Page 39 of Cruel Hearts

As I calmed myself, pieces of the puzzle that was Elizabeth fitted together. It made sense in a twisted sort of way. If she kept the best-looking guys in the academy fawning after her, then she was free to pursue any girl without competition.

I shook my head. That couldn’t be right.

The grandfather clock in the living room chimed twelve in time with the clocktower, breaking me away from those thoughts.

What if that kiss was some kind of intimidation tactic? Something to keep me freaked out and off-balance? Elizabeth probably did it because I’d mentioned the stolen collection money.

I pushed myself off the chair and pulled off my coat. A piece of paper fluttered to the ground like a sycamore seed.

“What’s this?” I picked it up.

WILLIAM MORRIS: UK

YOUR BETTING SLIP

16:55 Hamilton Park

Lady Chatterly 28/1£ 20,000

TOTAL STAKED£ 20,000

TOTAL RETURN£ 300,000

Please retain this betting slip.

You will need it to collect your winnings.

All payouts are at starting odds.

At the bottom of the slip was today’s date. I narrowed my eyes and grinned. If that horse won, she’d come crawling to me on her hands and knees, and I’d be ready to extract a confession.

Chapter 15

The horse fucking won.

I closed the laptop and stared at the ceiling of my room. Three hundred grand was a fortune, even for a spoiled heiress like Elizabeth. She had to be fuming right now. My phone buzzed. It was a message from Gideon, saying he was on his way back from Glasgow.

My fingers hovered over the screen. So much had happened since I’d last seen him—far too much to discuss in a text message. I told him to drop by for a cup of tea and sent Kendrick a photo of the betting slip.

He texted back, saying he would arrive in a few minutes.

I stared at my phone. Which twin had I just texted? The only reason I had Kendrick’s number was that Maxwell had pretended to be him.

My answer came two minutes later when I opened the door. The real Kendrick arrived with Orlando at his heels. With my heart sinking into my stomach, I glanced down the darkened courtyard for signs of Maxwell, but he clearly hadn’t come.

Kendrick’s cold eyes roved down my form. “You called.”

Stepping aside, I let them in. “If sending a photo of a betting slip makes you come running like a sheep dog, I’ll be more careful with how I communicate in the future.”

Orlando stepped through the threshold and leaned into my side, bringing with him an intoxicating, masculine scent. “I’ll come running any time you need me. Just whistle and I’m yours.”

Clenching my teeth against the onslaught of arousal, I said, “Get inside. You’re letting in the cold.”

Kendrick remained on the doorstep, looking like someone had stuffed a pair of Elizabeth’s moldy old knickers under his nose and jammed a broom-handle up his ass.

I gave him my filthiest glower. “What are you waiting for?”

He sniffed. “An invitation.”