The Heir and the Spare (28 page)

“One of yours?” I ventured. She didn't say anything, only nodded her head. “Oh, boy.”

“Are you serious?” Caroline softened her voice.

“I don't know how it happened. I went to talk to him about a problem I was having. The next thing I knew, we were kissing.” She lowered her hands, her cheeks flaming. “I guess you were right, Evie.”

“About what? I never said go date a teacher.”

“No.” She laughed. "When you said I probably just needed an older man to date.”

“Ew, how old is he?” In my mind I was picturing one of the sixty-plus crowd that filled a good portion of the faculty positions.

“He's twenty-eight and an adjunct professor,” she answered on the defensive.

“Well, that's better than what I was thinking. I was picturing wrinkles, white hair, and tweed coats with elbow patches.”

“Ew, no.” Suzy wrinkled her nose and laughed. “Well, he does look pretty hot in a tweed coat actually.”

“What's his name?” Caroline picked her magazine back up.

“Leo. Leo McMurty,” she mumbled.

The breeze had picked up and I could see goose bumps on Caroline's skin. “You guys better be careful. What happens if you get caught?”

“I'm not sure. But I think he'd lose his job.” She frowned.

“He must like you an awful lot if he's willing to take that big a risk.” A twinge of jealousy streaked through me.

Caroline gasped and closed her magazine abruptly, tucking it under her arm. She stood and began to pull the blanket out from under us. “Okay guys, I'm ready to go in. You're right, I'm freezing.”

“Are you okay?” I asked. Caroline never admitted someone else was right.

“I'm fine, why?” She looked up innocently as she wrapped the blanket around herself.

“What's going on?” Suzy eyed her warily.

“Nothing. Come on, let's go. Brrr.”

Suzy and I exchanged a glance, then followed Caroline back to the dorms.

In the common room I spied Preston and Marissa.
Is Edmund back?
Stopping, I waved, then realized the girls hadn't stopped. In a rush, I caught up with them on the stairs.

When we reached Caroline's room she opened her door and immediately threw the magazine in the trash.

“Did something in there upset you?” I grabbed it from the bin and scanned the pages.

“Evie, you don't want to read that,” Caroline cautioned.

“Why ever not?” I flipped through the pages and discovered why. I stood there and stared. Not wanting to believe what was so plainly before my eyes.

“That's why.” Caroline's voice sounded flat and disappointed.

Suzy came to my side to see what all the sudden drama was about.

“Is that Edmund?” Suzy grabbed the magazine, pulling it in her direction.

The photo was of Edmund on a yacht with a group of friends I'd never met. He was smiling, an arm draped around a very scantily clad Jax. Her bikini left little to the imagination, and I do mean
very little
.

The back of my throat burned and my eyes stung.
Why didn't he tell me she was there?

“Looks like he's having fun.” Suzy's brow creased with worry. “Those are the kids of his parents' friends. They're awfully wild. Edmund got into a spot of trouble with them when he was younger.”

Caroline sat at her desk. “I wouldn't go to the next page if I were you.”

I glanced at her and nervously turned it. I knew it'd be painful, but clearly the masochistic part of me just had to do it.

Under big black letters saying, “Apparently The Grass Isn't Greener in the States” was a picture of Edmund and Jax. Kissing. Edmund's hands were gripping her shoulders and her arms were just starting to wind around his neck. I sucked in a sharp breath as my stomach churned.

What the hell?

“Have you guys seen Edmund?” I asked, fighting to stay calm and not cry.

“He hasn't gotten back yet,” Suzy answered as she took the magazine from me.

I was glad she'd taken it. I didn't want to see Edmund with Jax draped all over him.
Are they together now?

“It's probably nothing.” Suzy rubbed my shoulder. “I know it's hard, but try not to jump to conclusions. The press can make anything look horrible.”

She was right. I knew without a doubt there was probably more to the story, that tabloids can't be trusted. But a big part of me was hurt and angry. I looked at Suzy and blew out a deep breath, nodding. “You're right, I know you are.”

“I'd be narked,” Caroline chimed in. “He's kissing her.”

It'd be so easy to lose my cool over this. But truth be told, I found it hard to believe.
He wouldn't intentionally hurt me.
At least that's what I kept reminding myself.

“It could be the angle that made nothing look like something.” Suzy looked pointedly at Caroline. “Are you okay, Eves?”

“Right now, I'm fine.” I grabbed the magazine and rolled it in my hands. “Ask me again after I talk to Edmund for my final answer.” I slapped the roll against my thigh. “Why don't we go get some dinner and see a movie? I need to get my mind off this.” Sitting alone stewing in my room was the last thing I wanted to do.

“Evie? You there?” It was late when Edmund knocked. “I just got back and wanted to see you.”

I went to the door and paused. Standing in my pajamas, hand poised at the knob, my nerves took over. They'd been
kissing
. What if he says his parents convinced him to give Jax a chance?

I shook my head.
Stop being a chicken and answer the damn door.
I took a deep breath and steeled myself. Opening the door a crack, I poked my head out.

He stood there smiling, looking amazing.

“Evie.”

Seeing his face sent a shiver of happiness through me. It scared me how much I'd missed him.

I pulled the door open the rest of the way and he walked toward me, opening his arms. Palm on his chest, I stopped him. “We need to talk.”

“Okay, about what?” He looked confused by my less than eager reception.

I spoke calmly, despite my erratically thumping heart. “About why you didn't tell me Jax would be on the yacht with you.”

“I didn't know she was coming.” He shook his head, his eyes searching mine.

My eyebrows drew together. “I'm guessing you knew she was there when you were texting me.”

He shrugged his shoulders. “It wasn't a big deal. At least I didn't think it was.”

I reached into my trashcan and pulled out the magazine. I thrust it at him, cover up. The magazine had blurred out the head of the girl with the headline: Who's Prince Edmund's New Love?

He flipped through it, scowling. He stopped at the picture of them kissing. Sighing, he said, “It's not what it looks like. I mean, yes, she tried to kiss me, but I was pushing her away. You've seen her firsthand do this. This is all bollocks.” He chucked it back in the trash.

I sniffed. “I get that. But if I'd known she was there, I'd have been better prepared. Honestly, I'd expect her to try something like this. But not telling me . . . it feels like you're trying to hide this from me. That's what bothers me.” I crossed my arms over my chest, protecting my heart.

“I didn't want her to be there and I most certainly didn't want her to kiss me. You have to believe me.”

“I want to, I really do. But . . .”
But what?
I rubbed my hands over my face, feeling tears burn my eyes.
I'm acting like a jealous girlfriend, and I'm not even his girlfriend. What the hell am I doing?
Tired and frazzled by a life that felt like it was no longer mine to control, my mouth went on autopilot. “Do I even have any right to be irritated by this? I'm not your girlfriend.” I closed my eyes and sighed, rubbing my forehead. This was too difficult and I needed sleep. “You know, maybe we should go back to when we were strictly friends. Simplify things for a while.”

“Wait, what are you saying?” He took a step in my direction, his face screwed up in confusion. He extended a hand toward me, pausing before he touched me, and let it drop.

“I don't know.” I slipped a hand through my hair. “I'm struggling to balance everything and I'm hardly ever here. You, you're making out with the girl your parents would love for you to be with. This . . . it's just not . . . good. I can't do this.”

“Evie.” My name left his lips in a hoarse whisper. “Please.”

“I'll see you at breakfast.” I turned wearily away from him.

He clutched my arm before I could close the door on him. “Being just your friend will never be enough for me. You are so much more than that. Maybe we never put a label on us, but that doesn't mean we aren't something more.” His hand reached up and cupped my cheek. “I'll back off, if that's what you need, but we're far from over.”

I sucked in a breath, my eyes watering. An overwhelming wave of emotion crashed over me. I couldn't handle anymore. Missing Dad, stressing over school, never seeing friends, craving Edmund, trying to please Clarice, learning to be a duchess, and now Jax resurfacing—it was too much.

Tears trickled down my face. Silently Edmund enveloped me in his arms. We stood in my doorway, him holding me. When I stopped crying he looked at me very seriously.

“I won't lose you.”

I looked up at him, not sure what to say.

“How about this. Get some sleep. We'll talk about this later.” He dropped his hands from my shoulders.

My desk phone rang. Turning, I lifted a finger to Edmund. “Wait a second.” It was nearly midnight; this couldn't be good. “Hello?”

“Miss Gray?”

“Denby?” I didn't try to disguise my surprise.

“Yes, Miss.” He sounded exhausted. “I'm afraid I have some bad news.”

I felt a lump settle in my throat. Clarice must be sick, maybe she'd been taken to the hospital. “What is it?”

The normally unflappable butler sounded on the verge of tears. “It's your grandmother, Miss. I'm afraid s-she's no . . .” he cleared his throat. “She's no longer with us.”

“What? When?” My knees went weak and I sank into my desk chair.

“Late this afternoon, Miss.” Denby sniffed.

I shook my head. “Why wasn't I told earlier? I should've been there.”

Edmund sat on my couch and watched me, his brow furrowing.

“There wasn't time. After you left, she went to lie down and was unresponsive when I went to rouse her. When the ambulance arrived, her pulse was very weak. They got her to hospital, but she passed before they could do much of anything. I'm so very sorry, Miss Evie.”

My vision blurred. Taking a deep breath, I asked, “Can I come to the house?”

“But of course, Miss. The house is yours now.”

“Okay. Um, I'm going to try to get down there soon. When's the funeral?” I didn't look at Edmund, but I didn't need to. His hand found mine and he clutched it tightly.

“It hasn't been sorted out yet, Miss.”

“Will you need my help with that?” I wondered how I'd plan a service for a woman I'd barely gotten to know.

“No, Miss, your grandmother sorted everything out a long time ago.”

I cleared my throat. “All right, please keep me updated. I'll see you soon.”

“If you need anything, Miss Evie, don't hesitate to ring me.”

“Thank you, Denby.” I sniffled, trying to stop the snot from running onto my upper lip.

“Jeeves, at your service, Miss.” He softly chuckled.

I smiled through my tears and barely managed to answer, “Thanks.”

Clarice and I weren't close, but I was still glad I'd gotten to know her a little. The tears I shed were for what might have been, what
should
have been. I closed my eyes and took a slow deep breath.

Edmund leaned closer, waiting for my reaction. I blew out a breath as I met his steady gaze.

“Clarice?” He reached over and rested a hand on my leg.

I nodded. “She died this afternoon.”

“I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do?”

I met his watery blue gaze.
What did I want from him?
I wanted him to hold me and stay the night with me, but that blurred the lines of my “let's just be friends” notion.

“I think it's best if you go.”

A pained look crossed his face. “Are you sure?”

I nodded, unable to speak.

“If that's what you really want.” Unsure, he stood and went to the door. “You need to know something. The only reason I haven't yelled it from the rooftops that we're together is for you. To protect you. You think the press are insane now?” A dry laugh left his throat. “I saw what they did to Lauren and my brother. I don't want that for you. Not until you're ready.” Looking back once, he left.

As the door clicked softly behind him, I curled on my bed and sobbed, regretting this whole conversation.

What have I done?

I hate funerals
.

From the back of a black Town Car, I stared out the tinted windows. The church was a short drive ahead, but we were in a long queue of similar vehicles. Clarice might've been an old harpy, but there were hundreds of people here for the service.

Closing my eyes, I thought back to the last time I did this. I was only six, but I remember my mom's funeral. I wore a little white dress with pink rosebuds on it. Dad told me she'd picked it out specifically. He said she wanted me to look happy, not sad. There was a picture of it. Dad was holding me against his side, talking to Abby's parents, his eyes rimmed with red, my head leaning on him, looking lost and sad.

Sorrow descended over me and a tired heaviness settled in my chest.

Will Edmund come
?

The morning after Denby phoned, I'd left for London. Edmund had called and messaged me, but I'd been inundated with lawyers, household employees, and numerous people—strangers really—coming to pay their last respects. When I could answer the phone, we were interrupted. My texts were quick one-word replies.