‘It’s so juvenile! I don’t even know why we agreed to come, do you?’
That voice pierces the music...pierces me and I stumble mid-step. If it wasn’t for Edward’s grip, I would have face-planted for all the world to see.
Okay, so not everyone is happy.
He sweeps me past the bystanders, but his posture is as rigid as mine. I know he heard her too. I wet my lips, glance up, but he’s not looking at me. His eyes are on his mother and projecting fire and ice in one.
‘Edward, it’s okay.’
‘It isn’t okay,’ he says between his teeth.
‘Please, I don’t want a scene. Like you say, it’s a success—a huge success. The auction went far better than I could ever hope for.’
‘The auction she didn’t even participate in.’
‘Did you really expect her to? Besides...she at least made the effort to dress up.’
‘Dress up?’
‘Yes. Do you think she knew who we were going to be when she chose the evil stepmother get-up?’
He laughs against me, the tension easing from his body. ‘You know that’s no costume, right?’
I blink up at him in mock innocence. ‘Are you serious? But it’s all black and angular—and, frankly, quite scary.’
‘Ah, don’t worry, Princess...’ He leans in, whispers beside my ear, and a thrilling shiver runs right through me. ‘I’ll protect you.’
‘Lucky me.’ It’s as breathless as I feel.
‘Lucky you, indeed.’
He twirls us further away, but I can’t help bringing the focus back to her. ‘Have you spoken to her yet?’
The tension ripples through him again and I bite my lip. Maybe I should leave well alone—but she’s still his mother. Still his blood. Though I should know better than most that blood means nothing.
‘We exchanged pleasantries...once she deemed herself ready for me. I think I came after Charles but before the caterers.’
He’s teasing, and I hate it that he feels he must tease about something so hurtful.
‘Actually, poor Charles had something of an ear-bashing about the inheritance, so I was forced to step in.’
‘Oh, God, poor man.’
‘Don’t worry—he can hold his own when it comes to my mother’s viperous tongue. I take it she hasn’t spoken to you yet?’
I give a choked scoff, try to brush off the sting of it. ‘Clearly I’m beneath the caterers.’
‘You’re the hostess of Glenrobin’s event of the year. It has nothing to do with society’s hierarchy and everything to do with the fact she can’t see past her own bitterness.’
I grimace. ‘I really did make things worse, didn’t I?’
‘You did what you thought was right.’
‘But you were right. It’s too soon. I shouldn’t have invited her. I should have given her more time to come to terms with everything.’
‘I don’t know, Summer... Excluding her would have made her angry, too. You can’t win.’
I search his eyes, see the truth of it and feel the sadness it brings. ‘Just like Katherine couldn’t...’