Page 119 of Devil in Her Details

Final point: Nothing lasts forever.

People, arrangements, moments stolen between one world and another. She had no illusions about the permanence of things.

And yet.

She wanted all things Dagger to last.

She had finally been able to admit something she hadn’t been able to admit to Allie. She’d marry Dagger Fury in a heartbeat if he asked.

She groaned.

She’d marry him in a heartbeat if she asked and he’d say yes.

Lilly poked the tin of ointment, at a loss as to who to approach as her next step in these monumental revelations.

There was a knock on her door.

“Come in,” she called, glancing over to her brother who entered.

“Your dress has arrived.”

“Oh, thank you.”

His gaze flicked to her most precious items on the bed before back at her with an unreadable expression. “It’s black.”

Snuck a peek, did he? “So is your mood,” she muttered, crossing over to take the package from him. “I’ve always wanted to see if I could start a new fashion.”

“Everyone is going to think you’re in mourning.”

“Perhaps I am in mourning.”

Carlisle sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I shouldn’t have said those things in Brighton.”

“Which things are those?” Lilly asked.

He strode over to the bed and sank onto the edge of the mattress. He picked up the tin to inspect it, saying nothing of the belt. “About not approving.”

That rather shocked Lilly. Her heart, nevertheless, gave a hopeful skip. “And what? You approve now?”

He set the tin back on the exact spot he’d picked it up from. “No.”

She glared at him. “Then what’s the meaning of even bringing this matter up? What’s been said has been said.”

His gaze lifted to her. “I might not approve, but I can’t make these decisions for you. I’ve never wanted to. Grandmother . . . she wouldn’t have wanted to either. She only ever wanted our happiness. I only ever want you to be happy.”

“Even if that makes you unhappy?”

He arched a brow. “Is that now how it works?”

Lilly settled beside him, admitting, finally, “I love him.” She stared at her hands. “I’ve never told anyone. I haven’t even dared to admit it to myself. But I can’t expect him to cross over into a world he doesn’t want to. I don’t know if I can cross over into his if he won’t have me there.”

“Why not? You seem to have done that quite eagerly when you were in Brighton. And he seemed to accept you there.”

Lilly wasn’t so sure, and that doubt was near crippling. “That was not his world. It was a mid-way world if anything. You saw the dungeon, didn’t you? He wouldn’t allow me anywhere near it before you came.”

Astonishment flashed across Carlisle’s face. “He actually managed to keep you from doing something you wanted?”

“I know. I marvel at his means myself. Even if he were to allow me into his world, what if it’s too dark? Too criminal. What do I do then? I don’t want to hurt him. But then, what if he doesn’t want me there? Or never fully accepts me into their dark secrets? What if I’m destined to walk a line between our two worlds?”