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“The legal papers drawn up and the wedding, of course,” Masters said. “You’ll want a honeymoon, I assume?”
“I want to go to Paris and Milan,” Lena said. “And buy up every new fashion there is.” She giggled. “Is that naughty of me?”
“A little,” I said under my breath.
She leaned close again, her breath tickling my cheek as she said into my ear, “I know I’m dreadful, but I shan’t say sorry for wanting what I want.”
I took her hand in mine before she could let it wander over to my knee. She was like a child, really. More so than I’d realized before spending time with Addie and Delphia. They were roughly the same age and yet they seemed so much more mature than my fiancée. I sighed and turned back to the scenery. We were coming down the dirt driveway toward the Barnes estate. Green pastures were dotted with wildflowers in purples, yellows, and pinks. The red barn came into view as we rounded the corner and then the house made of dark wood and stone. Roses tumbled over the front fence, and the dogwood trees dripped with white blossoms.
“The house is much smaller than I thought it would be,” Lena said.
“Dear, mind your manners,” Mr. Masters said.
“Yes, Daddy.” She grinned and leaned closer to the window. “Oh, how cute. There’s a wooden swing hanging from that tree.”
I caught Alexander’s gaze in the mirror once again. Was he offended? I didn’t think so, given the twinkle in his eyes. He was a man who did not need garish examples of wealth. His family and friends came first. His esteem was gained from his family, not how large or small his house was. Yes, one might say he had the luxury to care about love more than money because he had so much of each. It was only a wealthy man who needn’t care about the public display of money. Still, it was an admirable trait, one I’d have loved to emulate. But alas, I was weak, in both finances and spirit. My life was doomed, a slow trudge toward the end, full of compromise and sacrifice. If I were a better man, I would be glad to save my family. Instead, I was resentful and morose.
A memory emerged then of one of the first times I’d ever come here. Addie had been pushing Delphia in that very swing. I’d thought how adorable and sweet they seemed. Fiona had come running out of the house to greet me, followed by Li, Alexander, and Quinn. They’d welcomed me as if I’d always been part of the family. “We’re glad to see you again. Make yourself at home,” Alexander had said.
Now, here they were welcoming my fiancée and her father without question. For me. They were doing it all for me. I held out my hand to help Lena from the car. “Come meet everyone,” I said.
“Do I look all right?” Lena smoothed her hands down the sides of her dress.
“You look beautiful,” I said, truthfully.
“I’m nervous.”
Her fragility touched me. I managed a smile and squeezed her hand. “Don’t worry, they’re the nicest people you’ll ever meet.”
We went inside and were greeted by Jasper and Quinn, then taken back to the formal parlor. The heat of the afternoon was in full force, but the dim room felt cool and smelled of the vases of roses set on the grand piano and side tables. Decorated in plush fabrics in burgundy and blues, the hardwood floors gleamed around the edges of an Oriental rug. Bay windows looked out to the green lawn and blooming hydrangeas in purples and pinks.
One of the maids brought tea, and Quinn and Alexander asked polite questions about the Masterses’ journey and their life in New York. Lena was quiet but polite. Yet she’d seemed to have shrunk since I last saw her. The bubbly, vivacious girl had been replaced by a more somber, worried-seeming woman. Was she having doubts as well? Did she not want to marry me? Was this solely her father’s idea?
She must have caught me looking at her because her face lit up with her best smile. “Do you want to take a stroll outside?” Lena asked, close to my ear. “I could use some air.”
Before I could answer, Delphia and Addie entered the parlor. Delphia, dressed in yellow, reminded me of a daffodil, whereas Addie conjured a pink rose. Lena looked artificial and overly made up next to them. I stood, catching Addie’s eye. They were red and puffy. She’d been crying. I hated myself for it. I’d done this to her. Made this awful mess. Why couldn’t I have just let well enough alone? Pretended that I didn’t share her feelings, instead of kissing her like a madman?
“How do you do?” Lena was saying to the girls. “It’s simply aces meeting you. James has talked endlessly about the little sisters.”
Little sisters. They wouldn’t like that, I thought, bracing myself for whatever Delphia said next.
“That’s funny. He hasn’t said much of anything about you,” Delphia said.
I bit the inside of my lip to keep from laughing. After all, it wasn’t funny. But God bless Delphia. She was loyal and fierce. I couldn’t help but adore her for it.
“How odd,” Lena said. “Since we’re officially engaged.” She looked at me with a pretend pout on her lips. “Darling, haven’t you told everyone how in love we are? How excited we are to be man and wife and live in New York?”
“It’s not come up much.” We were not in love nor excited to be married, but I didn’t contradict her. “Addie and I have been busy working on a manuscript.”
Lena’s eyebrows shot up. “A manuscript? Are you a writer?”
“I’d like to be,” Addie said softly.
“You are,” I said. “You write. You have an entire manuscript.”
Addie sent me a grateful look. “Thank you, James.” To Lena, she said, “I feel a bit of a fraud, but James is building my confidence.”
“Well, of course you would. There are many hobbyists, I suppose,” Lena said. “Or that’s what James tells me about the submissions he receives. Mountains of them, right, darling?”
