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“Well, I—” Her face went warm. There was something about that strange man’s silver eyes. She could not lie and say that some part of her was not drawn to him in a peculiar way. Dr. Faust was…haunting. There was no other word to describe him. A figure in the darkness, beckoning her nearer. And part of her wanted to follow him, even as offended as she was by his poor manners.

But she had made a vow.

Her oldest friend needed her.

“It is Leopold.” Summoning the image of her companion to her mind, she smiled.

“I wondered when you both would accept the inevitable.” Her father reached out and hugged her close. “But is it what you truly want?”

Never once had she lied to her father, and she was not about to begin now. “He is noble, kind, and loyal. We know each other better than anyone else in our lives. I love him as though we were already family.”

“Oh, I know all of this already, dear heart. But that was not my question.”

Leaning her head on her father’s shoulder, she sighed.

“You may tell me. It goes no farther than I, I promise.”

“He is not…suited for marriage. There is an illness in him that prevents him from feeling desire for others—of any gender. He fears what will happen if he weds another. His father is pushing the matter.”

“The later portion I knew. Captain de Lorges has been to see me many times inquiring as to whether I would find matrimony between you and his son an amicable arrangement.” It was his turn to sigh. “Gabriel is a stubborn man. It makes him a wonderful soldier, and a terrible nuisance. As for the rest, I am dismayed to hear he has suffered so long in silence. I suspected something was amiss. Lord knows you have chased his heels for many enough years without him noticing how you have pined after him.”

She chuckled at that. “It was never requited. Now I know why and am considerably less offended.”

Laughing, he leaned away from her but kept an arm around her. “Are you certain you wish to do this? It is a mighty sacrifice.”

Marrying Leopold may also save me from the alchemist. “Yes. While our love may not be passionate, it is unbreakable. I will have in him a soulmate. I will thank God each morning to have him at my side.”

“Then…consider it done. Perhaps it is not the manner of love I had wished for you, but life is not like the stories of yore.” He kissed her forward. “You two shall be wed with my blessings. I will draw up a contract immediately. And about time—Catherine has redoubled her pestering on when you might finally fly the nest. Although Jean will be sad for your departure—she is quite glad for the help you provide in minding the others.”

She smiled sadly at the thought of leaving her home. But there was always a time for things to end, and this was the start of something new. “She is a more than capable nurse. She will do quite fine. Although I believe young Henri will grow to be even more of a handful than he is already.”

“I fear you are correct.” He stood, heading back to his desk. “Well, I have a new contract to draw and send to my captain of the guard. And you, my dear, have a future to dream of. Go tell your fiancé the good news.”

Smiling, she headed for the door. “Thank you, Father.”

“Anything for you, daughter of my love.”

She left her father’s library in the strangest of moods. She was all at once elated and mournful, grateful and regretful. Leopold would be a wonderful husband. She loved him like family.

She loved him. There was no question of that.

It would be enough for her. She would be happy with him. Even if it did feel somehow…empty. It did not matter. He needed her, and she would be there for him no matter what.

Regardless of how she felt, one thing remained true.

Her life was about to change.