Chapter Thirty-Two #2
His grandmother pinned him with a look on her way out that steeled the resolve that had already begun to settle in him.
He would not lose the woman he loved.
“I will await you both in the carriage,” her mother said, not without sympathy. Her eyes crinkled with what looked like regret when she glanced once more at Adaline before leaving.
Finally, only her brother remained, obviously loathe to leave them alone together again. Good. Hugo didn’t want him to leave.
Adaline took a step away, but Hugo grasped her hand, keeping her at his side.
“Hugo,” she said, her voice cracking again. “I’m so sorry. But I—”
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I will not lose you.”
He pulled her to him and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, drawing her close. She didn’t fight him. If she had, he would have let her go. Instead, she wrapped her arms about his waist and held him with all her might.
Hugo crushed her to him and kissed the top of her head. Then he pinned her brother with the full force of his fervent gaze.
“Girard,” he said. “This is your doing. I know you do not wish to admit so, and I will take responsibility for the blame I bear. I mocked you. I played on your weaknesses and exploited them for my amusement. And I bitterly regret it. But what occurred afterward? This animosity between our families? It is largely of your own making.”
Henry bristled. But…he did not argue. His eyes shifted to his sister for a moment, and then back to Hugo.
“You could fix this,” Hugo said, his voice deep with emotion.
“All of it. Own your part in this. Take responsibility, as I have done. Your family’s objection to me is the humiliation I caused them.
Caused Adaline. The damage that embarrassment did to her future.
I cannot undo what has been done. Though I have made amends as best as I can, and I will continue to do so for the rest of my days if need be.
“But there would have been no humiliation without your scheming or misunderstanding, whichever you want to call it. And my family’s fears of Adaline and her motives only exist because of the tales you told.
I will not lose the woman I love because you do not wish to take responsibility for the part you played.
Fix this. If you love your sister, fix this. ”
Henry’s jaw clenched, perhaps working around words he did not want to say. Could not say. Didn’t know how to say.
“I will beg if I must,” Hugo said, his own voice cracking under the weight of his imminent loss. “Help us.”
“Henry,” Adaline said, her quiet voice drawing his gaze. “I love him. Please.”
Henry stared at his sister and swallowed hard before tearing his eyes from her and bowing his head.
He kept his gaze on the ground, too many emotions chasing across his face for Hugo to identify them all.
Though there was one he recognized. One he had seen on his own face more than once over the last few months.
Shame.
Henry finally sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly before slowly nodding. He looked back at his sister, his eyes suspiciously bright.
“Very well.”
Adaline startled and pushed away from Hugo.
“Henry?” she asked.
“He is right,” he said, though his lips puckered a bit as he let the admission slip. Then he let out a loud and exhausted sigh. “He is right.” He gave his sister a tight smile. “I…will make things right.”
Adaline’s breath left her in a rush, and she threw herself into her brother’s arms. “Thank you,” she said, kissing him on the cheek before letting him go to return to Hugo.
The sudden rush of relief—and disbelief—that hit Hugo was enough to make his head spin. He held onto Adaline, letting her anchor him until he felt steady once more.
He nodded at Henry. “Thank you,” he said, his voice gruff.
Henry nodded in return, then took another deep breath. “Go,” he said, startling them both again.
“What?” Adaline asked.
“You mean to do right by my sister, do you not?” Henry asked, pinning Hugo with a fierce stare. “You mean to marry her?”
Hugo nodded, wrapping his arm more tightly around Adaline. “As soon as we can manage.”
Henry gave him a sharp jerk of his head.
“Then go. I will cover for you. Your family has already left. And I will deal with Mother,” he said to Adaline.
“I cannot promise your family will not follow again, Brelsford. But I will do my best to keep them from your trail. Hopefully my confession eases your path somewhat.” He jerked his head toward the door again. “Go.”
Hugo looked down at Adaline, making sure she was still with him.
The brilliant smile she aimed at him nearly brought him to his knees.
She went to give Henry one last hug while Hugo quickly gathered their things and threw her cloak around her shoulders.
Then he clasped her hand in his, gave Henry one last nod, and hurried out the door to his gig.
“Adaline?” her mother said, hanging her head from her carriage as Adaline and Hugo quickly got into his gig. “Where are you going? Henry, what is going on? They—”
“Be still, Mother,” Henry said. “All is well. I will explain.”
Hugo snapped the reins and guided the horse back through the woods and onto the main road. Adaline snuggled against his side, fairly radiating happiness. He pressed a kiss to her temple.
“I can hardly believe this is real. It is, isn’t it?” she asked.
“Oh, my love.” Hugo cupped her face in his free hand and kissed her until his heart ached. “Yes. It’s real. Though I will not rest easy until you are my wife in truth. If you’ll still have me.”
She raised her brows. “You must ask?”
“It seems prudent under the circumstances.”
She laughed and shook her head. He loved that sound. The sound of her happiness. Perhaps more than any other sound on earth.
“My Millie,” he whispered, kissing her again. “Will you be my wife?”
Adaline leaned forward, bringing her lips back to his. Again and again. “My brilliant, mad, resourceful Mayhem,” she said, laughing again. “Yes. A thousand times yes. On one condition.”
His eyes widened. “And what is that?”
“That you keep writing to me.”
Hugo laughed. “Always, my love.”