Page 58 of Sir Hugo Seeks a Wife
Besotted.There was a nice safe word.Much safer than “love” with its overtones of forever.
His eyes glowed sapphire with happiness.“I’m delighted to hear it.You kept telling me to go away.”
Her lips flattened in self-loathing.“That was because I feared I’d end up here.Helpless in your thrall.I was trying to be wise, but wisdom remained out of reach.”
“I promise I’ll never willingly hurt you.”His deep voice rang with sincerity.
“I believe you.”She did.But hurt was inevitable.It was too late to avoid it.She was grimly aware that every ounce of joy that she experienced now would exact a penalty of pain, once the affair was over.
But she’d made her decision, the only decision she could.There was no point stewing about future misery.Better by far to wring every drop of happiness she could from her present circumstances.That included the inn’s wonderful food.
And taking the chance to satisfy her curiosity about her lover.
She reached for another pastry, an exquisite onion tart in crumbly, buttery pastry.Mr.Treddle was right to be proud of his wife’s cooking.These dainty mouthfuls were scrumptious.“Tell me about your family.”
“You’d like them.”His voice was warm with affection.
“I’m sure.”She’d never meet his family, so her relationship with them was immaterial.
“My father died five years ago.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Thank you.So am I.He was a good man.Contented with his lot.Honest.Direct.Kind to people and animals.Respected.”
Athene wasn’t surprised to hear this.After all, didn’t all those adjectives apply to his son?“You admired him.”
“Of course.I loved him, too.”
Athene’s heart ached for Hugo.She could see that he still missed his father.The loss had left a wound that she suspected hadn’t healed.
He went on.“It was such a shock when we lost him.He’d seemed as tough and eternal as the crags on the estate.And I have to say just as stubborn.”
The son was stubborn, too.At least when it came to things that he believed in.“I like a man who’s true to himself.”
For once, Hugo’s smile didn’t come easily.“That’s a perfect description of my father.”
And Hugo.“What about your mother?”
He sighed.“For a long time, I was worried she might follow Father.She went into a decline after his passing.They were a very fond couple and grief struck her hard.Without him, she hardly knew where to turn.Which was a surprise.They’d always had an active partnership.She was no shrinking violet.But when she lost the love of her life so suddenly, she gave up all her confidence in the future.”
“How sad.”
He shrugged, although she saw that he was a thousand miles from casual about this subject.She suspected that he rarely spoke about such intimate matters.“Her heart was broken.”
One of the things that she loved about Hugo – and dreaded because it left her nowhere to hide – was his willingness to speak about emotion.She had no time for superficial people.“How is she now?Does she still live with you?”
She watched him drag himself out of his downcast mood.“She did for her first three years of widowhood.Then her sister persuaded her to move to Harrogate to find some new company.”
“Did it work?”
This smile came more swiftly.“It did indeed.She’s even found a new beau.She and Sir Henry Repton are to be married after Christmas.She told me before I left for London.”
Athene reached to clasp the hand resting on the chair’s arm.“Are you reconciled to that?”
He didn’t sound like he minded, but it must be difficult to take on a stepfather after the death of a father he so esteemed.
Hugo met her concerned glance with a warmth that she felt to her bones.He tangled his fingers in hers.“You’re too astute.”
