Page 23 of Revenge

“It’s Simpson-West,” she whispered.

“Blake?”

Rita shrugged. “It wasn’t much. He cornered me in the hallway and told some younger boys I looked nearly fuckable.”

I clenched my teeth. Everything was a game to Blake. I would bet Rudolph’s entire net worth that Blake knew I would find out what he had said to Rita. Then I would confront him, and he would demand a date in exchange for leaving her alone. He’d do it in a flirty, smiley way, but that had been his game plan in humiliating Rita.

I placed both hands on her thin shoulders. “I won’t confront him directly, but can you hang on for a few more days?”

Her dark eyes widened. “What are you going to do?” Then she squeezed them shut and gave her head a minute shake. “It’s best if you don’t tell me.”

“Trust me. When I’ve finished with Blake, he won’t be in the mood to approach you with harassing comments.”

Rita pressed her lips together as though holding back an objection. She probably didn’t want me to act against Blake, but what I would do next was for my benefit as much as hers. If Blake craved attention, he would get it, but it might not be of the positive kind.

I let go of Rita’s shoulders. “What do you know about Mr. Frost?”

“Not much.” She scurried toward the door. “He’s an ex-student who came here on a scholarship and went on to study Linguistics at Christ’s College.”

“Cambridge?”

She nodded. “I’m meeting the other scholarship students for dinner. Will you join us tonight?”

My shoulders drooped. I’d already planned to contact Jackie at the Correspondent in the evening. If I spent too many mealtimes away from the triumvirate, they’d get suspicious. “Another time?”

Rita gave me a sad smile and shrugged.

* * *

At dinner, I sat between Edward and Henry, much to Henry’s delight. Blake cast me a hurt look. When I raised my brows in question, he glanced away. He was probably too proud to admit to his friends that I wasn’t giving him enough attention. It would continue that way until I had exacted my revenge, and I knew exactly how I would do it: by appealing to his sense of pride. I tamped down the tentacles of guilt writhing within my belly. In his own way, Blake was just as dangerous as his friends. He just had the most frivolous of reasons.

As we finished our coffee and after-dinner mints, one of the rugby players approached the head table. He was as tall as Henry but had a broad, stocky figure instead of Henry’s defined muscles. His nose was flattened by at least one break, and edges of his ears were puffy and misshapen.

“I say, Mercia.” He spoke with the same thick, posh accent as Duncan, Alice’s friend with the thick glasses. “What are we going to do about those louts at International House? They’re making a mockery of the academy.”

Edward waved his hand. “Shouldn’t you concern yourself with your studies, Coates? I hear you’re failing abysmally.”

Coates’ face twisted into a scowl, and he stalked off to sit with his friends.

“He’s right, you know,” murmured Henry. “International House is bringing down the campus.”

“I’ll speak to the headmaster,” Edward replied in a distracted tone that implied he’d do nothing of the sort. He turned to me. “Would you care to join me after dinner?”

My stomach flip. Our last conversation about International House had ended with me accusing him of bigotry and storming away. Maybe Edward wanted a chance to explain himself. I gave him a broad grin. “That depends on if you plan on having me in your study again.”

He smirked. “Only if you ask nicely.”

“Let’s go for a walk.”

He inclined his head. “I’ll bring the hot chocolate.”

Blake leaned forward. “When do I get to see you on my own?”

“Soon enough.” I stood from my seat and smiled. “I’m just getting my coat.”

For the briefest of moments, confusion crossed Blake’s features, but he masked the expression with a smile. “When we meet, I insist you wear only the boots, coat and a dab of perfume.”

“Keep dreaming.” I walked out of the dining room with dozens of eyes boring holes into my back. Right now, Blake was probably staring also after me, wondering why I was paying his friends more attention than him.