We found our way to a large park, where she took me through her thought processes from the time she’d received James Fortescue’s invitation. She recounted in detail some of their conversations and explained why she’d responded in the ways she had.
“You’ll have your own style, but tenets of diplomacy are universal,” she said, proceeding to expound on them at length.
On any other day, I’d have been fascinated. Today, when I was already unsettled and unsure, it felt as if she was piling on more uncertainty by reminding me that, one day, she and my parents would be gone. Everything would fall on my shoulders—the burden of leadership, of keeping my family safe.
It all felt too much, especially when there was no further word from Nate.
NATE
Charlie had been adamant that Monte Carlo was too close to one of his family’s houses, and we hadn’t been able to raise anyonein L.A. because of time zones. When the centre in Munich had said they could take him immediately, he’d decided that was where he was going. That was reasonable, I supposed. It wasn’t as if either of us knew enough about rehab to be able to make sensible comparisons between the types of therapy they offered. The most important thing was to get Charlie there quickly, while he was still cowed by the threat of his father finding out about his little habit.
“We’ll have to fly commercial,” Charlie said, with a distinct wrinkle of his nose. “Dad will be notified of any flight plans filed.”
On the way to City Airport, we stopped at my flat. Our flight wasn’t until late afternoon, and we’d both wanted to leave Bath early that morning. I didn’t know where else to go. Spending time at a coffee shop or a pub somewhere felt too uncontrolled. I wanted to keep Charlie corralled.
Evidently, I wasn’t subtle in my concerns.
“I’m not a bloody junkie about to run off to find a fix,” he told me as I gestured to him to precede me into my flat.
Inside, he looked around curiously. The place was on the sterile side. I’d bought it and furnished it just after our break-up when I hadn’t cared about anything, and I’d never cared enough since to do anything with it. I’d spent more time choosing the safe for my treasure than I had deciding the style and colour of the furniture.
He made a coffee while I opened my safe to check on my treasure. When he peered over my shoulder, I had to fight my dragon’s impulse to attack him, to drive him away from my diamonds.
“I see you’ve amassed quite a few,” he said, very sensibly making no move to touch any of them. “You should get Ella to give you Granny’s old necklace. The centrepiece is fifteen carats.” That explained why it captivated me.
I drew out one of my favourites and stroked it before carefully placing it back on its nest of black velvet. Treasure is fundamentalfor a dragon, and I thought how strange it must be for Alex not to have one. We’re born knowing what our treasure is, along with a driving need for it. Mum used to tell me how I kept trying to pull her favourite diamond earrings out of her ears when I was a toddler.
Treasure can be intensely private or something to flaunt. For me, it’s deeply personal. Perhaps because it had been something to hold onto after my parents had gone, something that was solely mine. I hadn’t even told Charlie what it was, though he’d found out when we’d lived together. To feel so comfortable with Alex that I’d simply told him… He was different from anyone I’d ever known.
While we had our coffee, I sent him another text. I couldn’t tell him anything, but I wanted him to know I was thinking of him.Missing you x.And it was true.
ALEX
Lecture hour over, our conversation moved on to Rose and Dan, and a couple of other prospective Teague-Fortescue pairings. “At least something might come out of this whole visit,” Margaret said. “Oh, thank God—a bench. I don’t know how it is I can hike forever in the countryside yet half a mile in the city is exhausting.”
An elderly couple on the next bench were being mobbed by pigeons. Not a single one came near us. Funny how easily animals can detect our dragons.
My phone vibrated with a message from Nate.Missing you.And a kiss. I still had questions for him—somanyquestions—but that steadied me a bit.
Thoughts of Nate led me to realise I should warn Margaret something was going on. I told her everything I knew, except thepart where I’d found Nate half-naked in his room with Charlie. I didn’t want to keep thinking about that.
“That whole family is a mess,” she said, when I finished. “I’m almost minded to invite Ella to stay with us to get her away from them.” She turned her penetrating gaze on me. “And why is Nate Mortimer so involved in the Fortescue mess? I understand he and Charlie were a long-term thing but broke up a while back.”
“They did.” I couldn’t respond to her question because I didn’t know the answer. WhywasNate involved in solving whatever Charlie’s problem was? He’d so easily chosen Charlie over me. My throat ached, suddenly.
Margaret put her hand on my knee. “Darling, he’s a Mortimer. They’re the same as the Fortescues, only richer. Abimelech Mortimer didn’t get where he is by caring about others. I know you think Nate’s the best thing since Excalibur, but he’s of their world, with all that goes with that.”
Precisely what I didn’t need reminding of.
Chapter Twenty-six
NATE
Charlie had been pale and quiet during the flight. When we landed, he insisted on getting a hotel room instead of heading straight for the clinic.
“I need to tell my father. I’m not doing it in some airport lounge.”
That, I could understand. We’d decided not to tell anyone until we were in Munich. I thought his mother would try to prevent him from leaving, and Charlie was putting off the moment he’d have to tell James.
