"There's no need to get in a snit over it," he replied with a clipped tone. She glanced up and wrinkled her brow at his sudden shift in behavior. He tugged on the cuffs of his gloves and nodded. "And this is why we will not suit. You're simply too… emotional." He raised a daring eyebrow, as if it were obvious.
Essie felt her aching heart begin to seethe with the burning coals of anger at his callous and arrogant attitude. Narrowing her eyes she rose from her seat on the firm stone bench. "I most certainly will cry off. In fact, I thank you for calling to attention the various flaws in your character that I so foolishly overlooked. Now, if you please I wish for you to leave, now." She placed her hands on her hips, heart beating fiercely as Trighton squared his shoulders and stood as well. He wasn't much taller than she, but made up for his stature with a now noticeable dose of arrogance, but Essie refused to be intimidated.
"I knew we'd come to an understanding." He offered her a tight smile. "I'll expect your father to make the necessary arrangements for the broken betrothal contract?" He asked, even though his gaze strayed to the door as if impatiently waiting to leave.
As if he couldn't stand to be in her presence a moment longer than necessary.
"I'll speak with him directly," she said through clenched teeth. She fisted her palms tightly, already dreading the upcoming conversation with her parents. He nodded once and turned to leave.
"And please, do remind your family that you will no longer be adding my dowry to your coffers," She called to him, knowing it was a bit low to mention money, but wanting that final reminder to at least wound him. Hurt was like that, wanting to infect others with its poison, needing a companion to wallow in misery. If she couldn't affect his heart, then by Jove, she would at least make his wallet pinch.
He stiffened and his breath caught. Then, without a backward glance, he simply left.
Which left her utterly and completely alone in more ways than one.
Because rejection from someone unknown was far easier to accept than from someone who was familiar. Because if they didn't know you, there were always a million excuses for why so-and-so didn't ask for a dance, or whatever the situation might be.
But when someone knows you, sees you often and who was accepted as friend and even a potential lover, rejects you…
That changes everything.
Because you no longer have the excuses.
Because you begin to wonder, what is wrong with me?
Essie sat back down on the lonely bench, listening to the summer crickets sing their familiar song. And while the temptation to wallow in self-pity was indeed strong, Essie refused.
The slap of rejection still stinging, she turned to energies toward planning. Because the season had not ended yet.
She had six weeks.
And anything could happen in six weeks, couldn't it?
CHAPTER ONE
"Cross! I cannot believe you! How unfeeling can you be?" His sister's strident voice was enough to make his ears bleed. It wasn't as if he was trying to be insensitive; he was simply being honest!
Blast it all!
"She is surely brokenhearted, and all you can do is shrug and offer a few trite words?" His sister's blue eyes flashed at him as she placed her hands on her hips.
He was tempted to tell her that she looked just like their mother.
But thought better of it.
Devon White, Viscount Crossby was irritated, but not that irritated.
"Anna, I simply was trying to communicate that she's better off without the blackguard! How is that trite or unfeeling?" He threw up his hands and glared at his sister.
She sighed, as if annoyed that she had to explain such a simple concept.
Cross glanced heavenward, praying for patience in dealing with his hoyden of a sister.
"You… never mind. Just when she comes over, keep your opinions to yourself, agreed?" She asked impatiently.
"What gave you the impression that I'd be in the same room with you two? I certainly have better things to do than to sit around—"
"You're her friend too! She needs us! How could you walk away—"
"Easily! She's your friend!" Cross glanced to the door. He needed to make an exit.
Now.
Because the emotions he felt towards Essie were anything but friendly.
Quite frankly, they were ferocious in a way he carefully controlled, tamed till they weren't detectable.
But as always, he felt as if he were only barely concealing his borderline obsession, and one false move would expose the truth.
And the truth was anything but safe, because Essie had never seen him as anything more than her best friend's brother.
A friend.
How he hated that word. Detested it.
But it was better to be her friend than nothing at all. The fact that he hadn't ever pursued her was based on that very relationship. Because if she rejected him, he'd lose her completely.
It wasn't worth the risk. And besides, she was still quite young.
He hadn't expected her to become betrothed so quickly.
So pardon him if the news of that very betrothal being broken didn't have him up in arms.
He was doing his best not to cheer!
"You've known her since you were in short pants!"