“I don’t want to see him, that’s all.”
I knew exactly whom she was talking about. “You have nothing to be afraid of.”
Her eyes moved down again.
“Look at me.”
She took a deep breath before she met my gaze.
“You know I would never let anyone touch you. Right?”
She nodded.
“You know I would never let anyone ever make you feel uncomfortable. So relax.”
“Okay,” she whispered.
I kissed the corner of her mouth. “Then let’s go.”
11
London
Man, my heart was racing.
It thumped in my chest sporadically, pounding hard against my rib cage and nearly making me shake. I sat in the back seat of the black car with Crewe beside me, my large dress taking up the chair and the floor. When I arrived, I didn’t know what to expect. Joseph would be waiting to make his move, and the monster that haunted my dreams would be there as well.
I didn’t know what to do.
I couldn’t be alone, even for a minute. If Crewe excused himself to use the restroom or to speak to someone important in private, I would have to cling to his side anyway. If I had to pee, I would be forced to hold it. If Joseph got me alone, I would be powerless to stop him.
So I had to make sure Crewe never left my side.
This night was gonna be long.
Crewe held my hand on his thigh, his piercing gaze examining my face. “You’re flushed.”
“Just nervous.”
“You’ve done this once before.”
“Doesn’t make it any easier. You never get nervous to entertain a room full of the most important people in the world?”
He shrugged. “I’m used to it. I’ve been doing this sort of thing for over thirty years.”
“Well, I haven’t. How am I supposed to introduce myself?”
He smiled. “You remember your name, don’t you?”
“I mean, what am I to you?”
“No one will ask.”
“Uh…I think they might. I can’t say I’m your girlfriend.”
“Why not?” he asked with furrowed eyebrows.
“I didn’t think dukes had girlfriends. Don’t they just choose someone to marry, and that’s it?”
His expression didn’t change. “We live in modern times now. If it comes up, you’re my girlfriend.”
I was? “Okay.”
The travel to Edinburgh was painfully quick. We got there in no time at all. My heart was still pounding in my chest, and I wanted a time machine just to get through the night as quickly as possible. I wanted to avoid Bones and my brother without getting stuck with some duke from Iceland in the corner, talking about politics I didn’t understand. I was glad Crewe took me as his date because I obviously meant something to him, but I’d much rather be at the castle waiting for him to come home. “Ariel didn’t have a problem with you taking me?” It was the one time I relied on her to help me. I knew she hated me and would have done anything possible to prevent this from happening. But she dropped the ball on that.
“I don’t care if she had a problem.” He kept his eyes out the window. “She’s just my business partner. Her opinion about my personal life is irrelevant.”
Damn.
We arrived at the distillery minutes later. We were an hour early before the party actually began, probably because it was customary for the host to greet the guests as they arrived.
Crewe helped me out of the car and circled his arm around my waist as he guided me inside. The place was constructed of stone-white and brown bricks, and the trees outside were covered in white lights. In my mind, I was picturing a warehouse of some kind. But this place was beautiful.
We walked inside to see a beautifully decorated hall. It could easily fit a hundred people, and I wondered what was usually stored inside. I imagined there were barrels of scotch everywhere, ready to be shipped to large businesses or wealthy clients. Waiters and workers were still preparing everything, and Crewe dropped his hand from my waist to give further instruction.
It was starting.
I immediately moved to his side and stuck to him like glue, taking a step every time he did. There was no way I was going to be left alone, even for a second. Joseph could be watching me at that very moment.
Waiting for the perfect opportunity.
12
Crewe
The party was in full swing, and everyone seemed to be having a good time. I greeted the Queen at the entrance, and she remembered London from the first time they met. Despite her old age, she was as sharp as a tack and refined as ever.
I introduced London to other members of the nobility, and she smiled and remained polite. She hardly said anything other than pleasantries, probably because she was so nervous. I’d rarely seen London show her unease when she was out of her comfort zone, but she was definitely showing her vulnerability tonight.
When I had a moment to breathe, I guided London to the side and waited for a waiter to appear with a tray of wine. “You’re doing great, Lovely.”