“And I’ve never seen you so flabbergasted in my life,” I teased.
Eve peered over her shoulder, narrowing blue eyes at me. Pulling her curled hair away, she waited for me to lace the back of her gown. “I was busy observing.”
I walked over to her. “You were doing more than that.”
“Are you trying to provoke me, Ava Barlow?”
“Me? Darling, never. You are the epitome of style and feminine games,” I scoffed, beginning the tedious task of arranging the netted material.
“Getting what you want or don’t want is a game,” Eve retorted. “And since I play so well at it—”
“Don’t even think about it,” I cautioned, yanking at her laces to make my warning clear. She let out a small grunt. “Leave me out.”
“Of what?”
“Don’t play stupid. I don’t want any part of”—I waved my hand in the air—“whatever it is you’re planning.”
“You don’t have to do anything,” Eve said. “Lord Ashton will do it all for you.”
I groaned. “Oh Eve, please, leave the man be. I don’t want to be wrapped in an awkward conversation with him tonight.”
Eve turned to look at me. “Let’s make the delicious Lord Cranfield jealous.”
I closed my eyes, bridging my nose with my fingertips. “Just leave everything be. I have neither the patience nor the energy to deal with men tonight. I just want to go to this event, which you begged me to go to, then come home.”
Eve turned me by my shoulders and buttoned up my navy-blue dress. “I promise. I won’t do anything out of the ordinary.” I turned to face her, but she stopped me by my waist.
“Interfering is the ordinary for you,” I complained.
Eve huffed. “All right, fine. No games. Just best friends enjoying the night together. Am I allowed to make comments, or is that off limits as well?”
“Just don’t go out of your way to do anything, okay?”
“Fine, I promise.” She paused. “There. You look magnificent. Lord Cranfield will be beside himself.”
I admired my attire that snug fit on my hips; the silk flowed freely to the ground.
“Why do you think I’d want to impress Cranfield?” I asked her, pulling up the front of my dress to not show so much cleavage. “This is just a normal night at a party, nothing more.”
“Why wouldn’t you want to impress him? Can you imagine the handsome children you’d make?”
“Can I leave Telliva once in my lifetime before you start talking about children?” I objected.
Eve stood in front of my vanity mirror. “May I ask you a serious question?”
I eyed her suspiciously. “Maybe.”
“If things were different, would you consider him?” She eyed our dresses, contrasting mine with hers. Sheer red fabric covered her chest, circling her neck, while mine dropped low, sleeves hugging my shoulders. She wore her hair up in curls, while mine was down and straight, pinned to the side of my head.
“George?”
She rolled her eyes. “No. Garrett.”
“Maybe,” I confided. “I enjoyed his company. He made me forget that I was away from home.”
Eve placed a hand on my shoulder. “No tricks. I won’t interfere, I promise. I know I can be pushy. I want you to enjoy life, flirt a little, be reckless”—she winked—“have fun.”
“I know.” I placed a hand on hers. “I’ll interact more.”
Eve went to the door and waited for me to follow her. “Let’s go make the gorgeous brother speechless.”
Ava
Chapter 6
I wanted to punch her. Eve’s promise of being a peaceful companion faded within an hour. Of all people, she knew how much I craved my solitude, but at the first chance she received, she waved down Lord Ashton. The last thing I wanted to do was be courted to death in an endless mission to find a mother for his daughter, Emma.
I sent her my worst glare on my way to the dance floor while my arm was linked through his.
“Emma has been talking nonstop about seeing you yesterday,” Ashton said, leading me through dancing couples. “She has begged me to ask you, if it isn’t too much trouble; her birthday is in a few months, and she was hoping you’d be able to attend.” His eyes glimmered with hope. Hope I wasn’t going to give him.
“She is very sweet to think of me,” I stated with a forced smile.
“We both think so highly of you.”
“Thank you.”
Ashton danced around me and came back to place his arm around my waist. “I was hoping you’d accompany me riding in the next few days. We could follow up with a picnic, and maybe a piece of pie at the bakery in town.”
I kept myself from furrowing my brows. “That sounds very...nice, Lord Ashton,” I replied slowly, watching my next words. “But I’m not looking to be…well I don’t want—”
“I understand if you have to check your schedule,” Ashton added with a grin, his brown eyes luminous.
“Well, it’s not that,” I countered. “I’m flattered, but I’m not looking for anyone to court me at this time.”
Ashton wrinkled his pointy nose. “But you are of age to be thinking about a family and sharing a life with a husband.”
I clenched my jaw. “I am. It’s not that I don’t ever want those things; it’s just that I’m not ready.”
“Not ready?”
“I would like to travel first.”
“All three of us can travel if you wish,” Ashton retorted.
“I’d have to be your wife to do that, my Lord.”
Ashton’s grin widened. “Exactly, my dear.”
I peered over his shoulder, uncomfortable at his persistence. My gaze fell on Garrett, who was dancing with a young blonde. Her hair was thrown up in an elegant bun, strands of hair teasing the side of her milky white skin. He spun her around as she laughed, her lavender dress whirling around her.
“Lady Barlow?” Ashton beckoned.
I brought my attention back to him.
He anxiously searched my face for an answer to his subtle statement. Never in my mind did I think Ashton nothing more than kind, but he was a barricade to my future plans. Ones that I’d gladly break for a chance of freedom.
“I must benevolently decline your offer, Lord Ashton,” I concluded. “Though it is very considerate to think of me.”
“If you need more time to think about it,” Ashton babbled, “I’d be more than happy to give it to you.” I shook my head. “I’ll wait then. I’ll wait until you’ve gotten to tour the land, and—”
“No need to wait. I can’t have you put your life on hold for me.”
“Lady Barlow.” Ashton abruptly halted us both. “I don’t think you understand that I want you to be my wife.”
I furrowed my brows. Now all I could think of was smacking the back of Eve’s head. Ashton entwined his fingers with mine and began to slowly kneel. My heart started to race. Oh my God, he was going to be an idiot and still try to propose to me, in the middle of a damn party.
“Avie!” Garrett’s voice greeted from behind Ashton. I released a sigh of relief that I didn’t realize I was holding. I’d never been so happy to see someone in my life. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”
Ashton stood straight, his face slightly red.
“Oh, I’ve been right here,” I mumbled, clasping my fingers together.
Garrett looked Ashton over. “So I see.” He held out his hand to me. “You owe me a dance.”
I nodded, stepping toward him. “Thank you, Lord Ashton, for the—” Ashton took a quick step toward me, startling me.
“Lady Barlow, I’m sorry if I upset you,” he whispered. “But I’d like to continue this conversation at a later time.”
“My Lord, please. I think I’ve made my answer clear,” I affirmed softly. “Again, I am honored that you’ve considered asking me.”
“But Lady Barlow, I—” I felt Garrett’s body step closer to me, his hand going to my lower back.
“The dance is about to start,” Garrett remarked in a low voice. He slid his hand down the inside of my arm and grasped my hand, pulling me away.