“No, because he always says he has to. He never talks about what he wants.”
“Maybe you should ask,” I say softly when August turns with the girls, coming back over to us. “Talk to him,” I mutter, and to my surprise, she nods.
They walk away, and I watch August reach for Abigail’s hand. She lets him hold it for a moment before pulling away. The devastation on his face before he plasters on a fake smile for the girls breaks my heart.
I have to do something. This isn’t fair. The weight of it all feels crushing, and for a moment, I consider just turning around and running away from it all. But I know I can’t abandon August, no matter how much I might want to.
Suddenly, a voice in my ear makes me jump. “I heard Macklemore is going to be the fastest today.” I turn to find Daniel standing there, grinning. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” He chuckles, pulling me close. “You like race days, darling?”
No, I fucking hate them.
The words are on the tip of my tongue, but I bite them back, swallowing the bitterness while I take a step away from him. “I don’t like how they treat the horses.”
Daniel’s eyebrows rise, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. “Ah, you’re one ofthem,” he says, his tone dripping with condescension. “Well, that’s fine. At least we’ll always have a theme for our charity balls. There are enough animals that need help, right? Maybe we could set up a foundation for retired racehorses?”
Wow, you wanker.
“What do you want, Daniel?” I ask, cutting straight to the point, my words sharper than I intended.
He leans in closer, his breath warm against my ear. “I want us to be friends,” he murmurs. “But mostly, I want to get back to my life, and my mother will only let me do that when we make this engagement official.”
I turn away from him, my eyes searching the crowd for a familiar face. I spot August holding up one of my nieces again, pointing to one of the horses while she giggles. Abigail stands nearby, watching them with a look of such pure love it makes my heart ache.
It’s a love she suppresses for the good of her husband, and I wonder if I’m capable of such sacrifice. If I have it in me to put aside my own feelings and dreams.
For him.
An idea forms in my mind, desperate and half-formed, like a lifeline thrown in choppy waters. I turn back to Daniel, my heart racing so fast I can feel it pounding against my ribcage. “If I agreed, if I’d be yourwife…” I pause, the word feeling foreign on my tongue. “Would you take over my father’s firm?”
His eyes widen in surprise, clearly caught off guard by my proposition, appearing puzzled. “I thought August would take it.”
I shake my head, desperation and determination surging within me. “He wants to do something else, but he can only do it if somebody steps in, somebody my father trusts and thinks of as family.”
Which Daniel would be if we married.
Daniel’s expression shifts, a gleam of ambition lighting up his eyes. “That’s the most prestigious law firm in the whole country.” He huffs a laugh. “Of course I would if I got the chance.”
This could work.
“Okay,” I say softly, the word barely audible even to my own ears. Then, gathering every ounce of resolve I can muster, I repeat with more conviction, “Okay.”
Daniel’s face breaks into a wide grin. “Is that a yes?” he asks, reaching out to cup my cheek, his touch so foreign.
First, I have to look into whether we could set up a different life for them with Abigail’s money. Maybe somewhere far away, so my father’s impact doesn’t faze them there, like it only did a little when I was in Seattle.
But at least it would be an option.
A last resort.
A way I could save him.
Amaybe.
“I—”
“Amelia!”
Someone calls my name, and Daniel’s hand leaves my cheek as we both turn to see the guys arriving. I didn’t think they would come, considering Ascot is an hour from London and known for its strict dress code, but here they are, looking the part in their suits.
