“What?” I point at her face. “What was that?”
“I think Paul is going to propose to Elizabeth.”
“Ah, okay, and you think he’s going to do it at the ball?”
“Yes. I was talking to Margaret, and she let a few things slip.”
“Oh.” Concern worms its way through my chest. “You don’t think she’ll say yes, do you?”
“I think she’s under a lot of pressure from her family. And Paul is a little too…weasel-like to miss that vulnerability. If he sees an opportunity, he’ll take it.”
“And if he does it in public, the chance of her saying no is slim to none.”
“I thought maybe you could stick to her side all night and keep disaster from happening.”
“Should I though? She knows what we think of him.”
“Yes, but she’d compartmentalized her life so well lately, that we don’t see him at all anymore.”
“No, we don’t.” I mull that over. “As much as I want to save her, we can’t if she doesn’t see she needs saving.”
With a sigh, Olivia slumps back in her chair. “Is it bad that I want her to find happiness without sacrificing love?”
“Do we really know she doesn’t love him.” I shrug. “We might not see what she does. He might be…”
Olivia’s arched eyebrow has me tapering off.
“Yeah, okay. She doesn’t love him. But she loves that company. And her brother.”
“I wish her grandfather wasn’t such a dinosaur about this.”
“He was raised in a different time.”
“Bullshit. It’s about control. He couldn’t control his son, so he’ll control his grandchildren.”
“Things worked out for her brother.”
“I know. And maybe that’s why I feel like we need to intervene. They both should get what they want. Not just Edward.”
“I agree, but I’m still not going to the ball.”
“Fine, I’ll wave the Exclusively Yours flag alone.”
“It wouldn’t matter if I was there or not. All eyes will be on the man escorting you this year.”
Olivia grins. “I’m ready for the world to see us.”
“They’ve already seen you. But I get it, the Sapphire Ball will be like taking out a two-page ad spread in every newspaper and gossip mag in the city.”
“I’m sure Mother would prefer that.”
Olivia’s parents are all about the show. The fact their daughter is dating someone outside our social circle has been slowly making the news over the last year. Although, until now, there hasn’t been anything more than the odd snippet in the gossip columns. “Are they going?”
“No.” Olivia’s relief is palpable. “Thankfully, they’re still in Europe.”
“I’m seeing someone!”
Olivia’s mouth drops open. Snaps shut.
