“Yeah. You’ve always had a thing for mature, chubby women.”
“At least they’re not emaciated and bordering on being fucking underage.”
“Hey. Steady, Blake. That’s bollocks. I was in the dark.”
He took a deep breath. “What does he want?”
“Money. What else?”
“Much?” he asked.
“About four billion.”
He whistled. “Fuck. He’s aiming high.”
“He thinks it’s his blood right. What he’s about to learn, however, is that his father, Sir William Fox, was actually my father and that he’s the spawn of his mother’s affair with the gardener.”
James mouth parted. “Holy shit. I always sensed you were from good stock.”
I cocked my head. “I don’t subscribe to that elitist nonsense.”
He grinned. “I take it you plan to see him face-to-face.”
I nodded. “It won’t be the first time I’ve knocked his teeth out.”
“You can be a warrior when you want to. That’s for sure. But hey, you don’t want to go to jail over this.”
“I don’t plan to.”
“I’m pretty unsettled with those images out there,” said James. “What about a professional…” He looked about. “A hit?”
“Not my thing.”
“Look, I’m really sorry to drag you into this.”
I sat back. “Are you still with Lilly?”
“She’s at my house. That creepy, fat Russian’s still stalking her.”
“You probably need to deal with him, then.”
“Do you think that something might happen to Lilly?” he asked.
“You’re the one that’s been fraternizing with that lot.” I raised a brow.
“I had my hand forced. I was young and stupid. I fucked up. I hope you and I are okay.”
I had a flashback to our days in college. James had been there for me, when the gentry ostracized me for not being one of them.
I stood up. “I must go.”
He looked up at me with a sheepish smile. “I hope we’re good.”
That wasn’t going to be easy, knowing how I held onto things. And betrayal was at the top of my bad list.
“Can’t say.” I left it at that.
42
* * *
PENELOPE
THE EMAIL ARRIVED WITH my results. My hand shook as I pressed the key down. I’d worked around the clock to get those final assignments in.
My eyes ran down the form, collecting the word pass along the way with distinction and ninety-eight percent for drawing. My art history essay also gained me a distinction. A cascade of joy rippled through me. I leapt off the seat and cried out, “I passed.”
It was morning, and breakfast was coming. Now that Blake had miraculously been cured of his nightmares, he’d tangled around me like a snake all night.
He strolled back in from the bathroom and kissed me. “That’s marvelous. I knew you would. You’ll look sexy in a cap and gown.”
I scrunched my nose. “I’ll look silly.”
“No, you won’t. You could wear a sack, and you’d still be a sex kitten.” He played with a strand of my hair. “Breakfast’s on its way. I have to do something in my office for a moment. Do you mind? I won’t be long.”
“No, of course.”
“Give me fifteen minutes. Breakfast should be ready by then. Okay?” He kissed me sweetly on the lips.
“All good.” I smiled, indulging in his elegant stride.
Life was great for me, except that I’d tried to move my mother somewhere nice and clean, but she’d refused to budge. As Blake put it, my mother was married to her habit. I hated hearing that. It sounded like a cop-out to me. In spite of that, I was at a loss about how to change things. I could have called family services, but they would have taken her by force. The thought of that sent a cold shiver down my spine.
Around fifteen minutes later, Pierce knocked at the door.
“Come in.”
He was like a sweet uncle. “Good morning, Penelope. I’m not sure where you want your breakfast?”
“Oh, just leave it there, thanks. I’ll go and tell Blake.”
“I can if you like,” he said.
“No. I will. Thanks, Pierce. It smells marvelous.”
“That’s Maria for you. She’s made us all a little chubbier with her amazing cooking.”
I giggled, thinking of Blake, who wasn’t chubby. He was just broad and muscular in that knee-weakening masculine way.
Pierce left the food on the table, and I headed to Blake’s office which was more like a small library. I entered the room, and loved how the sun filtered through the colored-glass windows, infusing the space with a moody, warm glow.
My eyes settled on his desk, where I noticed an open folder with photos. I stretched my neck to look at them.
The image showed Blake on his side, his back to the