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“Have you ever thought about going back into nursing?” Amelia, Lucas’ mother, asked as she handed me another glass of wine.
She had been quite pleasant this evening, although that was certainly due to how intimate the party was. There were two dozen people here, give or take, and the drawing room where the party was held in their lovely home was small enough that private conversations were limited. Lucas had picked me up from the hotel with a kiss and complimented the yellow dress I had picked out. It was one of my own, with spaghetti straps and a loose skirt; not at all luxurious compared to the gown but it was my own and I needed that comfort.
Now he stood next to me with his arm around my waist and his hand pressed against the small of my back running his thumb in slow circles.
“I’ve considered it a few times,” I admitted. “But my passion now is in the creative arts, and I like being able to help people. A small boost in advertising can do wonders for a small business. Especially these days when everything involves going viral.”
“Oh, I could never,” Amelia chuckled. “But it is admirable that you want to help people.”
“Well,” I joked after a sip of my wine. “I didn’t win the Littlest Outstanding Kindness Award six years in a row for nothing.”
Amelia’s brow rose. “Oh? And what is that? You have won awards?”
Clearly, the joke had gone over her head, and I shook my head quickly, holding back my laugh. “Oh no, no it was just a silly award when I was in school.”
“No award is silly,” Amelia said firmly. “Especially not from a school. Where did you graduate?”
“Oh, Oakland.”
A look of confusion passed over Amelia’s face and Lucas’ grip tightened.
“I’m not… familiar, I don’t think. Is it overseas?”
“No, no it’s a state school. I’m from?—.”
“State school?” Amelia spat the word as if it was the most disgusting thing she could utter, and a wary flush of heat rushed across my chest. I sent a nervous look to Lucas, afraid I had messed up, but Lucas’ attention was on his mother.
“Ma, don’t.”
“Of course,” she muttered bitterly and just like that, the air around us changed. Goosebumps rushed down my arms and Lucas angled himself forward.
“Of all the things, Lucas,” Amelia said, shaking her head back and forth so that her curls bounced like springs. “You know how we feel about… about…” She glanced back at me, and all faux affection had faded.
“About what?” I asked and my chest constricted.
“Commoners,” Amelia snapped.
“Mother!” Lucas raised his voice so suddenly that we both jumped. “Don’t you say another word. I will not stand here and let you insult my fiancé.”
“Lucas, we’ve talked about this! You need to marry from our own circles, and I don’t say it to be cruel; I say it for survival because someone not cut from our cloth would never survive in?—.”
“No, I won’t hear another word of it,” Lucas hissed, and he pulled me closer against his broad chest. “You and father have a ridiculous notion about marrying for status and I know that made you unhappy for years but that will not be my future, do you understand? Scarlett is—.” He paused and glanced at me. I was frozen, sure what I could even say.
“She’s kind and decent and she knows about the world in ways we will never see. She’s given her life up for other people, nursed those she cares about, and she gives because that’s the kind of person she is. If I live up to even half of my worth then I will consider myself a better man for it because she makes me want to be the best I can be and it has nothing to do with my money or my schooling or any other twisted thing you can find to look down on her, understand?”
Lucas’ cheeks flared with red as he ranted on and his mother stared at him, agape. I shared her shock. For one thing, our relationship was fake and here he was, defending me with more valor than I’d ever expect, even from someone I was engaged to.
Although Shane was hardly comparable.
“Lucas!”
He ignored his mother, took my hand and pulled me through the crowd away from her, and I followed him as easily as water followed a path carved in rock.
By the time we made it to the hallway, his breathing had calmed, and he turned to me with his eyes dark.
“I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have brought you here. You’ve done a great thing for me, but I always forget that the people I’m trying to impress and reassure will never be able to see past the blue blood that clouds their eyes.”
Was he apologizing? Maybe it was the wine or the fact that no one in my entire life had stood up for me as strongly as he had, in a world I didn’t even belong. It was more than I could ever expect from someone and yet here Lucas was, seeking my forgiveness as if I didn’t just fall in love with him a little bit.
