Page 90 of Cruel Hearts

“If she kept the substances in other peoples’ rooms and carried out all her transactions in cash, it might be their word against hers.” Gideon pursed his lips.

“And Lady Liddell will cover it up,” said Kendrick. “More than anything, she wants to avoid scandal.”

I slumped in my seat. “Shit.”

Gideon placed a hand on my wrist. “I suppose all the furious parents will bring charges against the academy, as they owed the students a duty of care.”

Kendrick frowned. “There’s a school down south that got sued for negligence.”

“Corporate manslaughter.” Gideon reached across the table and grabbed the teapot. “The court found the headmistress guilty of criminal negligence, and the judge sentenced her to two years in prison.”

The boys continued talking about an expelled girl who murdered two students with class A drugs, but I couldn’t focus.

A sliver of dread rippled through my insides at the impact it would have on Mrs. Campbell and Mr. Burgh. They did their best to maintain discipline in the academy, but with its owner’s wife meddling on a regular basis, there wasn’t much they could do about Elizabeth.

Mr. Burgh clapped his hands together. “The bus to Glasgow will leave in an hour.”

Maxwell leaned forward and gave me a wink. “Let’s put her out of our minds for the weekend and return ready and refreshed to work out another game plan in case she slithers away from punishment.”

“Good idea,” said Orlando.

Kendrick shrugged.

Gideon dabbed the corner of his mouth with a napkin. “I won’t let that girl ruin my weekend.” He pulled himself out of his seat. “Play safely.”

Heat rose to my cheeks. The cheeky git acted like he wasn’t planning on doing exactly the same with Lachlan and Francesco.

As soon as Gideon left, I turned to Kendrick. “Are you coming with us?”

He stared down at his empty plate. “I don’t usually.”

“Join us for the concert,” said Orlando. “You can always go to bed early if you don’t want to join in on the afterparty.”

“You’re going to that club again?” Kendrick asked.

“Stormzy’s playing at the SSE Hydro,” said Maxwell. “Are you in?”

Kendrick’s gaze turned to me, a slight flush coloring his cheeks. I guess he had worked out that I would be the entertainment at this afterparty. “I’ll…” He cleared his throat. “I’ll think about it.”

Orlando grabbed his shoulder and gave it a hearty squeeze. “Don’t think too hard.”

His cheeks reddened even further.

“Stop dicking around,” I said.

“I’m saving all that for you, my sweet,” said Orlando.

I rolled my eyes. “Now you sound like the big, bad wolf.”

“We can play that tonight if you want. Goldilocks and the three wolves.”

With a chuckle, I placed my napkin on the table and rose from my seat. “What time are we meeting?”

“An hour?” asked Maxwell.

I strolled back to my room, hoping I hadn’t made things worse for Mr. Burgh by reporting Elizabeth’s clandestine cocaine business. A few other students streamed out after me, whispering speculations about who could have sold the diet pills. I hurried down the hallway, trying not to listen. The matter was out of my hands now, and there was no point in speculating on whether Elizabeth would push the blame on someone else.

Right now, I was ready for a weekend of debauchery with the knights. It would mean not going to the chapel on Sunday, but I wanted to save my confrontation with Father Neapolitan for when I had formed a plan.