“Thanks.”Crap.“I like you, too. It’s just that—”
“Besides,” she said, not allowing him to finish the sentence he couldn’t complete anyway. “I believe joining our two families in marriage is a wonderful idea, don’t you?”
“Uh, sure.”Space potatoes.“Yeah, wonderful.”And yet heartbreaking.
They entered a cozy octagon-shaped room filled floor to ceiling with bookshelves on six sides, three on the right and three on the left. His glance took in comfortable seating for ten in the center of the room and a substantial desk opposite the door.
Axel and Francine were directed to the overstuffed loveseat, while each set of parents flanked them on overstuffed sofas. A servant delivered cups of a special drink from Alpha-Prime often used to celebrate the joining of families upon engagement. The guy had apparently followed them into the room. Maybe he’d been in here the whole time and Axel just wasn’t used to having folks serve him.
Likely that was a part of a servant’s overall job description, not to be noticed at any given time.
“A toast,” Francine’s father said, “to the happy couple. May your lifetime together be filled with innovative knowledge, civility of purpose and a well-organized union to set a good example for coming generations.”
Because he was polite and didn’t want to embarrass his parents, Axel lifted his glass in salute of an honor he didn’t want, at least not with Francine. His heart didn’t race when she looked at him, or skip a beat when she took his arm to come into the library. A lifetime in a marriage with a civil companion was not how he’d pictured his life well into his twilight years.
By contrast, merely glancing at Lucy across the table and shaking her hand left him breathless.
Francine put her hand on his forearm and laughed at something his father said about Arkansas. Axel should pay attention, but found the idea of Francine falling for him problematic.
A surge of heat that had nothing to do with Francine’s touch rose in his face. He was remembering Lucy’s kisses at the swimming hole. Axel slapped a pleasant smile in place and half-heartedly tried to ignore the images of Lucy that filled his mind.
Francine squeezed his arm, looking up at him with interest.No! Don’t be interested in me. I love your sister.
The breathless feeling returned for an entirely different reason. Francine didn’t think he was breathless for her, did she? That would be unfortunate and vastly unfair to them both.
Axel didn’t relish the idea of having to fend off his unofficial fiancée while trying to keep thoughts of her younger sister at bay. He needed to figure a way out of this arranged marriage so Lucy could be his bride.
Alpha-Prime’s practice of arranged marriages was not only a scourge but a curse.
Mrs. Duvall drilled him with a knowing stare. She’d seen him with Lucy. Did that explain the impromptu dinner invitation? Was this a warning shot across his bow as to what she expected him to do?
Her level gaze still directed his way, Mrs. Duvall stood, lifted her glass and said, “I know it’s early, and the children have only just met, however, I’d like to propose that we select a suitable date for the nuptials and start the wedding plans right away.”
Francine smiled. “That’s a marvelous idea, Mother.”
Lucy paced the floor of her room, Axel’s note tucked tightly in one fist. She’d read it ten times already, heart thundering in her chest.
He wanted to meet her at midnight. Perfect. She wanted to meet him, too.
She wished he would have said more in the small missive. He’d added an X and an O below his name, whatever that meant. Must be an Earther symbol. She hoped it didn’t meanprepare yourself for the worst. I’m ditching you in favor of your beautiful sister.
Lucy walked back and forth at first and then in a circle, and then in a figure eight, thinking and planning how she’d sneak out of her room. With her mother on to her, she expected there would be a detection alarm on her bedroom door, ready to expel a strident siren if it opened before breakfast.
Maybe she’d invite Francine into her room and explain her feelings. Perhaps her sister would help her escape for the clandestine meeting.
She still hadn’t decided what to do when, after more than an hour of pacing and planning, Francine knocked on her door. With her signature overloud whisper of, “Lucy!” she opened the door and entered.
Lucy stopped pacing, relieved Francine had come to her without being asked. “What happened?” she asked the moment the door closed.
What she truly wanted to know was whether Axel had said anything about their afternoon together at the swimming hole or the note he’d put in her hand.
Francine exhaled a long sigh. “Isn’t he dreamy?”
What the—?
“What? Who?” Lucy’s eyes narrowed as Francine glided to the nearest chair and practically floated into it.
