AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Caleb grinned. “I knew you’d make the right decision.”
* * *
Ursula pawed her way through the ballroom beneath the glow of the tiered chandeliers, silk brushing against silk as she passed. Her fanning arm was getting a workout. Even with the windows open it was ungodly.
She swept by the refreshment table. The white linens and silver trays and glorious food called to her. Just one or two raspberry tarts. Tasty, very tasty. She licked her thumb.
“Ursula.”
Not now. She wrinkled her nose, but forced herself to turn.
“Hugo, how are you?” She clenched her jaw as his eyes widened.
A stab hit her stomach. Jay needed to help her with her delivery.
She softened her tone. “I apologize. It’s always lovely to see you. I’m just looking for my father. It’s becoming late and we need to mind my cousins.”
“I had wanted to speak with you. I’ve—” He ran a hand through his hair, tugging on his sand-colored curls. “I’ve been miserable here tonight. My father made me dance with Katherine. You know I’m a terrible dancer. We had to stand with her parents the entire time and converse with people like the Reeds and the Gibbs and the Bookers and all they wanted to do was discuss politics and society and I just wanted to—”
“Find a quiet place to retreat.” Drat. She was a traitor. She should’ve been with him. That was the essence of their childhood pact—together so neither
one was alone. She’d had such fun with Jay and abandoned Hugo. She clenched her fists and resisted touching her lips. They still tingled.
“Yes.” He grasped her hand. “You understand me.”
He was touching her. In public. Had he gone mad?
“Hugo, people could see. You’re almost engaged to Katherine and I’m engaged to Jay.”
“You’re engaged to Jay for another month, at most, and we’re going to change that as soon as you help my father accept the match.”
She pursed her lips. Did she sound like that when she whined?
Guilt manacled her innards. Hugo was her dearest friend. How many times had he come to her side, been with her when no one else outside her family would speak to her? How many times had they laughed and joked together?
“We’ll think of something. We won’t let you be forced into a loveless marriage just to promote your father’s career.”
Hugo released a loud breath. “Do you really think so?”
“Yes, if we want it enough, we can work together and make it possible. Your parents won’t force you to be unhappy. They just can’t.” Why could he not give suggestions of his own? Well, he was Hugo, quiet, sweet, shy Hugo, but sometimes, couldn’t he fight, a little?
She glanced to the side. Lemon tarts, with powdered sugar and fresh strawberries. Maybe just one, or two. She popped the first into her mouth and offered the other to Hugo. He waved a hand in the negative. His loss. Sugar glided down her throat, the tartness heaven.
“We shall succeed.” They really would. She’d protect him from Katherine. “We’ll find another time to talk. Come call. You should use both of us. Jay has quite a few good ideas.”
Hugo squawked. “Jay Truitt? The three-time failure? Honestly, Ursula, I think you might have had too many pastries.”
She stuffed the second tart into her mouth so not to speak. Heat flared through her gut. Hugo could run circles around Jay in quite a few ways, but he didn’t even know him. How would he like it if people made horrible assumptions about him based on rumors without investigation? Like they did with her.
“He’s a great deal cleverer than people give him credit for. In social situations, he’d easily best us both and that sort of finesse is what we need if we are to free you. You should give him some respect. He’s a friend, a dear friend, who’s committed to this cause, your cause.”
She ground her jaw. Yes, the words were harsh, but who was Hugo to expect other people to fight his battles and not appreciate those same people? He’d better shape up before marriage, or worse, children. Her father may not have solved her and her mother’s problems when she was little, but at least he tried and listened and bought her dresses and pets to make her feel better.
And jewels for her mother. Lots of them. And he’d sit with her when she was too sick to leave her room and hold her hand.
Ursula’s vision blurred as the memories of her mother’s final days rushed back. Her father cared about both of them. And never failed to show it. Her chin trembled as she turned back to Hugo.
Bollocks. She wasn’t marrying him, was she? There was just no way. Even if he was the only candidate, didn’t she deserve a bit more? Didn’t he?
