Esther nodded. She knew. She didn’t think she could have borne it if someone had attacked Hugh, and then she’d had to see Hugh go and live in that person’s home. It would have tormented her.
“Well, I, for one, never expected to fall in love this Season,” Charles said.
Esther smiled at him in appreciation, glad that he had managed to lighten the mood so effortlessly. Charles was always a great person to keep a conversation flowing.
“I find that hard to believe,” Hugh said.
Charles raised an eyebrow. “Do you?”
“You’re always so positive about everything,” Hugh explained. “You were always the one who told me to relax and embrace the process of going to balls and meeting ladies. You were sure that someday I would meet the right person for me. You didn’t think it would happen for you?”
“I didn’t think it would happen for me soquickly,” Charles clarified. “When I think of the way Eugenia and I met, it’s almost hard to believe. It was the very first ball of the Season!”
“And you were only dancing with me because you wanted to learn more about Esther for Hugh’s sake,” Eugenia reminded him, smiling.
“Oh, no,” Charles countered. “That was never theonlyreason. I thought you were lovely, and I wondered what you were making of the events of the evening. You’d been so quiet all night. Never out on the dance floor. If one gentleman was going to win a turn with the elusive Lady Eugenia, I wanted it to be me.”
“Well, you were successful,” Eugenia said. “I’m very grateful you took the interest in me that you did, Charles. I didn’t expect to fall in love this Season either. But I can’t imagine my life without you.”
“It’s a good thing we didn’t allow your mother to marry us off to one another,” Hugh commented.
“Yes,” Eugenia agreed. “I hope you’ll take no offense when I say that that would have been an absolute disaster.”
“Oh, not at all,” Hugh said. “I’m delighted to have you in my life, Lady Eugenia. As my friend.”
Eugenia smiled. “I feel the same way.”
“In fact,” Hugh said, “while we’re on the subject of finding love, there’s something I’ve been meaning to discuss with you, Esther.”
“Oh?” Esther asked. She felt a strange fluttering in the pit of her stomach, almost as if her body knew before her mind did what was to come.
Hugh lowered himself from the chair in which he had been sitting to the floor, on one knee.
Eugenia gasped. “Oh my goodness.”
“I told your sister, when she asked if you and I were planning to marry, that we needed more time,” Hugh said. “I told her that I wanted us to have a proper courtship, one that we could recall and look back fondly on over the years. One that didn’t feel as if it was being manipulated by your parents.”
Esther nodded, unable to find words.
“I’ve enjoyed spending this Season with you,” Hugh said. “I’ve enjoyed every social event infinitely more than I would have if you hadn’t been by my side. I adore you, Esther. I love you. You make every day brighter.”
Esther nodded, her eyes filling with tears. “I love you, too,” she whispered.
“I had always envisioned asking the permission of the father of the lady I wished to marry,” Hugh said. “But one thing you’ve taught me is that happiness doesn’t always look like what you expect it will. It’s best to be able to adapt to things as you go rather than to cling to the ideals you once held.”
“I’m sure Esther’s father would say yes,” Eugenia interrupted.
“I imagine he would,” Hugh agreed. “But the truth is that I’m not interested in his permission. I will speak to him out of a desire to make things easy. But right now, Lady Eugenia, I wish to talk to you.”
“Me?” Eugenia squeaked.
“You’ve demonstrated again and again that you truly care for Esther’s best interests,” Hugh said. “You are the member of her family who most desires her happiness. Therefore, you’re the one I want to ask. Will you give me your blessing to ask your cousin’s hand in marriage?”
“Well—of course I will,” Eugenia said. “Of course. I see how happy you make her, Hugh. No one can doubt what a perfect match the two of you are. I’ve known from the start that you and Esther were right for one another.”
“I’m honored that you think so,” Hugh said. “Your opinion means the world to me.”
Then he turned to Esther. She felt as if her insides had turned to water. She could hardly believe that the moment she had dreamed about for so long had finally arrived. It was really happening.
