Page 22 of Santiago's Conquest (Four Dark Horsemen 1)

Can a person die from happiness filling their heart to the brink? Might they be afraid it will crack?

That’s the question I’ve been asking myself every single day since that fateful night in the garden with Howard.

On the day after our first kiss, I found my father striking a deal with him, which meant Howard would be a guest in our house often.

Needless to say, we’ve sneaked secret kisses ever since; whenever he stops by, we find time for each other, and he even paid off one of the maids to keep our secret when we got busted by her.

He promises me that one day we’ll be together, because, for him, it was love at first sight too.

Even Dad is in a good mood; he likes his company too.

There is one thing I’m nervous about though.

Dad plans to leave for his business trip in a few weeks, and this time around, I will stay with only the maids in the house. Usually, he drags me along with him, claiming I’m protected in his company.

Howard convinced him, though, that he can keep an eye on me, and I’ve blushed ever since.

I know what he wants; his hands become more daring with each encounter as he teaches me new stuff and whispers very blush-worthy things.

I don’t know if I’m ready for more, but I love him so much.

However, I hate all the sneaking around; my dad might not be perfect, but he’s a good man. Lying to him feels wrong. Howard promised to work up the courage to speak to him about our relationship.

All he has to do is ask me to marry him, and I’ll follow him everywhere. Dad will accept the marriage in time. The only reason he objected to Matilda’s union was because the musician refused to put a ring on her finger at the time.

Howard is different.

He’ll find a way for us to be together. I trust him this much.

Briseis

Forcefully pulling my gaze from Santiago, not wanting my heart to crush when his blue orbs land on some beauty I could never measure up to, I put my empty glass on the nearby table, gulping for breath, and plaster a smile back on my face.

“The dark four have arrived. Can you believe this?” Excitement laces Addison’s voice, and from the corner of my eye, I see how she adjusts her dress and hair. “They rarely grace such parties with their presence unless one of their families is hosting it.”

Ava snorts. “Unless they have a good reason to.” Despite her harsh words, her tone implies she’s as enamored with them as the rest of the female population.

“Do you think they came because of us?”

“Grandmother did say she has a surprise. Plus, she has been picking perfect candidates for us for a while now.”

Candidates?

For marriage?

In our society, marriages of convenience are standard practice, where money marries for money in order to ensure alliances between families. In most cases though, the parties involved get to know each other without the pressure of their families breathing down their necks, urging them to pick someone.

No one cares who you marry as long they have the fortune to expand the family name, instead of dirtying it up. Yet it sounds like Grandmother has already spoken with the dark four, and one of them has agreed to marry into the family.

Can it be true?

Oblivious to my shock, they continue to talk. “I can’t believe Grandmother managed to get us one of them!” Ava claps her hands. “Addison, I think she heard us when we gushed about them.” Her brows furrow. “Which ones are here for our hands?”

“As long as it’s one of them, I don’t care.” Addison pauses for a second and then adds, “I take it back. I hope neither of us is stuck with Octavius. He’ll not look good in wedding pictures.”

Resisting the urge to hit her with something for such a comment, I snatch a bottle of water and open the lid, needing to have something cold in my mouth so it can ground me in the present and pull me out of my idiotic thoughts.

Why do I care about this anyway?

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