Page 48 of Ensnaring the Dove

COLOMBIA’S HEART WAS pounding when she retired to her cubiculum. Sinking down upon her bed, she whispered a soft curse.

That hadn’t gone as she’d hoped.

She let her temper get the best of her, and Linus hadn’t responded well.

In the end, he’d stalked from the tablinum without even bidding her good day.

“Damn it,” she muttered. “What have I done?”

She wasn’t referring to her argument with her betrothed—but to the fact she’d traveled all this way for a man she didn’t even like.

The realization made her jolt.

She’d thought herself in love with him, but she’d been deluded.

Linus was as charismatic as she remembered, yet he was also supercilious and dismissive. And cold. He hadn’t shown any real joy at seeing her, hadn’t lifted a hand to stroke her cheek or tried to kiss her.

There was no warmth in his eyes as he stared down at her.

Colombia’s throat constricted, a sickly sensation washing over her.

He doesn’t want me here.

She’d hoped to fix a wedding date with Linus during this meeting, yet the conversation had deteriorated before she could get that far.

And it was just as well. Weakness flooded over her, pressing her down, and her already racing pulse quickened further.

Colombia had made a terrible mistake coming here, and she’d anger her father further if she rejected Linus. But there was no point in fooling herself. She’d already wasted too many years doing that. It was an irony that she’d worried of late he might not want her—but it went both ways.

Her time with Aedan had taught her the importance of not pulling the wool over her eyes, of not wrapping herself in pretty lies. The truth could be ugly, yet it was real.

She had to face it.

Rising to her feet, she wiped damp palms on her stola and squared her shoulders.

Another unpleasant encounter awaited her—but it was best to get it over with.

Colombia found Linus upon the western walls.

The shadows were growing long as the day waned. The sky had cleared, and the afternoon sun gilded the Wall that hugged undulating hills as it stretched to the horizon. The sun was warm on Colombia’s shoulders, yet she pulled her palla close as she surveyed her surroundings.

Her gaze came to rest on the tall, proud figure standing upon a watch tower looking south.

Linus’s silhouette was distinctive, even from a distance. He was watching a patrol return to the fort—presumably, they’d been out hunting for the outlaws.

The soldiers below—a surly pair who’d been leaning indolently against a wall instead of standing to attention at theirposts—had told her she’d find the primus pilus here. But now that she saw him, her earlier determination faltered.

Maybe this could wait until tomorrow.

She stood there a moment, recalling their argument earlier. The scorn in Linus’s eyes had cut her deep. Some men might be flattered that a woman would travel so far to see her lover, yet he’d bristled at the intrusion.

No, she needed to do this—now.

Linus turned, his brow furrowing when he spied her. “Colombia?” He stepped down from the tower and approached in long strides. “What are you doing up here?”

“I came looking for you,” she replied. “We need to talk.”

His jaw tightened. “Yes, we should discuss what to do with you,” he replied. “However, this isn’t the place.”