He glanced over once, caught my eye, and smiled. Not the careful smile he had worn earlier. Just Ephram, warm and uncomplicated, the guy who liked me and wanted to see more of me.
I smiled back before I could overthink it.
Behind me, Kitty exhaled loudly. “I would like it noted for the record that I survived the gala without throwing anything at Collin.”
Jane laughed. “The night is young.”
Mom approached, her hands clasped together as if she was holding herself in one piece by will alone. Her eyes were bright. Too bright.
“Oh,” she said, and then stopped, clearly searching for the right words. “Oh, it has been such a lovely night.”
“Mostly,” Kitty mumbled.
“It has been nice,” Jane agreed, elbowing Kitty.
She pulled me into a hug, firm and fierce before grabbing Jane and Kitty. “I don’t think Christmas can get much better than this.”
Dad joined us, one arm wrapping around Mom, his presence grounding as always. “I hope everyone hada good evening.”
I would wait until we were home to tell them what had happened and that finally Gavin Wickham would have to face the consequences of his choices.
But inside, I did a happy dance.
Across the room, Collin cleared his throat. It was a loud, deliberate sound, the kind meant to draw attention whether it deserved it or not. He stood near the center of the ballroom, jacket perfectly arranged, posture straight, expression earnest in a way that suggested he believed himself to be the most reasonable man present. He held a bouquet of flowers. Where he had found them, I had no idea, but in his other hand was a small velvet box that glinted ominously under the lights.
Kitty made a strangled noise beside me. “No. Absolutely not.”
Collin raised his voice. “If I may?”
Conversations faltered. Heads turned to see the spectacle in the making.
“I have given much thought to this evening,” Collin announced, gesturing broadly as if the gala itself had been arranged for this moment. “And to the matter of partnership, family, and legacy.”
Meri, who had been calmly sipping her drink a few steps away, froze.
Kitty grabbed my arm. “Why is he looking at Meri?”
“Oh no,” Jane whispered. “Oh no, oh no, oh no.”
“Oh dear,” Mom chimed in. “Perhaps you girls should grab Meri. She won’t constrain herself and we are in public.”
“I don’t believe she should constrain her response,” Dad dryly commented.
Collin smiled benevolently at Meri. “Miss Meri Bennet. It has become clear to me that I may have… misjudged my initial approach.”
Meri blinked once. “Excuse me?”
“Kitty,” Collin continued, nodding vaguely in her direction, “is spirited. Too spirited, perhaps.
“And Lydia,” he waved a hand in my direction like I was a previously rejected résumé. “She has made her position abundantly clear.”
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from saying something rude. I went to Meri’s side, grabbing her arm. “I really think we should go.”
“Meri,” he said warmly, stepping closer. “You, however, are sensible, practical, and logical. You understand the value of stability.”
Meri stared at him like he had begun speaking another language.
Collin dropped to one knee.
