Ines froze.
Foolish feelings? No. It was the most serious thing in her life.
But she couldn't tell Rowan that. Not now. Not when he looked at her like she was a naive child about to walk into a fire.
She forced a laugh. It sounded brittle to her own ears.
"Foolish feelings?" she echoed. "For Carcel? Rowan, don't be absurd. He is... he is just your friend. I was just grateful he saved me from standing alone."
Rowan stared at her for a second longer, then sighed in relief. He dropped his hands from her shoulders.
"Good," he said. "Good. Because getting involved with Carcel... falling for him... that would only end in heartbreak, Ines. I know him. He is a man with complicated past."
He picked up his wine glass again.
Ines asked. " What do you mean?"
"Carcel," Rowan answered, his voice dropping to a low, somber tone that Ines had rarely heard, "is someone who pays no mind to marriage. Not because he is a rake. Not because he prefers freedom."
