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his lifetime. Perhaps, if Hugh turned tail and booked it for the ballroom, Bertram would get
bored and leave. Hugh spun around and was about to make a mad dash back down the hall
when there came the bright clink of a gemstone falling onto wood. Bertram cleared his throat.
“Hello, brother.”
Shoot. “Hello, Bertram.”
“This is quite the setup,” Bertram remarked as Hugh stepped into the room to join him. The
diamond he’d once held was gone, no doubt having been returned to the staircase. “I tip my
hat to your interior decorator. An ambiance like this isn’t easy to achieve.”
Hugh nervously balled his hands into fists. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Bertram tucked his hands in the back pockets of his gray wool trousers and
looked Hugh over. Hugh did the same. As always, his brother was meticulously dressed, his
suit carefully fitted to his athletic frame. Dark stubble shaded his jaw. While he wasn’t as
muscular as Sebastian, he held himself with a cool, unstated kind of confidence that suggested
he was stronger than he looked. If he’d been anyone but a Drake, he would have looked like
he belonged at an event like this, but Hugh knew better, and he dreaded the reason behind
Bertram’s visit. No doubt he was here to announce Hugh’s ball would not go on as planned.
Hugh swallowed hard.
It was strange to be both devastated and relieved at the same time.
“You might be wondering why I’m here,” Bertram continued when Hugh made no attempt at
conversation. “I can assure you it’s not on anyone else’s agenda—as far as I’m aware, no one
else knows of my whereabouts. Not father, not Sebastian, and especially not Everard. I’m a
lone agent tonight.” Bertram spared a glance at the front door, from beyond which came the
sounds of conversation. “And I’d like to keep it that way. Walk and talk with me. We’ll head
upstairs.”
Francis, who’d hobbled off to the sitting room after alerting Hugh there were “guests,” appeared
once more. He shuffled toward the door.
“Direct our guests to the ballroom, Francis,” Hugh ordered, then nodded toward the stairway
and started to climb. Bertram followed behind. “I’ll be down later this evening to usher in the
first dance.”
“Yes, sir.”
