Page 18 of Cruel Hearts

Orlando nodded.

I stepped aside. “You’d better come in, then.”

Chapter 8

As Orlando stepped through the threshold, a knot tightened in my stomach. I had never heard of the police putting two rivals together—ever. Why on earth had they inflicted Sammy on Maxwell? Orlando paused for a moment to give Gideon a nod of acknowledgment and to admire the antlers hanging over the six-foot-tall wood-paneling.

I shut the door, glad Orlando had come alone. Right now, I couldn’t stand to see Kendrick. Not that I had ever exchanged more than a few words with him.

“We’re in the kitchen.” I led the way through the reception hall with the ticking of the grandfather clock filling the silence.

Our footsteps creaked on the old wooden staircase that led to the kitchen. It was funny how I hadn’t noticed any of those sounds when Gideon and I had walked down a few minutes ago. But then, I never needed to be on alert with my best friend. Orlando was a completely different matter.

When we reached the kitchen, I pointed at the far end of the oak table, where I imagined they made the scullery maid sit. Or the guy who emptied the chamber pots. Gideon and I took the butler and housekeeper’s places. I refreshed Gideon’s mug with hot and steaming tea.

Orlando leaned forward and licked his lips, looking like he was parched and in need of a cuppa. I glowered into his hazel eyes, refilled my own mug and sat back. The fucker could die of thirst for all I cared.

“What’s this about Maxwell?” I folded my arms across my chest.

Orlando raised both hands, his eyes wide and earnest. “First of all, I had nothing to do with the police raid—”

“Says the guy who came up with the bright idea to get me expelled with a sex tape,” I snarled.

His expression flickered. That was probably the fake innocence taking a battering. “Alright. I admit to scheming to film us having sex, but I didn’t organize the police raid.”

“I believe you,” said Gideon.

Orlando’s posture relaxed, and he gave me an even-Gideon-knows-I’m-innocent-and-misunderstood look.

My head whirled to my supposed right-hand man. “What?”

Gideon leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, and steepled his fingers. “It’s doubtful that Nevis has the connections to convince the police to raid a boarding school without conducting an ounce of surveillance.”

“Exactly.” Orlando’s expression brightened. “And—”

“But I find it implausible that he was ignorant of this plot to have Lilah arrested in the most deplorable manner.”

The light in Orlando’s eyes dimmed, and a relieved breath slid from my nostrils. Gideon was better than any duty solicitor, and I was lucky to have him on my side.

Turning to Orlando, I said, “Don’t pretend to be blameless. You could have warned me, but you didn’t.”

Orlando lowered his head, his blond curls hiding his defeat. “I knew someone had planted something in your room and I also knew about the police, but I pictured two constables knocking on the door, not a full-blown raid with dogs and a battering ram.”

“What do you want?” I snapped.

“We have to do something about Elizabeth.”

I folded my arms across my chest. “Because all this time, you’ve helped her get girls expelled for lewd conduct and gotten nothing in return, right?” I paused for a reaction, but Orlando continued staring at the surface of the wooden table. “All her spite and double-dealing was acceptable until she turned against one of your own.”

His head snapped up, and the flare of fury in his eyes told me everything. I was right. He and Maxwell thought they had been part of Elizabeth’s inner circle. Now they were just like everyone else: expendable and subject to her cruel whims.

“Are you aware of the phrase ‘for all who draw the sword will die by the sword?’” asked Gideon.

Orlando bared his teeth. “What’s your point, Adewale?”

Gideon sat straighter in his butler’s chair. “It’s hypocritical of you to be aggrieved about Elizabeth double-crossing Deloraine when that’s exactly what he did to Lilah.”

“Exactly,” I said. “So, don’t come to me whining that Maxwell got beaten up.”