No matter how involved in politics he was, this kiss proved he cared. And the more time we spent together, the more we’d grow to be in sync. We could become like Mamá and Papá.
He smiled and brushed a thumb across my cheek before kissing it too. “I should go. There’s still much to be done tonight.”
“All right.” I covered my disappointment with a smile. It wasn’t fair to be greedy. I walked him to the door, where he kissed my gloved hand before slipping outside. I stared after him as he walked down the drive. At the end of the walkway, his steamcab waited to take him back to town. He climbed in and settled into his seat, then turned and waved.
I waved until he disappeared around the bend, then my hand drifted to my lips. There was so much I wanted to know about Desmarc, and maybe he was slowly opening up to me.
Shutting the front door behind me, I leaned against it and studied the necklace once more. There was one other way I could potentially learn more about my fiancé without having to wait.
I ran up to my room and slipped off a glove, then hesitated with my hand just over the necklace. I really shouldn’t be going behind Desmarc’s back to learn more about him, but with him so reluctant to talk about himself, it left me with few other options. I touched the necklace with one finger, holding my breath in anticipation.
No blue spark jumped at the contact, and my body stayed firmly in the present.
Glaring down at the cold, unresponsive metal, I pulled my glove back on with a sigh.