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“She’s from Pennsylvania,” he said aloud. “She knows how to entertain because she’s a well-regarded wedding coordinator to New York society—a respectable proving ground for women who marry well, you’ll agree.”
In Pia’s defense, he cited the things that he knew would matter to his mother.
The dowager duchess said nothing, so Hawk pressed on.
“She knows how to ride and fish as well as any woman of my acquaintance,” he said. “She is sweet and intelligent, and charmingly devoid of guile or pretense. A breath of fresh air.”
“Well,” his mother replied finally, “with all those sterling qualities, James, why ever would she have anything to do with you?”
Hawk laughed but it was filled with a note of self-derision. “I wonder that myself.”
He was in love with Pia, and he was unworthy of her.
He’d been so intent on defending Pia to his mother that he’d stumbled upon an important realization.
He loved Pia.
Suddenly everything seemed so simple and clear.
“James?”
Hawk looked at his mother. “Yes?”
“You seem lost in thought.”
“Or perhaps simply lost.”
His mother stood. “Well, quite clearly I’ve misread matters.”
“N
ever mind, Mother. It’s nothing that can’t be put to rights.”
He hoped.
Hawk knew there were a few things he needed to clarify with Michelene.
And then he needed to find Pia.
If it wasn’t too late, and he hadn’t hopelessly botched things, this time for good…
Pia had every reason to believe that Lucy’s wedding would be the worst day of her life—or near to it. In all likelihood, this day would be Michelene and Hawk’s appearance as a couple, if not the announcement of their engagement.
Who else would Hawk take to his sister’s wedding but his future bride? It made eminent sense.
One thing was certain: he would not be escorting her, Pia. She was working, and she supposed Hawk’s days playing her gofer or man Friday were over.
Hawk’s mother, the dowager duchess, would no doubt be eager to segue from seeing one of her children walk down the aisle to seeing the other married—especially when the other was the current Duke of Hawkshire.
But as the day progressed, it became clear that Michelene wouldn’t materialize—Hawk had come alone to the wedding.
Still, Pia refused to read too much into that, and distracted herself with work.
Thankfully, Hawk didn’t approach her. She wasn’t sure what she would do if he did.
Instead, he remained busy at the reception, speaking with various guests and exchanging pleasantries with others.
Pia couldn’t help wondering if he’d relegated her to being simply the hired help and no more these days. The thought hurt.
