and Viscountess of Downley and Great Britain’s hope for gold at the upcoming rowing world championships, married his fiancée, charity fundraiser Emelia Mason, in Oxford yesterday. The happy couple made a besotted pair, but all eyes were on a mysterious maid of honor who had clearly decided to give Pippa Middleton a run at breaking the internet.”
Lacey didn’t even lift her eyes, knowing that if she did, she would see hers and Pippa’s rear ends side by side in their respective bridesmaid dresses.
“Excellent. I can even text in a vote for who did the dress best.” Victor pulled his phone out of his pocket.
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
He swapped hands and held his phone out of her reach. “What do you mean? It’ll be the best 25p I’ve ever spent. You should charge them a commission. Though then, of course, you’ll have to tell them who you are.” Victor winked at her as he tapped into his screen. Lacey leaned across him, grabbing at his arm, but there was the defiant whoosh as he sent his vote into the ether.
“I’ll vote another twenty times if this is what it gets me.” Victor grinned at her, and she realized in her attempt to get his stupid phone she had practically draped herself across his lap.
“I’m so glad you find it funny.” Lacey wrenched herself back upright, taking extreme care not to have any of her touching any of him. The warmth emanating from his body, and the dimple that had formed on his cheek were more than enough. “I’m sure you wouldn’t find it nearly so hilarious if you were the one on the front page of a tabloid, displayed like a piece of meat.”
She should be used to it by now. No matter how hard she worked. How many times she proved herself. Eventually, she was always reduced to some leggy blonde with a nice behind.
“Been there. Done that. Got the T-shirt.”
“What?”
Victor shrugged. “When I was in rehab, some paparazzi managed to breach security. There were photos of me exercising. Group therapy. My mum visiting. Not front page though. You win on that front.”
“I’m sorry. That must have been awful.”
Victor stilled. “I didn’t know about it until I got out. I didn’t care about me, but there were others from my group who were in the photos. They didn’t do anything to deserve that. It became a breach of privacy case, but the damage was already done. Anyway …” He lurched to his feet. “Thanks for the light relief. We should get back.”
Lacey ignored him. Carolina would be looking for someone else to palm her progeny off onto, and she’d already done her duty yesterday. “What did Peter say that made you walk off like that?”
Victor scuffed the drive with his shoe. “It’s not important. If anything, it’s embarrassing. Somehow almost every conversation ends like we’re twelve with one of us sulking.”
His mother’s words came back to her. “Sometimes, it’s hard for people to accept that others have changed. Maybe it’s just going to take time, and there’s nothing you can do to hasten it.”
“You’re probably right. But it feels like no matter what I do, it’s never enough, you know?”
That was exactly how she felt about her family. “One day, it will be. It has to be.” She wasn’t sure if she was saying it for him or her.
Victor looked down at her. “I hope you’re not comparing yourself to me.”
She didn’t answer. Was she? At least Victor was doing his best to make amends. She had tried to make things right with her sister. But some things could never be undone.
Victor knelt down in front of her. “Look at me, O’Connor.” She tried not to, but it was impossible when his face filled her entire vision. “You are the best woman I’ve ever met. Well, you and my mum. And I knew that before I knew you had met me at my absolute worst. I don’t know your whole family situation, but I do know it is not on you.”
The intensity of his charcoal eyes unnerved her, stealing the breath from her lungs like a brazen thief.
“You knew who I was the moment you saw me on your couch in New York. And, whether you meant it that way or not, you gave me the gift of not throwing my past back in my face. Do you …” His voice caught, and he swallowed. “Nobody has done that for me before. Not ever.”