Marian laughed.
But it was not directed at Dorien.
It was a self-abasing chuckle.
“To think that I had been under your spell once,” she said, her voice almost a whisper.
Louder, in a stronger voice, she continued, “Dorien Aldon, I will never have anything to do with you or your household.”
“Let’s keep it that way, shall we?” she concluded, her voice tight, her eyes clear, her lips quivering.
Dorien’s eyes roamed over her face.
“You’re lying to me,” he whispered, shaking his head slowly.
“Yes,” she whispered back, “but only partly. I loved you once, and I will continue to believe that you cared for me as well.”
“But things changed. I changed, but so did you. I don’t care to hear it,” she said quickly, raising a hand and looking away as his face fell and lips parted.
In a firm,
