Page 12 of Cruel Dynasty

December 18th.

I stared at the crisp, neat handwriting as though it might morph into a different day.

Just three months away.

Not nearly a year like Tod had said when he asked me to fake being his daughter. I told myself he must have had word from her. That was the only reason he would have asked Giles to give this date. Kerrigan must be coming home sooner than expected. Because the only thing worse than spending the day playing pretend and choosing Kerrigan’s wedding dress was being expected to wear it as I took her wedding vows.

6

“I think you chose a beautiful dress,” Iris said as we rode back home an hour later. “It’s stunning and unusual—just like you.”

The acid churning in my stomach made it difficult to smile, but I managed. It wasn’t her fault that I’d been caught off guard. We’d wrapped things up at the bridal salon in time for afternoon tea, but I had asked to skip the reservation we’d made at the nearby Orangery. I didn’t think I could stomach a single thing, especially not another moment of pretending I was fine. Giles had found a convenient excuse to duck out of the bridal salon before I could confront him about the date the shopgirl had been given. He wouldn’t be able to avoid me forever. But even if he’d known—and not warned me—he was only the messenger, and it was poor form to shoot the messenger. I might strangle the messenger though. Just a little.

Nope, there was only one person that owed me an explanation. I’d been planning my attack since I’d begrudgingly ordered the gown for Kerrigan’s wedding. Tod Belmond was going to tell me exactly what was going on tonight. I wouldn’t allow him to keep any more secrets from me. He was the one who had talked me into his insane plan, but boundaries needed to be set.

I crossed my ankles staring down at the pair of Valentino sandals I’d chosen from the closet this morning. Delicate straps crossed each other adorned with golden studs. I’d learned the hard way that brushing one of the studs against my skin hurt. The shoes were beautiful but dangerous—just like everything else in Kerrigan’s life.

“You’ve been very quiet since we left the shop. Is everything okay?” She paused for a moment as if gathering up some courage. “Does it have something to do with Holden?”

“Holden?” I laughed despite how angry I felt. “Why would it have anything to do with him?”

“I saw how you two looked at each other when he showed up,” she said carefully.

A surge of adrenaline shot through me, leaving me both hot and annoyed. I tapped the arm rest between us, shaking my head. “I thought he was Spencer.”

“I saw how you two looked at each other after you cleared that up. I know it’s none of my business—”

“You’re right, it isn’t,” I snapped.

Iris flinched at the sharpness of my words and guilt smothered the anger smoldering inside me. “I’m sorry. If you ever want to talk…”

“He’s flirted with me,” I said wearily. “It upsets Spencer for obvious reasons, and there was this moment.” Part of me wanted to tell her desperately. I hadn’t even owned up to the night I’d spent with the two of them the last time I’d spoken to Eliza. But I hadn’t. Partially because I'd felt ashamed, but partially because I couldn’t admit that I’d liked it—to her or anyone.

“Moment?” Iris prompted with a raised eyebrow.

“I kissed him. Holden, I mean,” I added quickly. “Another case of mistaken identity.”

Iris’s mouth formed a surprised O-shape. “Does Spencer know?”

“Oh, he knows. He saw.” I slumped against the leather seat as my thoughts warred with each other. She didn’t need to know more than that. It was enough to admit something had happened, right?

“And he overreacted?” she guessed.

“That’s the thing. He didn’t. I guess it’s happened before.” I was clearly in fibbing territory now, but there was some truth to it. Spencer hadn’t minded. It had happened before. The part I was leaving out was that he had encouraged it, and the trouble was that was what I needed to talk about the most. “I guess they’ve, even, um…”

“What?” Iris asked innocently.

“You know…” I searched for a word that wasn’t too loaded. “Shared before.”

“Shared?” she repeated like it was new to her. Then, her brown eyes widened as her mouth fell open. She shut it with a hasty, “Oh!”

“Yeah.” I closed my eyes, torn between relief and embarrassment.

Silence fell between us and I wished I hadn’t brought it up. I just needed someone to talk to about it. Spencer couldn’t be trusted to give an objective point of view on the matter. I suspected Holden would say anything to serve his own agenda. Part of me thought Eliza might be the right person to discuss it, but she’d been working doubles and I hardly needed to bother her with my champagne problems.

Iris finally broke the silence. “Do you think they want to do that with you?”

“Yes. No. I don’t know.” I hung my head.