But Esther and Lady Eugenia both looked delighted, and Hugh realized it was their happiness that really concerned him.
He held out his arm to Esther, who took it, smiling up at him. Her cousin still had hold of her other arm.
“Let’s go,” Hugh said. “Show me this garden.”
He expected that Lord or Lady Cliffdall or Lady Harcourt might call after them, that they might try one last time to interfere. But no one said anything, and Hugh and the two ladies were allowed to take their leave.
As they stepped over the threshold and descended the steps that led down onto the grounds, Hugh thought he could feel the tension leaving all three of their bodies, as if they had emitted a collective sigh of relief.
“Well,” Esther said, “thatwas certainly dramatic.”
“I’m so sorry,” Lady Eugenia said. “I’m so sorry for the way my mother has treated you both.”
“You mustn’t apologize,” Hugh said. “She’s been awful to you as well. We saw what happened in there. She’s the kind of lady I’ve spent my life trying to avoid. A social climber who cares nothing for the feelings of those she claims to love.”
“That’s right,” Esther agreed. “And besides, my own parents are every bit as difficult, Eugenia. You know that.” She looked up at Hugh. “You should have seen the way they acted toward me when they thought you were lost to me. I thought that, just once, they would try to feel for me. Instead, they could only punish and blame me.”
“Well, the truth is out now,” Hugh said firmly. “At last, Esther, you and I can truly be honest with one another.”
He took her hands in his and searched her eyes. She met his gaze with equal passion, and Hugh found himself wondering how he ever could have doubted her.
In periphery, he was aware of the fact that Lady Eugenia was turning away from them, examining a rosebush as if it held some unique and particular interest for her. But even if she hadn’t, Hugh didn’t think he would have been able to stop himself from doing what he did next.
He pulled Esther close and kissed her, deeply and passionately, his arms winding around her back.
I’ll never let her go again.
Chapter 37
Esther felt she could have continued kissing Hugh for hours, but she forced herself to let him go. Eugenia was still there with them, after all, and her cousin had been through enough tonight.
She turned to embrace her. “I’m so sorry you’ve had to listen to all the horrible things my parents had to say about you, Eugenia,” she said. “I hope you know that none of those things are true.”
“Esther is right,” Hugh agreed. “I’m stunned by the way your parents speak about both of you ladies. But you in particular, Lady Eugenia. At least they seem to recognize Esther’s fine qualities, even if they don’t care at all for her happiness. But they treat you as if you’reunworthyof happiness!”
“It doesn’t matter,” Eugenia said.
“Of course it matters!” Esther insisted. “Eugenia, your mother has raised you to believe you don’t matter, that you don’t deserve good things. But youdo. You’re a lovely, kind, generous person. I feel awful for believing you could have turned on me. Of course you would never do something like that.”
“I wouldn’t,” Eugenia agreed. “But I understand, Esther. You were lied to. You were confused. And when I said it doesn’t matter, I didn’t mean that my happiness doesn’t matter. I meant that the things our parents say don’t matter to me.”
“How can such cruel words not matter to you?” Hugh asked.
“Because I know that they’re wrong,” Eugenia said. “Every time they tell me that no one could ever love someone like me, I know just how wrong they are. And the very idea amuses me. Because the truth is that I’ve already found someone who cares for me.”
Esther felt her jaw drop. “What do you mean?” she asked. “Do you mean that you’ve met a gentleman, Eugenia? But you never told me!”
“I’ve been keeping it a secret,” Eugenia giggled. “We both have. But yes, I mean a gentleman. We confessed our feelings for one another several weeks ago, though we knew we would have to take our time getting to know one another, and deciding how to proceed.”
“But why didn’t you say something?” Esther asked. “Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you tellyour mother? Perhaps she would have stopped worrying if she had known.”
“Oh, I didn’t think of it that way,” Eugenia said, her face turning red. “You mean that she might have stopped meddling inyouraffairs! Oh, I should have thought of that, Esther, I’m sorry!”
“No, no,” Esther said. “That isn’t what I meant, Eugenia. And you really must stop apologizing to me! Haven’t we agreed that none of what happened between Hugh and myself was your fault?”
“I suppose,” Eugenia said. “But I still feel guilty.”
“We don’t hold you responsible,” Hugh assured her. Esther looked up at him gratefully.
