“I left my accent and English ways behind years ago. You’ve never even heard me say the proper name for things.”
“You’re the dame in all the ways that count and that’s how it’ll always be.”
“Oh, Belle, let’s not be distracted by silliness. Your father just walked in— Come, dear,” she said to him. “I’ll put it on speaker.”
“I have to go—”
“Don’t you dare,” she said. “The fighting ends now.”
“Your mother is right.” Dad’s voice flowed through the phone. “I’m sorry for the methods I employed. Truly and deeply sorry, my girl. It is a relief to both of us that we won’t have to resort to those measures.”
I sat up straighter. “You’ve changed your mind about disowning me?”
“Of course that’s off the table now,” said Mom.
Happiness bubbled inside of me, popping and bursting in my stomach. “So, I can come home?”
“If you’d like to,” Dad said, “but truthfully, we’d feel more comfortable if you stayed until we located that man. You’re safer there.”
I couldn’t argue that. Mal-mirages were here, but the real thing was back in Bracknell. Besides, Preston...
“I guess I can stay. It’s all parties, beach, and hanging out now that I don’t have to worry about marriage.”
“You certainly are in the privileged spot,” Mom said. “The other girls are worried about making the right match and you’ve already got one. You both can spend the rest of the summer getting to know each other again.”
Wait. What?
“I’ve already got one? Mom, what are you talking about?”
She laughed. “I’m talking about you and Carter, darling. He called your father this morning to ask for his blessing. He said you two faced your differences and became friends again. He admits it’s not a love match yet, but that things have been so well between you two, that one day that’s exactly what it’ll be.”
“Blessing?” I was numb. Hearing her praise over a dull ringing in my ear.
“We’re so happy you found someone who cares about you,” Mom gushed.
“Cared enough to do it right and ask for my blessing,” said Dad. “He also says he’s willing to wait until after college for the wedding.”
“Carter told you... he proposed to me?”
“Yes, dear.” She finally picked up on my tone. “Are you all right?”
“I have to go.”
“Wait, Belle—”
I hung up.
“All finished, Belle?”
I hardly noticed Paris as I marched out and stormed into the living room.
Carter shared a couch with Nathan and Preston. The bastard kicked back watching the movie like nothing happened. His behavior on the bus came into sharp clarity. Smug and smirking as he complimented his soon-to-be bride.
“Carter, can I speak to you for a second?” I snatched his collar and dragged him off the couch. He didn’t gruff or fight me on the way to the courtyard. He’d been waiting for this.
I threw him against the wall. “What is wrong with you?” It was a struggle not to scream. “You told my parents you proposed. Now they’re expecting—”
“—you to marry me or they’ll cut you off,” he finished. “And those are your only two options. I won’t take it back, so if we don’t walk down that aisle, your parents will know it’s because you came here for a husband and tossed him away.”
“You’re not doing this.”
“No?” He cocked his head. “Why not? Because Evanston told you I won’t take a grudge this far? You really should learn how to whisper.”
“No.” Fire blazed beneath my skin, burning the last measure of restraint my guilt granted us. “You’re not doing this because I’m going to be an unending nightmare. The boogeyman beneath your bed. The harpy that drags you to hell.” Every word brought me closer to him. “By the time I’m done, you’d sooner toss Gam-Gam’s ring down the drain than put it on my finger.”
Carter hummed low in his throat. “You could do that,” he said. “Or we could end this right now and you admit to me, my parents, and everyone that you lied about that day in the woods.”
My lips quivered on the edge of giving in. Heaven knew I wanted to so many times.
But the truth won’t absolve me. It’d make you hate me more than you already do.
“I told the truth, Carter.” The grave dirt struck my face, piling on as I buried the last shred of morality I possessed. “It’s not my fault you won’t accept it and I’m done being punished for it. You won’t end this shit, but trust me, I will.”
Carter gazed at me, and as I spoke, the anger and frustration