The Heir and the Spare (26 page)

“Flower and tree appreciation? Seriously? Is this really necessary? Seems silly if you ask me.” I pretended to scratch my cheek to cover my amusement.

“I
wasn't
asking you. You may keep your opinions on the subject to yourself. My only concern is when you'll be here to proceed with your lessons. Which brings us back to your holiday.” As she shifted in her chair, I heard the worn leather creak underneath her.

I hated when she spoke to me like a ten-year-old. “I'll try to be here for duchess lessons, but I have plans I'll need to work around.” Okay, that was a total lie. Between Clarice's lessons, classes, and studying, I hadn't seen enough of the gang to know if there were any plans.

“These lessons should be your top priority. Do sit up straight, child. Don't slouch. How many times must I remind you?” She slapped a hand against her desk and sighed in frustration.

Ah, yes. Posture, carriage, and personal dress.
That'd been a fun lesson
.
I sat up straight and blew out a deep breath. My shoulders achy and stiff, I was ready to slip into my grubbies and veg.

“I should head back to campus. I have early classes tomorrow.” I stood and twisted from side to side, hoping she wouldn't notice.

“Until Wednesday then.” Clarice ripped into an envelope sitting in front of her.

I knew my cue. Gathering my bag, I left.

Denby met me in the foyer. He had a car waiting outside.

“Thanks, Jeeves,” I said with a wink.

“Of course, Miss.” He smiled warmly and opened the door.

I may not have cracked Clarice's icy exterior, but Denby was warming to me. Hurrying down the darkened steps to the idling Town Car, I couldn't wait to leave. It was a long drive back to school; lucky for me, I slept most of the way.

At breakfast I didn't bother trying to catch up on homework. This morning was reserved for my friends. I sat at our table, my head resting on my palm, staring at my toast and jam. I popped a grape in my mouth and thought of Edmund.

God, I miss him.

Yes, technically I'd been around, but with duchess lessons taking over it felt like I was only lurking on the edges. Any time with Edmund was while I studied, wrote a paper, or basically did anything that sucked my full attention away from him.

I thought back to last Thursday night and smiled. I'd been apologizing . . . again. Edmund had grabbed my hands and said, “Evie, I don't mind, really. I know you're crazy busy with your studies, the duchess lessons, and dealing with Clarice. I'd much rather just sit by your side while you study than be out with anyone else.”

I steamed up, remembering what happened next. Lord, did that boy know how to kiss. He stirred feelings inside me that I didn't even have a name for.

“Morning, Evie.” Preston sat down across from me. “How's it going?”

“All right. I'm so ready for break.”

“I bet you are,” Suzy chimed as she walked up and placed her tray beside mine. “You've been running yourself ragged. When will you be done getting duchessified?”

“Your guess is as good as mine. Feels like it'll never end though. Apparently, I'm not a quick enough learner for her.”

Suzy scrunched her face, her blond ponytail swishing as she shook her head. “So, do you get any free time over break or is Clarice going to monopolize it all?”

“I told her I was still sorting out my plans. What are you all doing?”

“My family's headed to Spain,” Suzy answered and bit into her apple.

I looked over and spotted Caroline and Marissa grab their breakfasts, then head our way. “What about you, Preston?”

“My parents are taking a short trip to Scotland. Mum has a sister up there and Dad's got some business in the area. So I get to tag along,” he replied.

“Sounds like fun.” Caroline patted his shoulder as she sat, her sapphire shirt highlighting her flawless skin.

Preston smiled. “We go there nearly every break and it's the same boring people every time. I tried to get out of it, but Mum thinks it'd be rude if I skipped it. It means a week and a half of dealing with my cousin, the daft git.”

“Too bad we can't go with Edmund,” Suzy cheekily said.

“No kidding, I'd love to be on a yacht in the middle of the Mediterranean.” Preston poured cream into his tea.

Mediterranean? What?
“When's he leaving?” I tried to act like I knew he was going and this wasn't a surprise.

“Friday, right after classes.” Preston lifted his mug to taste test.

“Lucky guy.”
Why hadn't he mentioned this before?
Then again, between studying and making out, we hadn't had much time for an in-depth conversation.

“Speaking of the lucky guy, here he is.” Caroline waved. “Hey, Prince Charming. We're just talking about you jetting off to the Mediterranean for spring break. We're all insanely jealous.”

Edmund slid onto the bench next to me, his arm resting against mine.

“Meh, I'm not looking forward to it. I wish you were all coming. Unfortunately, it's with a group of my parents' friends. So I have no say in who comes.”

“Poor you.” Preston laughed. “I'll trade places.”

“If I could get out of it, I seriously would.” Edmund's eyes met mine. I could tell he was speaking truthfully.

I rested my hand on his shoulder, a playful grin on my face. “A week on a yacht in the middle of the Mediterranean is going to be tough. My thoughts are with you.”

Edmund stole a quick peck, then turned and took a bite of cereal. “So, are you caught up with your homework?”

“Not quite. I still have a couple papers to write and, of course, exams. I'm so not ready.”

“Tell Clarice you need a break. Surely she can't want your education to suffer.” Edmund pushed up the sleeves of his Oxford sweatshirt.

“I don't know about that. My
actual
education doesn't seem to matter to her. Training me to be a duchess feels like the only thing she cares about. Plus, she didn't look too good last weekend.”

“Not many options then, huh?” Preston said.

I sighed and shook my head. “Doesn't seem to be.”

“I've got to get moving,” Marissa announced. “I'm meeting with a professor before class. I'll see you guys tonight.”

“Bye, babe.” Caroline turned her face up for a quick kiss before Marissa darted out the door. Ever since Halloween they'd been inseparable. I loved that they were together.

“So do you two have plans?” I asked Caroline.

“We do. Her family has a little cottage on the coast we're going to use. I can't wait.”

“Wow, a holiday away together. That's pretty serious.” Suzy's eyebrows shot up.

“Yeah, it is.” Caroline grinned as she bit her lower lip. She looked over the moon.

I envied them. It was clear what they were to each other. We all knew.

If only it was that simple for Edmund and me.
He'd never once called me his girlfriend, yet I knew I was way more than just a friend.

So what did that make us? Friends with minimal benefits?

Dwelling on this and knowing I'd be alone over break curdled my mood. This meant I'd be stuck with Haggy Hagatha Clarice.

I couldn't sit there any longer. Standing to dump my tray, I said, “I'm gonna run. I'll catch you guys later.”

“You want me to walk you?” Edmund asked.

“No, stay and finish your breakfast. I'll see you at lunch.”

Once outside, I took a deep breath, hoping it would help clear my head. It didn't. My life felt like it was spinning faster and faster out of my control.

Which, for a control freak, is utterly terrifying.

The first day of spring break I caught the train and headed into London. Clarice had been pleased when I told her I'd spend my break with her.

Standing on the sidewalk outside her townhouse, I sighed. I so didn't want to do this. Slowly, I climbed the steps and rang the bell.

I'd rather be on a yacht with Edmund.

Denby opened the door.

“Hey, Jeeves.” I plastered on a smile I wasn't feeling.

“Miss Gray.” He opened the door and ushered me in. “Her Grace is in the music room.”

“Thanks, I know the way.” I started down the hallway.

Last time, she'd made me walk around the music room with heavy books on my head. I'd spent most of the time laughing, which made the books fall off, which in turn annoyed Clarice. I'd felt like I was in a bad remake of
The Princess Diaries
. The Duchess Diaries.

“That is highly against protocol, Miss. Her Grace would be very disappointed in me if I didn't set you straight.”

I shook my head. “Then by all means, Jeeves, lead the way.”

Denby knocked on the door and announced me.

“Come in.” Her low voice echoed through the large room.

I noticed the light-colored furniture had been shoved away from the epicenter of the room. Off to the side sat a grand piano. I glanced through the sheer curtains to the street below, nervous.

What does this wily old woman have up her sleeve now?

I glanced to where Clarice sat in a wingback chair, beside a large stereo. She looked thinner. “So, I'm not balancing books on my head again today?”

“Well, that was highly unproductive, so I thought it best to move on.” She looked down her thin nose at me. “Some creatures apparently can't learn new tricks.”

“Evidently not.”
Whatever, you stuffy, old, ungrateful cow.

I thought about leaving, but I knew the dorms would be deserted, which freaked me out. I vividly remembered the ghost tour Preston took me on.

“Today I thought we'd work on music appreciation.”

“Fabulous.” I took a seat near her.

Clarice pressed a button and classical music filled the air. “Surely you know this composer.”

I did. “It's Vivaldi, the Spring movement from his
Four Seasons
.”

“Correct.” She looked impressed.

We spent the day talking about nineteenth-century composers Liszt, Wagner, Berlioz, and Chopin, just to name a few.

It was actually kind of fun. I found something I didn't suck at.

All those years of piano lessons helped. Well, that and art history. My lectures presented the whole picture of any given time period. Composers and their music were always an element.

“All right, we'll work on other eras later. What a relief, we seem to have finally found a strength of yours.” She picked up her little silver bell and gave it a jingle.

“Your Grace?” Denby entered the room.

“Denby, do you waltz?”

“Waltz?” He looked confused.

“Yes, you know, the dance. Waltzing.”

Jeeves straightened his black tailcoat. “I do, ma'am.”

I could see where this was going and I didn't like it.

“Good. Come, take Evangeline in your arms. You're going to teach her the waltz.” Her brittle fingers selected a song.

“Maybe I already know how.” I didn't like her assuming.

“Do you?” She turned, giving me a look that suggested she didn't think I could.

Pausing, I didn't want to answer. I had a general understanding, but no actual training. “No.”

“Precisely what I thought. Denby?”

I sighed and Denby cleared his throat as he walked toward me. I didn't know about him, but I was as uncomfortable as hell. His right hand slipped around my waist and with his left he held onto my hand.

“All right, Miss, it's a simple box step. Lead with your right foot.” He tapped my foot with his shiny black toe. “One, two, three. One, two, three.” He swept me around the room in an effortless dance.

Well, I'm sure for some people it was easy. I looked more like a wounded gazelle trying to escape a hungry lion. It wasn't pretty. I crunched Denby's toes so many times it was obscene.

“I'm so sorry,” I said, watching him wince.

“It's fine, Miss.”

“Evangeline, straighten your back. Lift your head. Stop clomping around.” She continued to call out criticisms.

If I wasn't so busy looking like an idiot, I'd be over there telling her to pipe down. My brain wandered from the dance to Edmund. What's he doing right now? Probably working on his tan and relaxing on the deck of their yacht.

God, I miss him.
I missed them all.

“Stop peering at your toes. They're not doing it right, anyway.” Clarice angrily sighed from the sidelines.

I glanced at Denby. He was biting his lip, his eyes shining with mirth. I smiled at him.

“You're doing just fine, Miss,” he softly told me.

“Thanks, Jeeves,” I whispered back.

We practiced through a few more songs and by the end Clarice was yelling less. That might be because she was giving up, but I hoped it was because I was getting better.

Clarice abruptly shut off the music with a shaky hand. “That's enough for today. Thank you, Denby, you may resume your duties.”

Denby bowed and left us.

“Am I done here?” I asked tiredly.

“Until tomorrow.” As if an afterthought, she added, “You may eat in the dining room tonight if you like, but it isn't necessary. I'll be taking dinner in my room. You're excused.”

Lying on the four-poster bed in Mom's old bedroom, I stared at the high ceiling. As cool as it was to be surrounded by her things, this place had a cold loneliness that bothered me. It didn't feel like a home. I missed my friends.

I picked up my phone and noticed I had new texts. Sliding my thumb across the screen, I pulled up the first one.

Suzy: Wish you were here. Spain is incredible!

Me: Wish I was there too.

I went to the next.

Dad: How are you doing with Clarice? Do I need to get on a plane?

Me: We're working together the best we can. Although, I'd like to tell her where to shove her title more often than not. Love you.