The Heir and the Spare (2 page)

“What made you come all the way to Oxford?”

“My mom. She went here.”

“She must be very proud of you.”

“Thanks.” I smiled. I didn't know her well enough to delve into my tragic little family history. “So, what's your major?”

“Maths.”

“Math? Really? I had you pegged for an English major.”

She curled her long blond hair around a thin finger and laughed. “I get that a lot. Mathematics has always just come naturally to me, I don't know why.”

“You're lucky, it definitely doesn't for me. I wish it did.”

We stepped into the dining hall. Shiny wood floors and huge windows looking out onto the campus greeted us. Scattered around the room were long tables filled with students. Above us dark wood chandeliers hung from the ceiling.

Suzy and I grabbed trays and got in line. With a plate of spaghetti, I followed as she wove her way to a table by a window.

“What are you studying?” She glanced up as she popped open a can of Coke.

“Art history.”

“Oh, you'll get along great with Edmund then. He's studying history and loves old artifacts and all that crap. Math I get, history, not so much. It's all so boring.”

“Really? I love learning about the people who came before us. I find it fascinating.” I laughed. “It's a good thing it takes all kinds."

“Too true.”

“There you are.” A tall girl with beautiful mocha skin and a chic dark bob came up behind Suzy and leaned on the table. “I've been looking for you all over.”

“Caroline, what are you doing here? I thought you had a date,” Suzy said.

“I did, but he was an absolute arse, so I cut it short.”

“Bummer.” Suzy looked up and waggled a finger between this new girl and me. “Evie, this is Caroline; she's your neighbor.”

I smiled and held out a hand. “Nice to meet you.”

She gave me a firm handshake and said, “Lovely to meet you. I'm going to grab some food quick-like and then we can all chat.”

Once Caroline was out of earshot, Suzy filled me in. “She finds the majority of the men she dates to be arseholes.”

“Why doesn't she date a guy that's not her usual type then?”

“Oh, she has. She's dated nearly every type.” Suzy smiled when Caroline returned carrying an enormous salad.

Caroline sat next to me, and entertained us with the story of her date from hell. Girls really are pretty much the same everywhere you go.

I wonder if the boys are, too?

Snuggled under the covers, I tapped the flashlight app icon on my phone, illuminating the darkness. The page slid smoothly from the envelope and my vision blurred at Mom's curly script. Her hands were the last hands to touch this paper. I loved that mine were the next.

Anton's number was scribbled across the bottom.
Who is he and what does he have to do with Mom?
I folded the letter and tucked it away.

How on earth would sightseeing help me discover her and myself? I lay back on my pillow and held the envelope over my head. Staring at the large number two scrawled on the back.

Checking out London? Fine by me; in fact, I was excited to go back and see something other than the airport.

Kissing the envelope, I slipped it under my pillow, not quite ready to part with it. Curled on my side and completely wiped out, I don't remember trying to fall asleep.

With less than a week until school started, I'd spent the day exploring campus. I'd mapped out all my classes and practiced my route. I'm a dork like that.

“Evie, you in there?” Suzy asked as she knocked on my door.

Walking over, I swung it open. “Hey, what's up?”

“There's a party in the commons and everyone's there. You have to come meet the rest of the gang.”

“Sure.” I slipped on my black ballet flats and grabbed the pale blue cardigan off my desk chair. A quick glimpse in the mirror confirmed I wasn't a total mess. I slid my keycard into my jeans pocket and followed, glad she'd come by. My plan had been to hole up in my room all night, eating pizza and watching
Doctor Who
reruns. Which honestly is a pretty good way to spend an evening.

Downstairs, the commons room was packed with people. I kept my eye on the magenta flower of Suzy's headband as it wove through the crowd. Straight ahead people waved at us; Caroline, my new neighbor, was with them. Suzy returned the gesture.
They must be her gang
. I smiled at the idea of Miss-Country-Estate-Suzy having a gang.

Suzy bumped her way through the crowd as a blond-haired boy, sitting with the group on the far end of the couch, snagged my attention. Long denim-clad legs stretched out in front of him. His broad shoulders perfectly filled his gray sweater.

Holy hotness. Boys shouldn't be allowed to be so good-looking.

I dragged my gaze up, and the blond cutie smiled at me.
Shit. He totally just caught me checking him out.
My face warmed as I nervously returned his grin.

“Everyone, this is Evie, the new girl we told you about,” Caroline said. Next to her sat an athletic girl sporting a pixie cut. “Evie, this is Marissa.” She indicated the impish girl. “That's Preston, and
of course
, Edmund.”

“Nice to meet you all.” Something in the way she introduced Edmund, Mr. Blond-Hottie, made me think I should know who he was. But I didn't.

Edmund scooted closer to Preston and gestured me to the free spot. Suzy looked like she wished he'd made the spot for her.

“Thanks.” I tucked a wayward curl behind my ear and sat.

“Are you liking England?” Edmund asked, his voice deeper than I'd expected.

Nodding, I said, “So far it's been great. Granted, I haven't really seen much of it.”

“Well, there's lots of great places we can show you. What do you like to do?” His blue eyes met mine.

“Honestly?” I scrunched my face.

He nodded, looking confused.

“I should warn you first, I'm a bit of a geek.”

“Okay.” He laughed.

My words spilled out. “Museums. I love to go to museums.”

“Museums? Really?” One of his eyebrows arched.

Great, Mr. HottieMcHotDude thinks I'm a giant dork.

I shrugged. “My dad and I go all the time,” I started to explain. “My mom was an art conservationist, so maybe it's in my blood. I just like imagining the artists and what they were like, what inspired them. It's lame, I know.” My face now an inferno, I turned the subject away from me. “So, what do you do for fun?”

Edmund cocked his head to the side and looked at me.
Really
looked at me. A fluttery heat settled low in my belly. I glanced around the room, as a warm wave of nerves crashed over me.

“You enjoy museums? Is that true?” He persisted, not following my redirection.

I scrunched my brow. “Um, why would I lie about that?”

He shook his head. “It's just . . . if that's the case, I don't think I've ever met a girl like you before.”

“A girl like me? What does that mean?” I eyed him closely, a glimmer of recognition fizzed through me.
Hmm, maybe I have seen him somewhere.

“Well, one who's attractive, modern, and well . . . American.” He angled himself toward me.

Laughter bubbled up inside my throat. “So because I'm American I shouldn't be interested in history? By that same logic, shouldn't you have bad teeth?”

Wait, did he call me attractive?

“That's not exactly what I meant.” He laughed and ran a hand through his mop of wavy hair. “Of course Americans can be interested in history. It's just not what initially comes to mind when I think of a charming American girl such as yourself.”

I'm charming now?

“Most people find museums boring. They go because they think they should. I've yet to find someone who
really
enjoys them,” Edmund finished.

“He's right, you know. He's been dragging me to them for years and it's painful.” Preston turned from his conversation with Marissa and chimed in, his lip quirking mischievously. “It's like being in a lecture hall on my off days.”

Suzy and Caroline nodded emphatically in agreement.

“Secretly, you know you love it, you git.” Edmund grinned and elbowed Preston.

“Riiiight, sorry, must've forgotten.” Preston rolled his brown eyes.

“I take it you must like museums, too.” I eyed Edmund.

“Absolutely, I love going.”

He's a geek like me!
“Well, if you ever want someone who won't be miserable, I'm your girl. Any museum, any time.”
Oh. My. God. Why did I say that?
I fought the urge to bury my face in my hands.

“Deal.” He chuckled. “What are you specializing in?” He leaned closer.

Lordy, he smells delicious.
“Um, history of art.”

“Brilliant, we'll probably have classes together. I'm specializing in history, so I tend to take a lot of the art history courses as well.”

“That's great; it'll be nice to see a friendly face in the crowd.” I glanced over at Suzy, who was turned around, talking to a guy on the couch next to ours.

“Well, technically I'm a history and economics major, but I really only enjoy the history.”

“Then why not just major in history?”

“I would, but economics comes in handy with the family business,” he said with a dry laugh.

“What's your family business?”

Edmund's brows drew together and he leaned back to study me.

My heart fluttered nervously in my chest.
Was that a stupid question?

His face softened and the corner of his mouth curled up. “Well—”

“Edmund! You're looking gorgeous, as always. How was your summer?” A blond girl rushed him.

It looked like she was going to plop onto his lap. Instead, she stopped a few steps short and bent over so they were eye-to-eye. Well, nearly. She positioned herself to give him a direct view down her filmy white tank top. So, really, they were eye-to-boob.

Edmund smiled tensely, his gaze focused on the girl's face. “It was good, Chloe. How was yours?”

“Splendid.” She ignored everyone but Edmund as she described her summer. I zoned out, listening to the music thumping in the background.

Suzy sat behind Chloe, imitating her. I stifled my laughter.

Next to me, Edmund squirmed as Chloe placed her hand on his arm. When she reached out to brush hair off his forehead, he moved away, eyebrows raised.

“Hi, I don't think we've been introduced.” I smiled and extended my hand. “I'm Evangeline Gray; most people call me Evie.” I wanted to give Edmund a breather by claiming her attention.

The blond straightened and gave me a slow head-to-toe once-over. “Oh yay.” She sneered, ignoring my hand. “Another little
American
. Chloe Saunders.” She scoffed at me before focusing back on Edmund.

Wow, rude much?
Clearly Miss BitchyBoobsInYourFace wasn't going to join my fan club any time soon.

“Pleasure to meet you, too.” The words rolled in a sarcastic tumble from my tongue.

Chloe turned on me with a glacial stare. “Do you have a problem?”

“No, but I can see you sure do.”

Chloe narrowed her eyes. “Americans are all the same. Arrogant, self-entitled trash.
You
are evidently no exception.” She looked away.

“Huh, and here I assumed you had the corner on self-entitlement. Then again, I guess it complements that elitist attitude you've got going on.”

“How dare you,” she snapped at me.

“You know what?” I stood and checked the time on my phone. “I have zero tolerance for small-minded bigots. I'm going to call it a night. Catch you all later.”

I waved and walked off. At the stairs I looked back, wanting one last glimpse of Edmund. My shoulders slumped. Chloe now sat in my vacated spot, blocking my view.

Sure screwed that one up, Gray.

Tonight had turned into a disaster. In my room, I flopped onto the bed and buried my face in a pillow.
Why do I always let my temper get the better of me?
I may have told Chloe off, but I'd also proved her point. I'd be a social pariah now. She looked the type to exact revenge.

This meant I'd probably have to make friends from scratch.
Damn my big mouth.

I inhaled a shaky breath. I needed Mom. My hand slid under the pillow, searching for my new letter. A knock on my door brought me up short.

When I opened it, Suzy rushed me, nearly bowling me over with a hug.

“Oh my God, Evie, that was brilliant. You have no idea how many times I've wanted to tell her off, and you just went and did it.” She grasped my shoulders and looked heavenward, beaming. “That was perfection.”

I laughed. “Um . . . glad you enjoyed it, I guess.”
They don't hate me?

One by one the rest of the group filed into my room. Perhaps I hadn't screwed anything up after all. My shoulders relaxed as I sat on my bed.

“You should've seen her.” Caroline mimicked Chloe's disdainful look. “See, typical American.”

“Did you see her face when we all got up and left?” Marissa asked, eliciting laughter from Caroline and Suzy.