“Ugly duckling.”
The words played on a loop in my head. I was so deeply buried in the memory of that man’s bitter, handsome face that I didn’t even hear the soft padding of footsteps outside my door.
A knock snapped me back to reality.
“Madam?” Mrs. Gable’s voice muffled through the door.
“Young Master has called for you downstairs. In the living room.”
My heart did a roll in my chest.
“I’ll be there right away, Mrs. Gable,” I called back.
I took a breath, smoothed the front of my dress, and caught my reflection in the mirror. I quickly pinched my cheeks to bring some color into them and headed down.
August was in his suit, his back to me.
I walked in and sat silently, my hands folded in my lap. For a long minute, he didn't even acknowledge I was there.
Finally, I could
