Page 49 of London Dynasty

Chapter Twenty-Five

A week passed, and I ignored Spencer’s calls and text messages. I couldn’t face him. Not after what happened with Holden. Not after what I’d learned. What kind of life was I consigning Kerrigan to? What kind of life was I consigning myself to? I didn’t have any answers. I simply knew that it was dangerous to be around either brother. I needed a plan. A way to keep my emotions detached from the situation. Eliza’s had backfired. Instead of spreading myself between the brothers, I now felt more divided than ever. Spencer had shown me glimpses of the man he would become, but Holden had bared his soul to me. I didn’t expect he would do so again, and yet, I couldn’t forget what I knew.

Like me, they had taken their roles as if they had no choice. There were tens of millions if not billions of reasons in their future. I knew it was impossible to walk away from that kind of money. How much harder would it be to have never had any choice at all?

I spent most of the week avoiding social activities by claiming a terrible bout of menstrual cramps. Iris had taken to checking on me every day, bringing me a cocktail of pain relievers she swore up and down would get me on my feet in no time. But there were no cramps. No reason to take them. The last thing I wanted was to be on my feet. I wanted to hide. At least until I could figure out what to do. But each day that passed made me more anxious. I’d agreed to a year pretending to be Kerrigan Belmond. The only thing that would deliver me from that contract was the passage of time or her return. I was beginning to understand that I couldn’t survive a year torn between the brothers. Not without losing something I couldn’t replace. They were never mine. I needed to remember that. I needed to get away before I forgot that fact entirely. But I had no idea where to start.

The following Monday, Giles arrived with my coffee and found me on my couch in front of the fire.

“I hope you’re feeling better,” he said pointedly.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he kept track of things like menstrual periods for Kerrigan. Either way, it was clear he knew I was lying. Still, he hadn’t called me out on my bullshit. If he took issue with what I was doing, he said nothing to me. Even Tod had given me space. If there was one thing a girl could count on, it was that men got squeamish when female problems came up.

“I am. I think it’s behind me now.” I needed another excuse. Something to buy me time. It wasn’t like I could pretend to be on my period still. Not unless I wanted them to push for medical attention.

“Good, there are some matters to attend to. As you requested, I canceled any social engagements last week, but it will be important for you to make an appearance soon.”

I read between the lines of what he was saying. Tod would be asking questions soon. I had a responsibility to uphold. I had obligated myself to fill Kerrigan’s shoes, and I couldn’t back out now. Not without losing the ten million pounds I’d been promised and my only chance of finally being free of my past.

“Of course.” I reached for the itinerary he held out for me.

“What is this about going to Surrey?” The entire week revolved around it. There would be no getting out of it.

“The Belmonds are taking the next fortnight at their country home,” he explained. “You are expected to travel with them unless you have business keeping you here.”

I gawked at Giles for a moment. He had to know I was avoiding Spencer and this entire situation, yet, here he was giving me an out. Tod and Iris would be traveling to the countryside. I could go with them and avoid Spencer and his family so long as Tod didn’t invite them to join us. Or I could stay here under the pretense that I wanted to be near my boyfriend, which would please Tod Belmond to no end.

“I’m afraid I can’t,” I said, taking my cue.

“You should speak to Iris,” he advised meaningfully. “She’ll be disappointed, but surely she’ll understand. I assume you need to be near Spencer.”

I nodded. “I’ll talk to her.”

A short while later, I found Iris in the kitchen going over a menu with the cook.

“There you are.” She gave me a big hug. “I was just going over the menu for our holiday. Is there anything you’d like to see on it? I was wondering if Spencer might be joining us at any point. If so, we should plan a special dinner.” She turned, now speaking to the cook.

“Iris, I can’t leave London right now,” I said with as much disappointment as I could muster. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t thinking about the time. I promised Spencer that I would attend several events with him over the next two weeks. He’s been so patient while I dealt with these terrible cramps.”

“Of course,” Iris said sympathetically. Her lips turned down as she patted my arm. “I was looking forward to spending time with you, but it’s obviously more important for you to be here with him. I know you two are enjoying getting to know one another.”

I looked to the ground, hoping it came off as embarrassment. “I know I didn’t come home a few times.”

“It’s none of my business,” Iris said quickly. She wrapped an arm around my shoulder and dropped her voice to a whisper. “But I’d love to hear the gossip. It seems like things are really heating up between you two.”

“Between whom?” Tod’s voice boomed through the room.

We startled apart, looking guilty at being caught.

“This is girl talk. Shoo!” She waved him off.

“I just spoke with Giles. What is this about you not coming to the country with us?” Tod asked.

For the first time, I considered this through his eyes. I was a virtual stranger, pretending to be his daughter. Now, I expected to stay behind while he packed up his household staff and his security and went to the country for two weeks. I couldn’t blame him for being suspicious. It was the perfect opportunity for me to gather up whatever I could carry and leave, robbing them blind in the process. Except that despite the number of priceless items in the house, there was no way I could make off with anything that was worth close to what he promised me.

“I just think it’s more important for me to be here with Spencer. He wants to spend time together. We’re getting quite close.”

“Still,” Tod said, cautiously. “I don’t feel good about you being at the house alone.”