AllFreeNovel
Share Us
overflowed with foliage. Hugh spotted clear jewels nestled in them—fat diamonds that shone
like dew. Upon closer investigation, he found them other places, too. They were wrapped
around the balusters of each staircase, held in place by invisible thread like magic itself had
willed them into existence. Some glittered loose by the candles. The effect was immediate and
striking. It really was quite something.
“Finch,” Hugh breathed as they stepped through the door. “I am in awe. How did you arrange
all this?”
“I had help from a professional,” Finch replied, ever humble, but Hugh knew the truth—Finch
had fretted and fussed over every little detail until it had been made perfect. It was his nature.
Without him, none of this would have happened. “Is everything to your liking, sir? There’s not
much time left, but I should have enough to make an adjustment or two should something not
be to your taste.”
“Are you joking? This is better than I could have dreamed.” Hugh grabbed Finch’s hand and
squeezed it. “Will you show me what else has been done?”
Finch smiled, putting every diamond in the room to shame. “It would be an honor.”
They walked hand in hand from the front hall through the inner corridors of the house. The way
forward was decorated with the same camellia and candle arrangements, although now they
poured over long console tables rather than stairs and decorated sconces instead of windows.
The more Hugh saw, the harder his heart pounded, and the surer his grip on Finch’s hand
became. All of this work and all of this beauty had come from the man beside him. Loyal,
faithful Finch had gone out of his way to make sure Hugh’s dream came true.
“Are you ready to see the ballroom, sir?” Finch asked when they arrived at the end of the hall.
He lifted a hand and set it on one of the ornamental double doors, where the low light caught
in his amethyst cufflinks. Like Finch, they were often overlooked, but precious beyond
compare. “If all has gone according to plan, it should be breathtaking.”
“I’m sure it is,” Hugh said, but was unable to bring himself to look even when Finch opened the
door. How could he when the heart and soul of his hoard was standing at his side?
“We spared no expense,” Finch relayed with a sweep of his hand before quickly adding,
“although I did haggle a fair bit. The opulence you see before you was fought for tooth and
nail. I know no dragon is wont to part from his hoard, so I did my best to guard it in your stead.”
