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“I don’t want another, I want her!” Hugo shot back.

Suddenly he stopped pacing, shook by his own confession. He turned toward Tristan, who gave him a confused look.

“Are you in love with her?” His friend asked.

Hugo felt a strange stir of emotion, even as he shook his head and let out an agitated noise through his teeth.

“I am not. But I do understand her. I believes she understands me too,” he replied.

Tristan took a step closer, studying him closely.

“What I do know is that I have laid my claim,” Hugo went on before his friend could study him further. “And what I want, I get.”

“And Seraphina?” Tristan asked. “What about what she wants? What if she wants Martin? Maybe her parents are right, Hugo. Maybe you need to just let this go.”

Done with the conversation, Hugo stepped toward the doors.

“If that’s what she wants I’ll give it to her,” he replied over his shoulder, “But until I hear it from her own lips, I shall continue my efforts.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“Iam not so sure about this,” Seraphina said, looking around the daylight filled ballroom. “We have never been invited to this type of party before.”

“It is a good sign,” Rose said, trying to be supportive. “Being invited to a weekend party in the country means that your status is climbing.”

Seraphina nodded as she attempted to smile. On one hand, she knew her friends were right. On the other, she knew that the Earl of Repington had also received an invitation, and that he too would be staying the weekend under theirs hosts roof. They had already danced together at two balls in the city, and thus far, she had found his attention rather off-putting. It seemed he liked to put his hands on her whenever he could.

“Miss Seraphina, there you are,” Martin said, announcing his presence.

Seraphina looked up from her conversation with Theo and Rose. She forced a smile in his direction, despite feeling the tension in her body rise, and turned to curtsey toward him.

“Lord Repington, how good to see you again,” she said politely as she bowed her head.

Before she could rise, Martin grabbed at her hand, and brought it forcefully to his lips. She shivered with disgust as she felt his tongue flick across her knuckles. Panic bloomed in her belly, making her nauseous, and she had to fight to keep her smile intact.

“How lovely to see you again,” He replied with vigor.

“Lord Repington, if I may introduce my friends-” Seraphina started to say as she attempted to pull her hand away.

“Some other time,” he said dismissively, holding her hand tight.

He then gave a stern look toward Theo and Rose over her shoulder, which she followed. They both looked to her with concerned, questioning eyes, but she gave them a nod, and they walked away.

“Has your mother shared the good news with you?” Martin asked.

“Oh, indeed I have,” Mary sang happily, appearing at Seraphina’s side.

With her hand stuck in Martin’s hold, and her mother’s grip suddenly tight on her shoulders, Seraphina suddenly felt stuck. She tried to pull in a breath and found it difficult.

“And we are so happy to hear that you and His Grace have come to an agreement regarding the dowry, are we not Seraphina?”

“Yes,” she forced out.

Needing something, anything, to focus on and help her draw breath, Seraphina looked up, hoping to find sight of her friends whom she knew did not go far. It was not their eyes she found, but Hugo’s, across the room. His dark green eyes were fixed on hers, and rather than accusation, she read comfort in their depths. There was not a stitch of anger in his expression, but a concern that made her want to rush to him immediately. Thankfully, her lungs seemed to be able to relax, and she drew in a deep breath.

“You will have a dance with me,” Martin insisted, “It is time we showed the ton that we are intended to one another.”

“Oh, yes, how perfect,” Mary agreed readily, squeezing Seraphina’s shoulders tighter.