Page 24 of Sir Hugo Seeks a Wife (Cinderellas of Mayfair #1)

Athene’s heart ached for Hugo. She could see that he still missed his father. The loss had left a wound that she suspected hadn’t healed.

He went on. “It was such a shock when we lost him. He’d seemed as tough and eternal as the crags on the estate. And I have to say just as stubborn.”

The son was stubborn, too. At least when it came to things that he believed in. “I like a man who’s true to himself.”

For once, Hugo’s smile didn’t come easily. “That’s a perfect description of my father.”

And Hugo. “What about your mother?”

He sighed. “For a long time, I was worried she might follow Father. She went into a decline after his passing. They were a very fond couple and grief struck her hard. Without him, she hardly knew where to turn. Which was a surprise. They’d always had an active partnership.

She was no shrinking violet. But when she lost the love of her life so suddenly, she gave up all her confidence in the future. ”

“How sad.”

He shrugged, although she saw that he was a thousand miles from casual about this subject. She suspected that he rarely spoke about such intimate matters. “Her heart was broken.”

One of the things that she loved about Hugo – and dreaded because it left her nowhere to hide – was his willingness to speak about emotion. She had no time for superficial people. “How is she now? Does she still live with you?”

She watched him drag himself out of his downcast mood. “She did for her first three years of widowhood. Then her sister persuaded her to move to Harrogate to find some new company.”

“Did it work?”

This smile came more swiftly. “It did indeed. She’s even found a new beau. She and Sir Henry Repton are to be married after Christmas. She told me before I left for London.”

Athene reached to clasp the hand resting on the chair’s arm. “Are you reconciled to that?”

He didn’t sound like he minded, but it must be difficult to take on a stepfather after the death of a father he so esteemed.

Hugo met her concerned glance with a warmth that she felt to her bones. He tangled his fingers in hers. “You’re too astute.”

“Not really.” She had a sense about Hugo. It was part of the rapport that they’d shared from the beginning.

“I’m happy for my mother. She’s been lonely, and this gives her the chance to love twice in a lifetime. Sir Henry is a good man.”

“But he’s not your father.”

“No. But my father is gone, and she’s young enough to find a new life. She deserves a second chance. My father was fifteen years older than she was. She’s still got a lot of happiness ahead of her, God willing.”

“You have such a generous heart, Hugo.” She brought his hand to her lips and kissed his knuckles in a sincere homage that she hoped he recognized.

As so often, praise made him uncomfortable. “Go on with you, lass.”

“It’s true.” Before he could argue, she asked her next question. “What about brothers and sisters?”

“I’ve got three older sisters. All married. All with families of their own.” The glance he sent her now was purposeful. “Even if my wife can’t give me children, there’s a string of nephews to inherit Hampden Crags.”

It was her turn to look uncomfortable. She withdrew her hand. “Hugo…”

“It’s not an insurmountable problem if you can’t bear me children.”

Athene sent him an impatient glance. “It is a problem. Men like you want a family. Don’t pretend you don’t. You’ll make a wonderful father.” Partly because his own father had provided such a sterling example. “Think of the joy of teaching your offspring all about your estate.”

He waved away her words. “Yes, I’d like children.

I can’t lie about that. But I’m also happy to make a family of two with the woman I want.

I can fulfill any paternal ambitions by taking my nephews and nieces under my wing.

My sisters and their husbands would appreciate the input, especially if inheriting the estate is part of the deal. ”

“You…you’ve thought about this. But I only told you tonight that I may be barren.”

“I’m nearly thirty. I never met a woman I want to marry until I found you penning verses in the back of a sweet shop.

I’m sentimental enough to want an affectionate partnership.

My parents had a marvelous marriage. I’d like that, not an alliance based wholly on my desire for children and my bride’s connections.

” He sucked in a breath and spoke more calmly.

“I’m saying that your ability to have children isn’t the issue you think it is. ”

“You’re stubborn like your father.”

“Worse. When I know what I want, I never give up.”

A charged silence fell. Hugo’s attention remained fixed on her.

Those blue eyes held her captive. He stared at her as if he’d never seen anything so perfect in his life.

The familiar knight-like resolve set his jaw.

The lunatic notion struck her that as long as he looked at her like that, she was powerless to break away.

Powerless because at heart she didn’t want to leave him any more than he wanted to leave her.

She should be terrified. These hours in his arms already ate away at her determination. Because blame the wine, blame the lack of sleep, blame sheer insanity, but right now what he wanted sounded dangerously tempting.

But what about your past?

The nasty little voice pierced the haze of longing.

Athene really needed to tell Hugo about her misdeeds. At Sylvie’s, he hadn’t seemed too outraged when she’d touched on her scandalous history. But she must make him see that this fantasy of slotting her into his life could never happen.

But not tonight. Not when he’d given her so much joy and acceptance and satisfaction.

She might be greedy. She was certainly foolish. But she wanted more of all of that before she extinguished the glow in his eyes when he beheld her.

Athene lifted her glass and emptied it. Then ate a flaky egg and cress pastry. She stood and stepped in front of him. Her aches had eased. Managing to get out of her chair without whimpering felt like progress.

She held her hand out. “Come to bed.”

His lips turned down in self-mockery. “Are you trying to avoid awkward questions?”

She smiled in return. “Yes.”

“And?”

“And I want you.”

Still he didn’t take her hand. “I know you do.”

“Well?”

“What about your pain?”

“More exercise will help.”

That elicited a short laugh. “Indeed?”

“Are you afraid I’m manipulating you?”

“No.”

“No?”

“I know you’re manipulating me.”

“So?”

At last he took her hand. With his touch, her longing heart settled into a powerful rhythm. “So go ahead and manipulate me. I just want it on record that this sudden seduction doesn’t pull the wool over my eyes.”

Her smile broadened. “It’s not sudden.”

“Isn’t it?”

“And I’m not trying very hard to seduce you. I’m holding your hand, for heaven’s sake.”

His grip tightened as he remained in his chair, regarding her with a knowing air that turned all her secret places to honey. “Athene, you know as well as I do that you merely need to breathe to seduce me. And if you don’t, you’re not as clever as I think you are.”

She arched her eyebrows, loving to hear him acknowledge her sway over him. “Well, I’m breathing now.”

Athene watched his face change in the few seconds that it took him to surge to his feet and swing her up into his arms. She cried out in surprise then laughed, as Hugo marched through to the bedroom and set her crossways on the bed with her feet dangling toward the floor.