Page 57 of Cruel Hearts

“That may be so, but she’s both connected to the Archbishop of Scotland and the prestigious Liddell Lordship. If Elizabeth continues to lash out in such elaborate ways, she’s likely to self-destruct.”

I eyed the article, my gaze lingering on the word, ‘fraud.’ “But I need to expose her faster than her family can arrange coverups.”

Gideon picked up a bowl of brown sugar and added a heaping spoonful to his porridge. “She’s now on the radar of the press, which has hurt her family. I’ll bet they’ll be less lenient on her antics, now.”

I poured a bowl of stewed apples into mine and inhaled its warm, cinnamon scent.

Maxwell slid into the seat next to mine, making my heart spasm. I stared into my porridge but totally checked him out through the corner of my eye. Even though most of the bruising on his face had gone, he still hadn’t replaced the piercings.

“Good morning,” he said.

“Morning,” I said in my breeziest of tones.

My stomach muscles tightened in anticipation of a lewd comment about my tryst with Orlando, but it didn’t arrive. I turned around and looked him full in the face just as one of the waitresses scampered up with the usual full Scottish breakfast he ate when he was pretending to be Kendrick.

Moments later, Orlando slipped into the seat opposite with his top buttons undone and his tie askew. With those messy blond curls, it looked like a deliberate attempt to appear disheveled, and it was working.

A table of fourth-year girls stopped eating to gape, and some desperado from across the dining room wolf-whistled. Orlando raised his head and gave me a saucy wink. Heat pooled between my legs, reminding me that we had unfinished business.

“Did you sleep well last night?” The innuendo in Orlando’s voice made my nipples tingle.

“I’ve had better nights.” Suppressing a smirk, I scooped up some apple and porridge.

Gideon paused and frowned. He shot me a look that asked if anything had happened between Orlando and me the night before, and I raised my brows. His expression stilled, and he placed another heaping spoon of brown sugar in his porridge. Probably to mask his disapproval. I’d have to speak to him later.

I ate my apple and cinnamon porridge in silence. Forgiving Maxwell wasn’t the same as using Orlando to scratch an itch.

Chiming from the clock tower signified the end of breakfast, and I stood just as Kendrick rushed in to grab two slices of toast.

Orlando leered at me from across the table. “Have a great day.”

I glanced at Maxwell, whose expression hardened. Had he worked out I’d gotten lucky with Orlando? I snatched my gaze away, only to catch Gideon’s disapproving glower. My lis pursed. Didn’t he know a girl had needs?

Looping my arm around Gideon’s, I marched him out of the dining room and into the hallway. “I know what you’re thinking.”

“Have you become a skilled Legilimens?” he drawled.

I clenched my teeth. “There’s no need when you telegraph everything with your scowl.”

Gideon stopped and turned on me, his dark eyes boring into my mine. “Then there’s no need for this discussion.”

“I know what I’m doing.”

“Do you?” He raised a brow.

Maeve, my red-haired classmate bounded up to us. “Hey, Lilah! Let’s go up to the textiles room together.”

“See you later.” I leaned into Gideon and pressed a kiss on his cheek.

A bunch of second-year girls burst into excited chatter and giggles. This time tomorrow, they’d probably construct a round of gossip involving me as the future Mrs. Adewale.

Maeve raced ahead through the crowds of students as though she’d taken up indoor jogging. Halfway down the hallway, she jumped and waved her arms around. “Come on!”

“We’ve got five minutes.” I jogged after her.

Maeve ducked into a stairwell, her red hair streaming behind her like a flying carpet. I snorted. The last time I’d seen her this jittery had been just before the fashion show. Picking up my pace, I dodged smaller students waiting in line outside classrooms, and pulled open the door to the stairwell.

With my gaze fixed on the top of the stairs, I stumbled into Maeve’s doubled-over form, making her topple forward.