Had she been so easy to forget?
“If I may suggest theCaptain Broadbent and Lady Nauticusbooks, Valentine,” Nathan said, looking up from the plate that was already overflowing. “Highly entertaining and will not put you to sleep like Roman mythology.”
“Any mythology of any origins,” Michael Deville added, “will likely put you to sleep.”
“Are you not eating, Miss Carlow? Is there nothing to tempt your delicate palate in the vast array of food on display?”
“I am not overly hungry, sir,” she said in answer to Nathan’s question. It had been spoken as if she was anyone. As if once, they hadn’t been closer than any two people could be.
“You must try the eclairs.” He held out a plate to her. “I know they were once a particular favorite of yours.”
“Close your eyes and open your mouth, my sweet,”he’d once said, placing the pastry between her lips. She’d bitten into the sweet treat and declared her love for eclairs from that day forth.
Her eyes met his.Does he remember?
“I do not read that drivel,” Mr. Valentine said, attempting to regain control of the conversation. “I prefer reading for educational purposes to advance my already substantial intellect.”
“Ah, that’s where I’m going wrong, then,” Abby said. “Daniel, we must immediately purchase a library full of boring drivel so I may advance my intellect.”
“I’ll see to it, my love.”
Beth had not met Daniel Dillinger, but even in the country she’d heard of the marriage between the two families.
And suddenly she couldn’t stay in this room a second longer with Nathan and his family. Once she’d been on the verge of joining this loud, boisterous, loving group, now she was hated by all of them.
“If you’ll excuse me, Mr. Valentine. I fear I have left my mother for overlong. I hope to see you again soon.”
“Of course.” He bowed deeply. “I will see you soon, Miss Carlow,” he said, giving her a look that suggested he would make that happen.
She didn’t look at anyone else in the room, simply walked away with a sharp pain in her heart.
Chapter Four
“You do realize that she will become atrociously spoilt and expect everyone to allow her to do as she wishes until we draw our last breath?” Forrest drawled.
“Of course,” Michael said, allowing Ella to break his biscuit into pieces and feed him. “She has to learn these things, and there will be mistakes on that journey.”
“She is two, must she learn to feed you when surely there are a few years left before you grow too old to do so yourself?” her father asked.
His family was gathered taking tea in a parlor. His brothers were all there, Forrest and Ella also. No one, as yet, had poked fun or annoyed him. It was an odd occurrence, but he’d take the boon for however long it lasted.
He knew why they were playing nice, of course. Beth. He wanted to think of her as Miss Carlow now, but when you had kissed a woman and held her in your arms while declaring your love, it was hard to think of her in formal terms. Even if she was a heartless witch.
He’d watched her dance with a man old enough to be her father, the king’s adviser. Watched her smile and simper, and his blood had boiled. Zach had been dancing also and said he’d heard her flattering him. Valentine had then taken her in to supper. Nathan had seen the horror on her pretty face when she’d walked into the room and found all the Deville family there.
He’d spoken to her as if she was just another guest at the ball. As if she had never meant anything to him. He’d been lying, of course. But one thing Nathan had learned in the last three years was how to hide his feelings.
“Come here, Walter.” Nathan clicked his fingers. The large gray-haired beast of course ignored him and continued to sit watching Ella closely in case a crumb was lobbed his way.
“Don’t feed him; Dimity will not be pleased,” Gabe said.
“She’s not here,” Nathan said, trying to lure the dog closer with a piece of cake. “For a dog who lived on the streets, he is certainly picky with what he now eats,” he added.
“He divides his time between two large townhouses and his belly is constantly full,” Zach said.
Walter made an agreeing rumble.
Could I have been so wrong about Beth?
