AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Earlier, Mary had received a text from Camilla, one that convinced her to change her mind about attending the ball with Rathe.
Camilla:Don’t tell the duke I told you this since he’s just going to deny it to death, but the board’s been putting a lot of pressure on him lately. Something about marrying the “right” woman to put investors’ fears at rest. Yeah, whatever, right? I just thought you should know. If he asks you to accompany him to the party later, there are going to be a lot of those investors present. Expect it to be a blood bath. But still – chin up, okay?
“Mary?”
Blinking, she realized that Rathe had come to stand in front of her. He had finished dressing, and the sight of him in a gorgeous Italian suit effectively wiped away two decades’ worth of learned vocabulary.
Gah. So. Handsome. Like. Wow.
Rathe’s low chuckle had her eyes flying up at him.
“Right now,” he murmured wickedly, “I’m guessing you’re thinking I’m very, very good-looking.”
All sorts of retorts came to mind, but she ended up with, “Xihwerhtiwha.”In other words, gibberish was all she was capable of.
His low, sexy-sounding laughter rang out in the room, and then Rathe was bending down as he stole a kiss. When he lifted his head, she was breathless and dazed. And if she had to be honest, she was also more than a little sad she was not able to go to the ball with him.
“Sure you’re not going to change your mind?”
“I’m...sure.”
His eyes became hooded.
She asked worriedly, “R-Rathe?”
A odd smile played on his lips, and his tone sounded just as odd as he murmured, “Don’t mind me. I’m just feeling bereft. This is the first event I’ll be attending without you since we came here.”
As he straightened, Mary’s unease deepened. She felt like she was making a big mistake, but surely it couldn’t be?
One day, Mary told herself fiercely,she would make him see that she was only doing this for him. Tonight was all about not putting him in a position that he’d be forced to defend her, that he’d be forced to choose between her and his investors.
When Rathe was halfway to the door, Mary said impulsively, “I’ll m-miss you.”
Rathe halted. “If you really do, then why not choose to come with me?”
She couldn’t think of an answer, and she could only watch helplessly as Rathe closed the door behind him.
Was she really doing the right thing?
Mary’s absence from Rathe’s side was like seeing a ghost. It was as if she was there but not there, her presence palpable but not visible. Even now, he could not get rid of the disappointment he felt at Mary’s refusal to accompany him.
Was it selfish of him to feel this way, Rathe wondered broodingly as he watched the other guests mingle around him. He knew he should be doing the same thing, if only to quell the stupid rumors. Recently, it had come to his attention people believed he was neglecting his work because he was too infatuated with his American girlfriend.
This party was an important occasion, one where he could have brokered numerous deals. But even knowing that, Rathe did nothing, his thoughts completely consumed by an eighteen-year-old girl.
Was this how it started for his father? An attraction, turning into an obsession that couldn’t be so easily satiated?
When it was finally time to have dinner, Rathe was relieved to find his assigned seat next to a familiar face.
A tall, svelte brunette in her thirties, Camilla walked towards him with a smile. “Your Grace.” She curtsied beautifully, the deep neckline of her gown revealing a magnificent glimpse of her cleavage.
Rathe’s lips curved. “Hello, Camilla.” His lips brushed against her perfumed cheek in a friendly greeting. He pulled out a seat for his childhood friend before claiming the one next to her.
“It’s good that you’re here. If it had been one of those vapid chits, they’d have driven me crazy in minutes.”
As the first course was served, Camilla askedsotto voce,“Where is Mary?”
He shrugged.
