Page 18 of Forever Her Bachelor

Julia anxiously watched the entrance of the parlor with great interest.

St. Clara raised an eyebrow at his friend’s strange behavior, wondering what or whom had Julia so distracted that she allowed such behavior in her own home.

“I loathe when you call my wifeBird.” Heartford crossed his arms over his chest, glaring at St. Clara from where he stood.

The two had agreed to be amicable. They were far from close, but for Julia and their niece Emily’s sake, they had reached an understanding. They had been enemies most of their lives because of their parents’ affair. Unlike St. Clara, Heartford had befriended their sister Amelia when she’d needed him.

Despite his marriage to one of St. Clara’s closest friends and that they shared an actual sister, the two men had never warmed to each other. Their families’ history was long and complicated.

“I don’t recall asking your permission, Heartford,” St. Clara drawled, meeting the other man’s stare.

“Try not to fight in front of the guests. No one really knows you two secretly love each other but Lady Heartford and myself,” Elijah Edwards called from the sofa, his dark eyes inspecting both mischievously.

Heartford had met Edwards while he was traveling abroad after Amelia’s sudden death. Heartford’s degenerate of a father and St. Clara’s mother had an illicit affair. The result was their sister, Amelia. She was beautiful and happy despite St. Clara’s father turning his back on both her and their mother. St. Clara had sided with his father, choosing his side over everyone else’s. He regretted that decision now that both his mother and sister were no longer alive.

“I don’t secretly love him. I loathe him,” St. Clara spat out, unable to contain the slight quirk of his lips.

His companion let out a loud bark of laughter that caused his teeth to grind together. Surely he would be toothless if they were to ever marry.

“The Duke of Summerset, Lord Wayford, Lady Wayford, and Miss Pippa Price.” The butler’s jovial voice announced the new arrivals.

St. Clara stood straighter, the stretch in his spine a welcome distraction to his pulse quickening just from the sound of her name, his eyes wandering to the entrance where Pippa stood beside her intended. The sight of them together had his head pounding; his empty stomach churned as an icy shiver raked over his body.

Pippa was dressed elegantly in a dark-burgundy gown, her long dark hair swept up in an intricate hairstyle. Taking in her appearance, St. Clara could see the signs of her nervousness as she rubbed the fingernail of her thumb against her fingertips. It was something she had always done when they were younger and felt uncomfortable.

He was so enthralled with Pippa’s pink lips and pale skin that he could only vaguely could comprehend Heartford walking over to him. The other gentleman leaned his long body close to St. Clara’s so that the other guests couldn’t hear what they were discussing. His white-blonde hair and green eyes were so much like their sister’s it unnerved St. Clara to be in his presence daily.

“Aren’t you going to do something?” He tilted his head toward Pippa and Summerset who were greeting the guests in the room. “The last time you were here, you admitted you loved her.”

At the wordlove, St. Clara turned his head to Heartford. It was true when he first heard the news of Pippa’s engagement, he went running to Julia and her oaf of a husband, but he had never confessed his undying love.

“I did no such thing.” Losing what little composure he was holding onto, St. Clara pinched the bridge of his nose, taking several deep breaths. “She’s made her choice,” he gritted out through clenched teeth.

He had done nothing after the news of Pippa’s engagement, nothing but get foxed at Sinners and had nearly accosted her in front of their homes. However, her feelings toward him hadnot changed. She had made it perfectly clear to him she couldn’t forgive him. Why should she? There was nothing between the two of them.

Once, they were friends.

Then, they were more.

Now, they were nothing.

“That’s it then?” Heartford challenged him, lightly nudging his shoulder. “The man that stood in this parlor a sennight ago would fight for the woman he loved?—”

“I don’t love her. I never did.” The words were like acid on his tongue, burning and destroying. “I thought I did once, but I was wrong.”

His father had made him see the error of his ways, and now, he knew the truth about his own father. He hadn’t continued going through the folders once Allendale appeared with his proposition. St. Clara couldn’t help but wonder what else had his father kept from him.

“You’re not my brother or my friend. Stop acting like it,” St. Clara reminded him, nudging Heartford’s shoulder back but infinitely harder.

“No, I’m not either, but if I were I would tell you, you are being an ass.” Heartford challenged him, stepping close.

“What would you have me do? Drag her to the altar or compromise her?” St. Clara faced Heartford, reminding him of how Heartford and Julia became married.

The two glared at each other before Edwards squeezed in between them to end the masculine display.

“Julia sent me over to end whatever you two are bickering about. What is the issue?” Edwards asked, looking from St. Clara to Heartford, his dark skin and prominent features cutting a handsome figure.

“This one is allowing Miss Price to marry Summerset.” Heartford jerked his head toward St. Clara.