AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I nod and retrieve my mobile.
“Alone. I will speak with Blair without you, Luc.”
I glance up to find his mobile already to his ear as he stares at me. I listen as he tells her to come to his study. When he ends the call, he jerks his chin towards the door.
“Wait in the solarium. Blair and I will join everyone after we speak.”
“Fine,” I respond and stride towards the door.
He follows and watches as I walk away, then calls to Blair when she rounds the corner, not giving us a moment to connect.
Her eyes search mine as she passes. I offer her an encouraging smile, to which she closes her eyes and releases a breath. Not wanting further interaction between us to upset Roderick, my steps continue without pause.
* * *
Blair
“Will you stay to attend the polo match tomorrow?”
I answer Jasper, but my mind is yards away as I ponder what’s happening in my father’s study.
When he told Luc he wanted a word, my stomach churned. It was bad enough I sensed him watching us throughout brunch. He wasn’t obvious. But I could tell he thought something was going on and would question it at some point. I hadn’t expected it to occur so soon after we ate. Luc and I had no time to discuss our approach. It didn’t matter since my father requested Luc’s presence only.
I hope my father doesn’t demand Luc ends our relationship. It would devastate me. But he assured me he would stand firm and not allow my father to break us up. I take a deep breath to ease my racing heart and refocus on the conversation.
“—dinner afterwards. She tells me her boyfriend may propose. He’s showing all the signs. How romantic! Don’t you think so, Blair?”
“Oh… Um… Yes, of course! How lovely!”
I blunder through a response with a smile plastered on my face. When I glance at my mother, it falters, and my cheeks burn.
She stares at me with an arched eyebrow. Her cerulean blue eyes—so like mine—pin me with an intense stare. My heart speeds back up under her scrutiny.
“Blair, you’re distracted. Would you care to share what’s on your mind?”
I swallow as Jasper and Jillian turn to me. I consider whether I should admit my relationship with Luc. But I decide to wait since we want to tell everyone together, even if he may have told my father by now. I clear my throat to respond, then my mobile rings and my heart skips a beat. My father.
“Oh… Um… Hi, Dad.”
“Blair, a word in my study.”
I nod, even though he can’t see me. Hurriedly, I rise from the settee and excuse myself from the solarium. The walk to the study seems longer than possible. Each step ratchets up my nerves. As I round the corner, Luc appears. Worried eyes scan his face until he smiles. My knees wobble as relief floods through me. I close my eyes and sigh. When I open them, he already passed, and my gaze lands on my father as he stands outside his study.
“Blair, come inside and shut the door.”
Oh dear…
I do as instructed and wait just inside the closed door. My gaze fixes on my father’s back as he strides towards the sofa. My hands clasp in front of me to prevent my fingers from twisting. I try my best to school my face but can’t help the flush creeping up my neck to inflame my cheeks. A deep breath does little to still my galloping heart.
“Blair, sit with me,” he says as he settles on the tufted leather sofa. “We need to talk, sweetheart. Don’t you agree?”
“Yes, Dad,” I respond as wobbly legs carry me to the sofa. I sit and look at him as he studies my face, I’m sure burns crimson.
“Tell me how this situation came about.”
My fingers bunch around my dress as I consider the best way to answer his question without upsetting him further. Then I see Luc in my mind’s eye. The sadness on his face replaced by joy when he confessed his love for me. The way I catch him staring at me with eyes full of desire. How he holds me close, as though afraid to lose me. My heart swells as elation washes over me. I straighten my spine and fold my hands in my lap as I stare into my father’s questioning eyes.
“I’ve loved Luc from the moment I understood the ways of a man and a woman. That teenage infatuation only grew with time, even when he belonged to another. It increased with his sadness of loss, with the need to heal him. I never knew Luc thought of me other than as his best friend’s daughter until several months ago. Now, we are a couple and want a future together. I hope to have your blessing, Dad. I don’t want a strain on our relationship or on your friendship with Luc. Please understand.”
