AllFreeNovel
Share Us
But the music ended, and he was forced to let her go. It was time for the play, then supper. Assigned seating and banal small talk with perfectly fine women who were not the one Harry wanted.
“Come.” He placed her hand on his arm. “I’ll return you to your friends.”
“Don’t do it,” she said quietly.
He looked at her, startled. “No?”
“Don’t marry her. Not if you don’t wish to. There has got to be a better choice than spending the rest of your life in misery.”
“That’s a fairy tale. Sometimes there is no other choice.”
“For me, perhaps. You’re a man. A gentleman, with white skin and noble birth. You have more than a title. You’ve the world at your feet. If evenyoucannot take it… ”
“My duty must always be to—”
“You’re more than that, Harry. You’re a human being worthy of love.”
How he wished that were true. How he wished such a future were possible. How he wished a shooting star really would streak across the night sky, and that granting wishes were as easy as silly fantasies claimed.
But as he gazed into Bianca’s eyes, a new question formed. If therewassuch a thing as magic, if Harry were given exactly one wish which was guaranteed to come true…
Would he spend it on himself, or take the opportunity to provide for Bianca? Protecting her once and for all?
CHAPTER15
After supper, Bianca reunited with her friends in the far corner of the ballroom with the comfortable chairs. The refreshment table had been restocked, but after eating so many delicious courses, there was no room left in her stomach for so much as a crumb of cake.
The orchestra took their positions and began to play. At first it was hard to hear them over the buzz of gossip about the hosts’ daughter Miss Fulvia standing in for a professional actress in the production of Romeo and Juliet and equally unexpected engagement to the dashing Lord Peregrine.
But as soon as it became clear that the orchestra was playing one of the most popular quadrilles of the moment, the guests flocked to the dance floor in droves to make the high-spirited figures.
“Bianca,” Goose stage-whispered loudly, giving Bianca’s wrist several urgent tugs.
“Goose,” said Peavy, “that is the least subtle nudge I have ever seen in my life.”
“But she’s not looking, and he’s coming this way!”
“Who’s coming this way?” Bianca’s heart beat faster. “Is it Eagleton?”
She started to turn and look.
“Don’t turn, don’t turn!” Goose latched onto Bianca’s arm like a barnacle. “He’ll know you’re looking for him.”
“Iamlooking for him.”
“You’ll find him in approximately ninety seconds,” Doc said wryly. “At his current course, a collision is imminent.”
Joy beamed happily. “The Huntsman has had eyes for no one but Bianca all night.”
Rosie sneezed and rubbed her nose. “Won’t dancing twice in one night turn heads?”
“No,” Peavy said flatly. “Everyone knows he’ll never marry her.”
Bianca’s giddy anticipation dimmed.
“No offense meant,” Doc put in, indicating her agreement with Peavy’s assessment.
“No offense taken,” Bianca said with a sigh. “One cannot argue with facts.”
