Page 34 of Sir Hugo Seeks a Wife
It was true.What was surprising was that Ivor understood his place so well.“She’s not in the ton,” Hugo mumbled, avoiding his friend’s curious stare.
Ivor looked utterly horrified.“She’s not one of the frail sisterhood?Hadn’t heard you’d fallen into a courtesan’s clutches.Now that won’t do.That won’t do at all.”
Hugo was sick of Ivor staring at him as if he was a beast in the damned Royal Menagerie.He stood up and swung across to the sideboard where he splashed some brandy into a glass.
He was gulping it down when Ivor said in a plaintive tone, “All this gabbing gives a man a mighty dry throat.”
Hugo slammed down the fine crystal glass and sent his companion a murderous glare.“I didn’t invite you to stay.”
Ivor shrugged, unoffended.He was remarkably hard to offend.Always had been.The bullies at school had soon given up trying to get a rise out of him.He either didn’t mind or didn’t understand their insults.“Thought you might need someone to talk to.You spent a week haunting the ballrooms looking like a dog that lost his master.”
Ivor was right.Hugo had tried to find distraction from his longing in the social whirl, but it was too hard pretending to enjoy himself.He wasn’t any happier on his own, but at least he didn’t have to act like his world hadn’t turned upside down.
Ivor went on.“Then I haven’t seen you at all this week.Wondered if you were suffering a fit of the megrims, don’t you know?Thought I should call and check on you.”
Which only confirmed the kind heart Ivor had claimed earlier.
Hugo contemplated tossing the pest of a fellow out, but Ivor was here to help.Or at least try to.He meant well in his ham-fisted fashion.Not bothering to hide his reluctance, Hugo splashed some brandy into a glass and passed it over.
“Thank you.”Ivor took a sip and smacked his lips in appreciation.“Deuced fine drop.”
It was.It deserved more respect than to be thrown down a man’s throat, just because he sought oblivion.Anyway, it didn’t help.Hugo had never been much of a drinker.This last fortnight proved that he was never going to be.
“You’re welcome,” Hugo said with an irony that he knew Ivor wouldn’t pick up.
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“No, she’s not a courtesan.”
Ivor looked relieved.“That’s something to be grateful for.”
Hugo returned to finish his brandy, then leaned against the sideboard to face Ivor.His friend still looked troubled.
“If she’s not from our world, it could be difficult to fit in as lady of the manor.”
“She’s smart.She can learn.”He paused.“Anyway, she’s a well-bred woman.She’s just fallen on hard times.”
“So we’re not talking about King Cofe…Cofula…Cofetta and the beggar maid?”
Hugo winced, not just at Ivor’s mangling of King Cophetua’s name.“No, she’d fit in.”
“That’s good to hear.So why don’t you marry her?”
Hugo stopped grinding his teeth long enough to answer.“Because she won’t have me.”
“Gadzooks, that’s a turn-up for the books.”If Hugo had been in a better frame of mind, he might have appreciated Ivor’s astounded reaction.“If I was a filly down on my luck, I’d marry you.You’re plump in the pocket, and the ladies have always had a soft spot for you.”
“No accounting for taste,” Hugo said bitterly.
“The lady doesn’t fancy you?”
Hugo sighed.Because he was well aware that a lack of mutual attraction wasn’t what kept him and Athene apart.“She doesn’t want to marry me.”
Because she was a woman of unshakable principle.He’d almost admire her stance, if her absence wasn’t sending him demented.
“In love with someone else?”
Was she?Hugo didn’t think so, and not just because she’d kissed him as if she starved for his touch.She’d clearly been in love with the brute who’d run off with her, but that was ten years ago and her voice had dripped with loathing when she mentioned him.“I don’t think so.”
