Chapter 75: Horace’s Announcement
Matteo tried to smile as yet another couple made their way towards him and Emmeline, champagne flutes in hand and words of congratulations on their lips. Emmeline, ever the graceful hostess, beamed beautifully and soaked up their praises and well-wishes, while Matteo tried to look less constipated than usual.
He tried to think of other things more torturous than being paraded around by Emmeline, but his mind drew blank. Pulling out all his teeth, ripping off his fingernails... Matteo found out, with dawning horror, that he would willingly endure all of it if meant Emmeline would leave him alone.
Unfortunately, painful as those thoughts were, they were nothing more than a fanciful daydream. Emmeline’s hand was wrapped firmly around his arm, her fingernails nearly digging into the fabric of his suit, as though she was afraid he would run off.
He discreetly craned his neck around the room, looking over the crowd. Emmeline had invited the whole of upper society to this event, and it was all too clear to Matteo why she did so. She wanted to stake her claim in front of everyone that mattered.
But the two people he wanted to see the most were not present. Where were Ronan and Amelia? Ronan had texted him in the morning, claiming that they would be there. Were they held up somewhere?
Matteo tried to pry his arm away from Emmeline’s hold, but her grip was iron-tight. She turned to him and smiled sweetly.
"Matteo, are you planning on going anywhere?" she asked, her voice, syrupy sweet. "You just went to the bathroom only half an hour ago. Is your stomach upset? I’ll send a doctor for you. Grandpa is about to give his speech, and I don’t want you to miss it."
"No, it’s fine," Matteo said, with a soft sigh.
"If you say so," Emmeline said cheerily, but Matteo knew she would have followed him to the bathroom even if he claimed he had a massive intestinal upset. "Oh look! It’s Kelsie and Caleb! We have to say hello!"