Albina and her husband had spent the last two weeks abroad in Paris for their honeymoon, a city chosen by Albina because she had romanticized about it since she was a little girl, and one agreed upon by her husband because he was the type who did whatever his wife asked as her happiness seemed to be his highest priority.
When they had wed, Florentia had been nothing but happy for her best friend, wishing her all the luck in the world, knowing that soon she would be experiencing the same. Now, however, with what had just transpired, Florentia wasn’t in nearly the right mood to pretend otherwise.
“How lovely for you,” Florentia said, rather sullenly.
“It is, is it not?” Albina sighed, her smile growing so that it split her face in two. “Two weeks simply wasn’t enough, and had Elias not been forced to return, I dare say we might have never left...” She giggled to herself and shook her head.
“Yes, well, it is nice to see you,” Florentia said. “Welcome back.”
The shortness of her response had Albina frowning as if she only just now sensed the mood that hovered over daughter and mother alike.
“Is something the matter? Elias says that I do let my tongue get carried away at times—which reminds me,” she giggled. “I must tell you of the cutest thing that he did for me when we returned. I had expected nothing, of course, with the two weeks we’d just had. But Elias, he loves to spoil me and?—”
“Yes, yes,” Florentia’s mother cut her off. “Albina, we are both over the moon for you but now is not the time to regale us with tales of marriage. Truly, your timing could not be worse.”
“Oh...” Albina blinked with confusion. “Why? What has happened?”
Florentia grimaced. “It is Lord Breccan. I am sad to say that our courtship has come to an end, quite literally just now. That is why I am hiding, figuring it best to be out of sight in case my mood plummets and I make a fool of myself.”
“Oh no...” Albina gasped. “Florentia! Why did you not say something! And here I am, speaking of—” She caught her tongue and shook her head. “I am so sorry.”
“It is not your fault.”
“But still!” She stepped closer to Florentia and pulled her into a hug. “And it is not the end of the world, Florentia. Not even close—this is Lord Breccan’s loss, remember that.”
“I suppose so...”
“She is right,” her mother chimed in. “And now that he is out of the picture, we can concentrate on finding you a man who appreciates you. One who understands just how special you are, dear.”
“He will be perfect,” Albina agreed. “As are you—honestly, I predict that once word spreads that you are available, there will be suitors lining up at your door.”
Florentia scoffed. “I doubt it...”
“I know it is so,” Albina said.
“This is a good thing,” her mother took her hand. “Starting tomorrow, I shall begin a new search. This time...” Her expression hardened. “This time will be the last. Of that, I am certain.”
Florentia felt a little better to hear her mother’s and best friend’s kind words. And she wanted to believe them. But alas, she knew it was not that simple. Anyone could find an available lord to marry at a moment’s notice—they were not exactly lacking! The struggle came in finding one who shared the same values.
Love was not Florentia’s concern. That was something that would come in time, but she wasn’t fool enough to believe that she would ever have what Albina had. What Florentia wished for was a family, and a man who wanted to raise one with her. And while she believed that her mother was of the same mind and would certainly find her a man who aligned with these values,she also worried that desperation might see her mother forget such things.
All that was to say that Florentia expected to become inundated with possible suitors over the coming weeks, and she sensed that it would be up to her to comb through them until the perfect suitor was found. A troublesome task and not one she was looking forward to at all, but these were desperate times, and Florentia was nothing if not determined.
I will have a family of my own, and there is no force in this world that will stop me.
CHAPTER TWO
“What is this? His Grace, walking the gardens and taking advantage of the glorious weather? Had I not seen it with my own eyes, I might not have believed it!”
Hudson recognized the voice immediately, and it was one that had the unique ability to bring a smile to his lips; something that rarely occurred. That was not to say that Hudson never smiled, rather that it was a challenge to produce such a thing from him, as his famously serious temperament prevented it.
“I ask that you keep it a secret.” Hudson turned about just in time to see his brother, Elias, strolling through the garden toward him. “If word got out, my reputation would be ruined.”
Elias chuckled. “Your secret is safe with me. And if anyone asks, when I called on you today, I found you in the dungeon, torturing kittens!”
“How very droll,” Hudson said dryly.
Elias held his arms wide for his brother, his intention being to pull Hudson into a hug. Hudson, seeing it coming, extended a hand for his brother to shake, as Elias knew that Hudson was not a fan of hugging. Still, Elias slapped the hand away and wrapped his arms about him fully, chuckling to hear Hudson’s protests.
