“I only show compassion to people who don’t get my business partner shot. If you need a moment, go outside. Don’t want Crewe to see you.”
I didn’t bother arguing with her. I just wanted to get away, get some fresh air under the blue sky. I pushed through the crowd before I made it out to the stone steps that led to the turnaround driveway. An enormous fountain spilled water into the pool, making a constant melodic sound. It was refreshing but only for an instant. I walked to the fountain and crossed my arms over my chest, grateful the sound would drown out my tears to anyone who walked by. Right now, everyone was inside enjoying the party, so no one would notice I was gone.
Crewe would eventually.
I didn’t have much time, fifteen minutes max. I had to pull myself together and accept the horrifying end to my relationship with Crewe. It was stupid of me to come here in the first place, to give up what I had in New York. He and I were from different worlds, and we should stay in different worlds.
I would never be a duchess.
I would never be anything.
He was meant for greater things. I was meant for an average life with an average husband. When I returned home, it would be painful. But one day, it wouldn’t be so bad. Maybe I’d meet a nice guy and find love. Not the passionate love I had with Crewe, but something that resembled close companionship.
Maybe I would survive this.
I just had to be strong, swallow my tears, and accept the inevitable. Nothing lasted forever, and my relationship with Crewe was no different. I should be grateful we got to spend time together at all. We went from being enemies to passionate lovers. It was a story nobody would ever believe.
I closed my eyes and cleared my thoughts, meditating just as if I were in yoga. I thought of nothing at all, letting all the heartbreaking feelings inside my chest dissipate. When I went back into that hall, I would wear a smile and nothing else.
“Lovely?” Crewe’s concerned voice reached my ears from the bottom of the stone steps.
I had less time to recover than I hoped. I had to bounce back and pretend everything was perfectly fine. After a final deep breath, I turned to him. “It was a little warm in there. I need to cool off.” Now that I knew we’d reached the end of our relationship, he looked even more handsome. With strong shoulders and a cleanly shaven jaw, he looked more like a king than a duke. His exterior was dark, but if you looked beneath the skin, you would see a man who had a heart that was brilliant like gold. He was more complicated than he appeared, hiding his good nature like a bad secret. His entire life was fueled by revenge, but that anger was caused by fierce loyalty to his deceased family. He was a man perfect in every way.
And I couldn’t have him.
Crewe came to my side and moved his arm around my waist, surrounding me with his protective touch. His strong fingers dug into the thick fabric of my dress, and his cologne surrounded me with a heavenly smell. “You’ve been gone for a long time. I got worried.”
“I went to the bathroom, and there was a long line. Then all the perfume and the body heat…I just needed some fresh air.” Crewe could read me pretty well so I wasn’t sure if he would believe my lie, but I had to try.
He moved closer into me and pressed a kiss against my hairline. “It’s a beautiful night…even if we can’t see the stars.”
“Yes, it is.”
“Unfortunately, the duke and his daughter started talking to me right after you stepped away. We’ll hunt them down because I’d like them to meet you.”
There was nothing I wanted less. “We’ll see.”
He surveyed the enormous lawn in front of the manor, looking at the lawn ornaments and perfectly manicured bushes that resembled safari animals. It seemed like everything was calm, like he believed my lie, until he turned back to me. “Are you sure everything is alright?”
“Of course it is.” I looked past his shoulder and saw Ariel emerge from the entrance, a glass of wine in her hand. She watched me with her pointed expression, and even from this distance, I could see the disapproval in her eyes. After a haughty look, she walked back inside. “Just needed to cool off, that’s all. You’re used to these social events, but I’m not.”
“Give it some time. You’ll be a pro.”
But we didn’t have time.
“Come on, let’s head back inside.” He grabbed my hand and gently pulled him with him.
I didn’t want to speak to Anna, to smile and pretend she didn’t just change everything. But I had no other choice unless I pretended I was seriously sick. As tempting as that sounded, I couldn’t do that. “Okay.”
Luck was on my side, and I didn’t have to interact with Vasile or Anna. Five hundred guests attended his party, and we didn’t cross paths with him again in the throng of people. I couldn’t imagine having a party like this because I didn’t even know five hundred people.
Had I even met that many people in my lifetime?
At the end of the night, Dunbar drove us home. I propped my head against the window and closed my eyes, drowning out the painful truth as best as I could. I could think about it all day, but it didn’t change anything.
I needed to stay positive.
Crewe’s hand entered my hair as he ran his fingers down the strands. “Tired?”
“What gave me away?” I whispered.
He chuckled and continued to run his fingers through my hair. “Come here.” He guided me down until I rested across his lap, the safety belt tight against me in an uncomfortable position. I pushed it farther down to my waist and rested my head on his muscular thigh. His fingers moved through my hair again. “You look beautiful tonight. I meant to say that earlier, but it slipped my mind.”
I kept my eyes closed, but my lips pulled into a smile. “Thank you…”
“Did you have fun tonight?”
Not at all. “Yeah. The food was great.”
“I’m glad Ariel came—and brought Cassandra.”
“I really like Cassandra…” I wasn’t sure what she saw in Ariel, though. The woman was pure evil.
“I do too.” Crewe halted the conversation, probably wanting to let me sleep.
I kept my eyes closed and tried to think of nothing, to appreciate the quiet companionship we shared. It didn’t seem like Crewe was interested in Anna, but he wasn’t immune. He must know she was a great catch. He would be stupid not to.
It took forever to get home. By the time we arrived, I wasn’t tired. I hadn’t been tired to begin with because all I could think about was the heartbreak—and he hadn’t even left yet. I was anticipating the end before it even arrived. I prepared myself for the devastation even though there wasn’t a single thing I could do to soften the blow.
There was no cure for a broken heart.