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Not that Tom Severin gave a damn about politeness or etiquette.
Foxhunting. Music. Distinguished ancestors. No one at these gatherings ever discussed business, politics, or anything else Tom might have found interesting.
In general, however, the only thing Tom liked to do with nature was cover it with roads, bridges, and railway tracks.
Everyone here seemed genuinely happy, which Tom found both annoying and somewhat mystifying. It was as if they all knew some secret that had been kept from him.
But why didn’t he feel happy? It had been months since he’d felt much of anything at all. He’d been overtaken by a gradual, creeping awareness that all his usual appetites had been blunted. Things that usually gave him pleasure now bored him.
People had always joked about his vitality and his fast-paced life, and how no one could keep up with him.
But there was one sister left . . . Pandora’s twin, Cassandra.
“It would hardly be unnatural,” West commented kindly, “for you to feel a touch of jealousy. It’s no secret that you’ve wanted to find a match, whereas Pandora has always been determined never to marry at all.”
“Wh-what would you call a middle-aged lady who’s never married?” “A woman with standards?” West suggested.
!!!!!!
For the first time in his life, Tom Severin was smitten. Smitten and slain. She was beautiful the way fire and sunlight were beautiful, warm and glowing and golden. The sight of her dealt him a famished, hollow feeling. She was everything he’d missed in his disadvantaged youth, every lost hope and opportunity.
🥰🥰🥰 This is how he describes the first time seeing her and he has the nerve to to say he doesn’t believe in love!!!!
“Let’s agree to marry each other someday,” she continued, “if no one else wants us. I would be a good wife. All I’ve ever dreamed of is having my own little family, and a happy home where everyone feels safe and welcome. You know I never nag or slam doors or sulk in corners. I just need someone to take care of. I want to matter to someone. Before you refuse—” “Lady Cassandra Ravenel,” West interrupted, “that is the most idiotic idea anyone’s come up with since Napoleon decided to invade Russia.”
“I’ll be your oyster,” Tom broke in.
Screaming.
“You’re not too plump,” he said gruffly. “The more of you there is in the world, the better.”
🥰🥰🥰🥰 *squeal of delight*
😂
“But she’s what I’ve always wanted.”
So like what he says here is awful but why am I just more and more excited for them to fall in love!!!!
“I always want the money. That’s why I have so much of it.
“You’ve always been fair. That’s why I’m asking you to tell Lady Cassandra about my good qualities as well as the bad ones.” “What good qualities?” West inquired sharply. Tom had to think for a moment. “How rich I am?” he suggested.
Hmmm, is it?
Ordinarily this was the kind of event Cassandra would have enjoyed to no end.
With the extra weight she had recently gained, Cassandra felt miserably bound up and breathless and hot.
Through a blur, she saw the dark form of Tom Severin, who had come to stand a step below her, with two glasses of iced champagne in his hands. He extended one to her.
But now it was impossible not to notice how very good-looking he was, tall and elegantly lean, with dark hair, a clear, fair complexion, and thick brows set at a slightly diabolical slant. If she were to judge his features individually—the long nose, the wide mouth, the narrow eyes, the sharply angled cheeks and jaw—she wouldn’t have expected him to be this attractive. But somehow when it was all put together, his looks were striking and interesting in a way she’d remember far longer than conventional handsomeness.
Severin hesitated. “Is that what you want?” he surprised her by asking.
Eeeeeeee! 🥰
I retain information more easily than images.
Recalling vast amounts of information doesn’t mean you’re intelligent. It’s what you do with the information.”
“Well. That would be a refreshing change.” Cassandra felt her heart jolt painfully as her gaze went to the doorway, where Tom Severin stood.
There he is!!!!!
“No, sweetheart,” he said gently, as if there were no one else in the room. The deliberate endearment caused a few breaths to catch audibly, including hers.
AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!🥹🥹🥰🥰😆😆😆
“No, that is what the business negotiations were about. I’m the new owner. And while the chief editor happens to be a staunch advocate for freedom of the press, he’s also a staunch supporter of not losing his job.”
Ugh what a king!
It will come as no surprise to you, Ripon, that the editor named you as the anonymous author.”
Knew he was trash from the start
“You bought an entire newspaper business . . . for my sake?” Tom thought for a long moment before answering. Now his voice was different than she’d ever heard it, quiet and even a little shaken. “There are no limits to what I would do for you.”
“How are you?” he asked gently.
In the next moment, she felt him pulling her into a deep embrace. His voice was low and soothing in her ear. “No . . . no . . . it’s all right . . . easy, now. My sweet darling. Poor buttercup.”
Not buttercup! 😂😂🥰🥰
“Shall I kill him for you?” Tom asked, sounding alarmingly sincere.
“Just hold me.” “For as long as you want. I’ll do anything for you. Anything at all. I’m here, and I’ll take care of you. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
“Thank you for coming to me,” she whispered. “Always.”
“I’ve wanted you for so long,” he said gruffly. “There hasn’t been anyone for me, Cassandra. Ever since—No, wait. Before I say anything else—You owe me nothing, do you understand?
breath. “I’ll hold you ’til the end of time, if that’s all you want from me. But there’s so much more I could do for you. I would treasure you.
“But I want to be loved,” Cassandra said, frowning down at her lap.
I get, I really do and it’s good for her to hold that standard but OH! Do you really think he doesn’t love you! Does HE really believe at this point he doesn’t love you!!??
There would be far more happy endings in literature if people would just stop falling in love.”
Cassandra’s jaw had gone slack with astonishment. “You’ve been reading novels?”
What is the trope where she recommends books and he reads them and literally she turns him into a reader? Because that’s all I want
“Why does that matter?” Tom asked, increasingly baffled. “Every inch of you is gorgeous.”
I’M SCREAMING, I CAN’T 🥰🥰🥰
“Your body isn’t an ornament designed for other people’s pleasure. It belongs to you alone. You’re magnificent just as you are. Whether you lose weight or gain more, you’ll still be magnificent. Have a cake if you want one.”
“You’re saying if I gained another stone, or even two stones, on top of this, you’d still find me desirable?” “God, yes,” he said without hesitation. “Whatever size you are, I’ll have a place for every curve.”
😝😝😝😆😆😆🥰🥰🥰🤭🤭🤭 AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!
“Don’t . . . open . . . that . . . door,” Tom snapped at the would-be intruder.
“I accept your proposal, contingent upon our negotiations, and subject to my family’s approval.”
me, it seems.” “Yes,” Tom said, encouraged by the remark. “Take me on. Influence me for the better. It will be a public service.” “Hush,” Cassandra begged, touching his lips with her fingers, “before I change my mind.” “You can’t,”
It wasn’t that they were illogical. Just the opposite. Their logic was of a higher order, too complex and advanced to submit to a complete proof calculus.
He brought a small object to the counter, a wooden toy boat with a carved sailor figure holding an oar. “Will this float upright in the bath?” he asked.
“The two of them formed a complete unit . . . a togetherness . . . that contained infinity. Their marriage had a beginning and end, but every day of it was filled with forever. It’s a beautiful concept.” He paused before adding awkwardly, “Mathematically speaking.”
OMG 🥰🥰🥰🥰
