Chapter 23
320 Words
Kate's mouth went slack.
After what Joan had declared, anyone would have surely gone mad.
Yes, Joan had told everything about William Billfield to Kate.
Because she had to. Obviously.
"Did you spoil Belle's reputation but? Kate asked, mortifyingly.
"I didn't!" Joan nearly screamed.
Good lord, the whole exchange was mortifying.
"See. I trust you. But what about William, does he?" Kate asked.
"No, apparently he doesn't" Joan asked.
"Uh uh oh" Kate said and then she started woolgathering.
"But....last night I met your brother in the same exchange" Joan said and smiled.
Joan told Kate about how she met Hugh, and all that had transpired amidst them.
"My my" Kate crooned "how romantic!"
"You both should embrace my honesty. I didn't try to eavesdrop" Hugh announced as he hastily etched into the room.
"I thought you were out of earshot" Joan said.
"I was" Hugh admitted, all innocence.
"But curiosity got the better of you" Kate said, schooling her features into boredom. But surreptitiously, she was amused.
Hugh's face masked a flash of humour "you'll be the death of me, Kate."
"I always will."
Joan laughed, and Hugh's heart suddenly leapt and slammed in his chest. Her laugh too, he realised with cruel haste, was beautiful.
And when she laughed, her face, it somehow, transformed. Transformed into something , much more prettier. Her eyes, they took on an adorable expression when she laughed. Her nose, scrunched slightly when she laughed. And her tongue, it flicked to the left when she laughed.
All in all she was entrancing even in her laugh.
"Lord Hugh" Joan asked, her eyes soft with concern "are you quite alright?"
"He's perfectly alright" Kate scoffed "it's just a part of his regular drama."
Joan nearly laughed.
"I'm alright" Hugh said and threw a dirty glance at Kate.
"Lord Hugh" Joan said and then bit her lower lip nervously "I told Kate all about William Billfield."
- Writer
