Even more so for Weston, as he’d never experienced jealousy like that before. He’d never felt strongly enough about someonetoexperience it before.
Until Evie waltzed into his arms…and turned his entire bloody world upside down.
He could go on, ignoring the obvious. Put his head to the ground and plow ahead with the life he’d planned. The life he’d told himself that he wanted. The life he’d convinced himself that heneeded. But while Weston recognized his own obstinacy, he refused to submit to stupidity. And that’s what ignoring Evie and his feelings for her would be.
Sheer, unforgivable, stupidity.
Because what they had between them…it was more than a physical attraction. It was deeper than a passing fascination. And it wasn’t going away. Not if he found her a husband. Not if he married Lady Martha. Not even if he put a thousand miles and a thousand years between them.
Yesterday, today, tomorrow…it would always be Evie.
No matter what obstructions he threw in their path.
No matter what lies he told himself.
No matter what lies he toldher.
For there was one more thing that he knew. One thing he’d kept from her in the kitchen. One thing he could not–he dared not–tell her. And what was a lie, if not telling someone the truth? Even if that truth meant stepping off the edge of a cliff and falling into the unknown.
“What are you two still doing here?” Brynne asked, frowning at both Weston and Sterling as she approached, carrying a small lantern. “If you hadn’t noticed, the game has started.”
Blinking, Weston realized belatedly that all of the guests had begun following their strings while he’d been trapped inside his own head. There was much shouting, high-pitched giggling, and even a few curses as men and women alike were forced to crawl under benches, through flowerbeds, and even over each other.
“Why don’t you have to play?” Sterling demanded.
“Because someone has to declare the winner.” Brynne’s hazel eyes glittered with amusement. “And because I don’t want to.”
“Well that’s not fair.”
“Whenyouorganize a house party, you may set whatever rules you wish. In the meantime, go.” She pointed her finger at Sterling, then gave her brother a not-so-gentle push. “Your participation is mandatory, not suggested.”
Sterling turned beseechingly to Weston. “Hawkridge, my dearest friend–”
“I am not going to argue with my sister on your behalf.”
“Pox on both of you.” Drawing his string taut, the duke headed off in the direction of a mulberry tree, grumbling under his breath all the while.
“Who have you paired him up with this year?” Weston asked, lifting a brow.
Brynne’s smile was secretive, and a tad mischievous. “Someone I think he’ll be pleasantly surprised by.”
“And my partner?”
“You know I cannot tell you that.”
“As long as it’s not Lady Dunlop.” The corners of his eyes crinkled. “I hear she’s quite the minx.”
Brynne stared at him in astonishment. “Weston.”
“What?” he said defensively. “Do I’ve something on my face?”
“No, you told a jest.Andyou’re grinning.”
“People tell jests all of the time.”
“Maybe, butyoudon’t.”
He rolled his eyes at that. “It was a quip, Bry. And not a particularly clever one at that. You needn’t act as if you’ve just uncovered the Eighth Wonder of the World.”
