cold dismissal.
Controlling her thundering heart until she got inside the building, Kat raced up the stairs and panted to a halt on the final floor, where two more guards stood at attention outside Ellie’s door. Her lungs burned from the sprint, but she shoved down the flames and glided past them into the flat. Oddly, Pierre wasn’t at the door to greet her.
“You will think on this, Eleanor, and in the end you will see I’m right.” Eric’s voice carried down the hall like a spear. “Tell me you understand.”
“I didn’t leave England and my father’s insufferable rules only to fall into the arms of another man’s controlling schemes.” From the sound of it, Ellie wasn’t playing target to his aim.
“He did not pamper you the way I do. He did not attempt to lay the world at your feet the way I am trying to do.”
“What good is the world if you won’t allow me to think for myself? When we first met, you hung on my every word, you made me feel special in a way no one else has. But now your voice is the only one that matters. The only opinion of value.”
“I am a man of the world. I see how things have been changing while you have been sheltered under a family stifling your potential. Don’t you trust me enough to think for both of us now? Eleanor, don’t you love me enough?”
Ellie hesitated. “I do, but—”
“Then think of the glory your contribution will bring, what it will mean to me.”
“To you and her.”
Glee surged in Kat’s heart at Ellie’s venomous tone. Finally, she was standing up to that horror parading himself as a man. Kat inched farther into the room as Eric struggled with his placation.
“Outwardly to her, ja, but it will be you she gives thanks to. You will want for nothing, not ever again.”
“Except the freedom to make my own choice.”
“Now, schatz—”
“Don’t call me that. Not when you call her the same thing.”
“Eleanor—”
The front door slammed behind Kat. She jumped, knocking her shoulder into the wall. A loud moan of pain flew out uninvited.
“Kat, is that you?”
So much for going unnoticed. Rubbing her aching shoulder, Kat walked into the dining room to find Ellie and Eric squared off on either side of the table. Three cups of coffee sat on the gleaming wood surface, the one next to Eric’s smudged with bright-red lipstick.
“I didn’t realize we had an audience.” A fierce frown carved a line between Eric’s eyebrows. “If you don’t mind, this conversation is private.”
Not about to leave her sister alone with the wolf, Kat moved farther into the room. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize we had visitors.”
Ice glinted in his eyes. “I’m hardly a visitor. That would imply my stay is short, and nothing is further from the truth. Your stay, however, I define as a visit.”
Ellie circled the table and grabbed Kat’s arm, looping her hand through it. “My sister is welcome to stay as long as she wants, and she certainly doesn’t have to apologize for coming and going as she pleases even if it doesn’t please you. I may have no control over you dismissing the butler, but you will never dismiss her.”
A new dread seized Kat. “Where is Pierre?”
“With his family.” Eric’s unblinking stare gave away nothing. “He had obligations to attend to, and I could no longer keep him from it. He won’t be returning.”
Ellie hissed. “The next time you take to firing servants, consider my opinion on the matter first. As far as I’m concerned, this is still my home, and I have a right to say what happens here. One of the perks of the deal, wouldn’t you say?”
“The deal, ja. Perhaps a better one in the 8th arrondissement with a car, should your fulfillment be carried out.” Eric’s long fingers reached across the table and pushed a small wooden box across to her. “A week of relaxation and reflection should be plenty of time to think over your options. See you then, liebling.”
Ellie’s nails dug into Kat’s arm as Eric took his leave, ordering his guards to shut the door behind him as they had so thoughtfully done for her. The clock on the sideboard ticked the hour for teatime, but Kat had no taste for the comforting brew. She needed something much stronger to wipe the confrontation with Eric from her thoughts.
Barrett.
Taking a deep breath that shuddered down to her toes, Ellie unhooked her hand, pulled out her long cigarette