Page 32 of Sir Hugo Seeks a Wife
“Better than most.But when Sir Hugo finds out that you fell victim to a rogue at seventeen, he won’t equate one youthful misstep with the value of your whole life.If he does, he’s not worthy of you.You’re definitely worthy of him.That’s not in question, even if you acted like a lily-livered coward tonight.”
Athene bristled.“That’s not fair.”
“Isn’t it?”
Curse Sylvie for sounding so unconvinced.“No, it’s not.”She swallowed and dug her hands into the arms of the chair.“Anyway, he knows I’m not a virgin.I told him.”
Sylvie rolled her eyes.“Of course you did.Because you’re too honorable not to.What did he say?”
Athene avoided her friend’s searching gaze.“Nothing of relevance.”
“Athene.”
“He said…he said most of what you’re saying,” she admitted reluctantly.
Sylvie sat back on a “ha” of triumph.“I knew I liked him.”
“I like him, too,” Athene said in a low, bleak voice.“Too much to impose myself and my disreputable past on him.”
“But—”
When she saw that Sylvie wanted to argue, she sliced the air with her hand.“It’s late.I’m tired.Can we talk about this in the morning?”Or never.
She’d been tired for ten years.Only those electric moments in Sir Hugo’s arms had made her feel young and alive.Which meant that she couldn’t risk more kisses.She might sound strong when she talked to Sylvie, but she knew how near she’d come to surrender, if only for another chance to kiss Sir Hugo.
The endless slog of hopeless day after hopeless day had seemed cruel.It turned out that she didn’t know what cruel was.True cruelty was fate dangling everything that she wanted within reach and making it impossible for her to hold out her hand and grab it.
“You look exhausted.”Sylvie rose and to Athene’s eternal relief seemed to accept that the matter of Sir Hugo’s proposal was closed.“I’ve put out a nightdress for you and heated some water, although it’s probably only lukewarm now.”
Athene stood, too, feeling about a hundred years old.Despite being weary to the point of crying, she could already tell that sleep would prove elusive.It had been years since a man had kept her from slumber: Sir Hugo achieved that dubious distinction.She’d forgotten quite how powerful physical pleasure could be.
And he’d only kissed her!
She just prayed this madness didn’t persist.Surely an acquaintance as brief as theirs wouldn’t leave a lasting scar.
Summoning a smile for her friend, she rose.“Thank you for putting me up.And putting up with me.”
Sylvie’s smile in return remained troubled, but she hugged Athene.“You and me against the world always, Aphrodite de Smith.”
For a long while, Athene slumped in Sylvie’s embrace.The tears that had threatened all night clogged her throat, but she refused to give into weakness.In a voice thick with misery, she replied.“Always.”
***
“Mr.Bilson has called, Sir Hugo,” his valet said from the door.
Hugo frowned, as he looked up from the desk in his library.“Tell him I’m busy.”
Ivor breezed in past Lister.“Gad, you’re always busy.Nobody’s seen you for a bally week.”He paused and surveyed the chaos of piled-up books and papers and general detritus.His shock was clear.“Good Lord, you look like you’re packing up.”
“I am.”With a grumpy sigh, Hugo set his pen down halfway through his letter to his man of business, asking him to forward some documents.“I have a lot to do if I’m leaving tomorrow.”
Ivor didn’t take the hint.Instead he passed his hat and gloves to Lister and moved further into the room.“You didn’t think to say goodbye?”
“I was in a hurry.Iamin a hurry.”
Again, Ivor ignored the implication that Hugo didn’t want visitors.“Why?Is there some emergency at home?I thought you meant to stay until just before Christmas.”
“I changed my mind,” Hugo gritted out.
