The Heir and the Spare (17 page)

I folded the letter and put it away. The one Anton just delivered I pulled back out and sat it on my desk.

It's not like Clarice cares about me or wants to know me. Why should I want to know her?

I climbed into bed, so not thrilled with how Mom's quest was panning out. I'd had reservations at the start, but there was still the hope that she was guiding me toward something amazing. Clarice was far from amazing.

I picked up my phone and dialed Abby.

She answered just in time to keep me from going to voicemail. “Ugh, I have to head out in fifteen minutes, family thing.”

I crinkled my nose. “Bummer, do you want me to call back?”

“No, it's been forever since we talked. I miss you, girl.”

“I miss you too, Abs.” These days, the further and further I delved into my quest letters, the more I ached for Seattle. Life was easier there.

“So, did you have a good day?” Her voice sounded like she was stretching.

“Meh, okay, I guess. You?” I refused to talk about that jerk, Theron. Reaching up, I turned off the desk lamp with a click. The room was now cloaked in darkness as I laid my head on the pillow.

“Can't complain much. So, how are things with that prince of yours?”

A flash of heat hit me as our kisses replayed in my mind. “They're pretty great.”

I quickly caught up on how her holidays went and did a recap of Christmas and, quite possibly, the world's most perfect birthday.

“You finally kissed him?” She squealed. With a giggle she added, “And how was that?”

I sighed and pulled the blankets up around my chin, settling in. “I just don't have the words.”

“Well, you better find some words, 'cause this is something I need to know.” She laughed.

“I couldn't have dreamt a more perfect first kiss. He's an amazing kisser.”

“I love you, but right now I hate you.”

“Well, I'm glad you love me, because I need your advice on something.”

“Yes, you should sleep with him.”

I shook my head, smiling. “Abby, you're impossible.”

“Seriously, there can't be many girls who could say they slept with a prince. Let alone that he was their first.”

Chuckling, I said, “Not exactly what I was getting at, but I'll keep that in mind.”

“Okay, okay, what's up?”

With a deep breath, I told her about Clarice. It felt good to get it out. “You can't tell my dad anything, not yet.”

“Okay, my lips are sealed, but let me make sure I've got this straight. You're dating a prince and you've just discovered that your grandmother's a duchess, meaning you could be her heir.” She scoffed. “Wow, it must be rough in your world.”

I rolled into a fetal position. “It's not like that. She disowned my mom; there's like zero possibility I'll ever be a duchess.” At least that's how I assumed it worked.

“So what's the problem?”

“I think Mom wants me to meet her. I really don't want to.”

“What does Edmund think?”

I cringed. “I haven't told him yet.”

Abby paused. “Is there a reason you aren't telling him?”

“I'm not ready to. I want him to send Jax packing before I tell him.”

“I'm not following.”

I switched my phone to the other ear and sat up. Clicking the lamp back on, I leaned against the wall. “I want to know that he likes me for who I am, Abs. Not because of who my grandmother is.”

“You doubt he likes you? Really, Eves, come on. If he didn't like you, why the hell would he make arrangements to have the Eiffel Tower open just for you? Why would he be kissing you or making an effort to impress your dad or giving you jewelry?”

Sighing, I said, “Okay, I do think he likes me, but I need to know
I'm
enough. Just me. I don't want Clarice to be the reason he finally chooses me. Ugh, am I making any sense?”

“Not much, no. If you like him and he likes you, does it matter how you get together?”

I leaned my head back with a thump against the wall. “I'd always have doubts.”

“He comes from a very different world than you do. If your grandmother being a duchess makes it possible for the two of you to be together, I'd be pretty damn grateful.”

“Clarice is cold and vile. I don't want her having any part in my life.”

“You should still tell him. This is something he should know. I mean, if you really like this guy, do you want to start things off with a huge secret? It's kinda like what your mom did to your dad.”

“Stop being so logical, that's not why I called you.”

Abby laughed. “Sorry, but if you didn't want the truth, you shouldn't have called me. You know I'm not going to lie to you.”

“I know.” I grinned. “What kind of best friend are you?” I chuckled. She was right, and I knew it.

My blue tray bumped its way down the metal rails. I was queued up near a griddle where the cook flipped long strips of bacon. I wrinkled my nose at the smell.
God, I hate bacon.

“Are you okay?” Suzy appeared at my side, her face twisted with worry.

“I'm fine, why?” I asked, watching dust motes float through the sun-dappled air.

“After what happened with Theron last night, I thought you'd be upset.”

“Did Preston tell you?” My brows scrunched together. I'd been trying to forget last night ever happened. Seeing the bruises on my upper arms in the mirror this morning had been a jolt of reality.

Suzy pressed her lips tight together and nodded. “But I also saw it here.”

She held up a tabloid and there it was, splashed all over the front page, Edmund hitting Theron, El Creepo sprawled out on the sidewalk, and Edmund with his hands wound in my hair, kissing me.

Quite the pictorial synopsis.
I grabbed the magazine and flipped through it. The article painted Edmund as my knight in shining armor. Theron came across like the scumbag he is.

I tucked the paper under my arm. “Theron is such an ass. Thank God they aren't buying his story.”

“Oh please, who would choose Theron over Edmund? Even the press can figure that out.” Suzy paid for her breakfast and waited beside the register.

“Good point.”

“Look at you. Glad to see you're still in one piece.” Caroline abandoned her tray and gave me a hug. Marissa did the same.

“Yeah, lesson learned—don't be so stubborn.”

Caroline took the paper from me and looked at it. “I bet Jax and Lover Boy's parents have been relentless this morning.”

I hadn't thought about his parents.
My stomach clenched.

I led the way to our table by the windows. Preston and Edmund hadn't come down. I sighed, frustrated. Just when things were changing between Edmund and me.
Now we'll probably go back to being awkward.

“I only wish I could've seen Jax's face when she saw the pictures.” Caroline snorted a laugh and opened the spout of her milk carton to pour on her Frosted Shreddies.

I looked up, just in time to see the boys enter the dining hall. Edmund didn't look happy. Glancing in our direction, he met my gaze, a smile curling his lips.

A warm fuzzy feeling uncoiled low in my tummy. Maybe things wouldn't change between us after all.

“So, have you seen it?” Caroline asked and pulled the paper out, tossing it at Edmund as he sat on my other side.

Balling it up, he tossed it in the nearby trashcan. “Oh, I've seen it and heard all about it.”

Suzy made a face, sucking air in through her teeth. “Was it bad?”

“Was what bad?” Edmund took a sip from his disposable coffee cup.

“Jax's reaction, your parents'.” Suzy brushed her blond hair off her shoulder. “They must've been furious.”

I sat frozen beside Edmund, barely daring to breathe, nervous to hear his reply. His shoulder rubbed against mine as he shrugged.

“I haven't talked to my parents, and when something's going down they're always the first to call.” He took a bite of his blueberry scone. “As for Jax, I don't know what she thinks about the pictures and I don't care. She rang me late last night and I, hopefully, made it clear enough this time that there'll never be anything more than friendship between us. She was a tad bent out of shape about it.”

My head snapped up. I stared at Edmund, who continued eating like he hadn't just said the most wonderful phrase in the universe. I looked at my breakfast, emotions swirling.
Does this mean he's choosing me?

“Wow, do your parents know about this?” Preston asked from across the table, mouth gaping.

“By now I'm sure they do. She threatened to call them if I didn't change my mind.” Edmund's hand found mine under the table. I went dizzy at his touch and the revelation.

Pulse racing, I blew out a shaky breath and glanced at him.
What does this make us now?

“Well, congratulations, mate. This is the best bloody bit of news I've had all year.” Preston slapped the shiny wood tabletop, his eyes glinting happily.

“Hear, hear,” chimed Marissa and Caroline in unison.

Edmund cleared his throat. “So, my family's annual ski holiday is coming up over break and you're all invited.”

“Awesome.” Preston swirled the last of his tea around in his cup.

“Is it in Switzerland again?” Suzy asked.

How could they all change the topic so easily? Jax is out of the picture.
This. Is. Huge.

Edmund nodded and looked at me. “Everyone in?”

A chorus of agreement went up. Edmund still had my hand captured in his. His thumb idly traced patterns on my palm, making me shiver. I closed my eyes a moment, enjoying the sensations. I so didn't want to go to class this morning.

Class.

“Oh crap, I'm going to be late if I don't move it.” I stood and tossed my cereal and the lukewarm remnants of my tea into the trash. Spurred by my reminder, everyone else scattered to their classes.

Edmund, Marissa, and I headed in the same direction. They chatted about skiing and burying each other in the snow as my brain fantasized the possibilities of a Jax-free Edmund. We so didn't have the same priorities.

My boots clipped along the sidewalk and I tried not to slide on the slippery patches. I glanced up at the white sky and thought of the ski trip, excited to get out on the slopes. Then warm up by a cozy fireplace cuddled with Edmund after.

Lost in thought, I nearly stumbled when I realized that this ski trip meant something else entirely—something big.

Meeting his parents.

I had to make a good impression, especially after this tabloid debacle. And now with Edmund cutting out their first choice, it was crucial I got this meeting right.

My pace slowed as my stomach churned. They weren't just any parents, they were the freaking King and Queen of England.
Oh my God, I can't do this.

Meeting the parents of the boy I want to do naughty things to won't be awkward at all.

Tomorrow we leave for the château. Tomorrow, I meet the King and Queen of England. Tomorrow could make or break my future happiness. I'd been stressing for the past week and was now at the end of my tether. Ensconced at a table in the commons, I had papers sprawled around me.

Why did I take this stupid class?

Growling, I hurled my algebra book from the table and across the room. It nearly hit Edmund and Preston on their return from the dining hall.

Preston leaned down, picked it up, and looked at the cover. “Having trouble with algebra?” He sat beside me. “Show me what you're working on.”

I flipped to the page and jabbed my finger at the offending section, then buried my hands in my loose curls.

“Breathe, I'll walk you through this. Just stop growling, I'm afraid you're going to bite me and I'm not current on all my shots.”

Teasing, I gnashed my teeth at him.

He took a moment to scan the page. “Okay, this is easy.”

“Not making me feel any better, Pres.” I put my head down on my arms.

Chuckling, Edmund went and sat on the couch and pulled out his phone.

“No, what I'm saying is, you'll get it in no time.” Preston grabbed my pencil and started scribbling in my notebook. “Watch this.”

With a brief explanation and a few examples, he had me traveling down the right path. By the time we headed upstairs I had a good grasp of the concept and knew I could finish the last few problems on my own.

“Thanks, Preston. I don't think I'd have figured that out without you.” I inhaled deeply and ran a hand through my hair. “I'm so relieved right now I could kiss you.”

Stopping at the door to my floor, Preston faced me. “Anytime you want to kiss me, Evie, I'm completely willing. You don't even have to warn me, just grab me and do it.” He waggled his eyebrows and moved closer to me.

Edmund grabbed Preston by the shoulders and turned him toward the stairs with a little nudge. “That's enough for tonight, Romeo, say good night, Preston.”

“Good night, Preston,” he said, mocking Edmund's low tone. “And I'll see you in the morning, Miss Evie.” He flirtatiously winked at me.

“Night, Preston,” I hollered before I heard the door above us open and shut.

“I'd be interested in that kiss you offered Preston, you know, if it's still on the table.” Edmund moved toward me on the landing, slipping his hands into his pockets, looking charming and utterly sexy.

“Would you now?” I took a step closer to him and placed my hands on his sweater-clad chest. Standing on my tiptoes, I kissed his left cheek, then his right. “Good night,” I chirped and turned for the door.

Edmund reached out and grabbed my hand. “Wait.” He chuckled, his voice bouncing off the concrete walls. “That wasn't quite what I had in mind.”