“I hear you helped Charlie out.” He lowered his bulk into a chair, facing me. “Have to admit, I was surprised. I thought the two of you were over years ago.”
“We were,” I said.
“How long do you think he’ll need to be there? Munich, isn’t it?”
“I’m unsure.” I wasn’t going to tell him anything about Charlie. A swift subject change was in order. “I’m surprised you’re not at work.”
“I have things to tie up here,” he said.
When that appeared to be the extent of his contribution to the conversation, I cudgelled my brain for something more to say. “Are you still in Wealth Management?”
His jaw clenched as he stared suspiciously at me. “Are you trying to get information out of me?”
I’d been attempting to make polite conversation. Somehow, I’d forgotten how ill-equipped Steven was for such a venture. Or for anything, really. Except perhaps riding a bicycle.
“Just passing the time,” I said, weighing up how badly I needed this coffee. Notthatbadly, I decided, and glanced around for somewhere to put the mug so I could leave.
“I’m sorry,” Steven said, which was a first. “Confidentiality is drilled into us from the very start, so I was a little too quick off the mark there.”
Damn him, how was it he couldn’t doanythingright? Of all the times to apologise. It would be churlish for me to leave now.
I nodded slightly to acknowledge his apology and we sat in awkward silence.
ALEX
This was like being a schoolkid again, being marched in a group through the city centre to the river. At least we didn’t have to hold hands in a crocodile.
The only reason I was along was because Margaret had ordered it. “Anna wants to scope out her future son-in-law a bit more,” she’d said. “She’s noticed you don’t often come with us on these outings and asked specifically for your presence. I’ll keep an ear out, so leave me to deal with it if she crosses a line.”
It was a beautiful morning down by the river. There’d been a frost overnight, and mist hung over the water, shrouding the graceful stone arches of Pulteney Bridge in a ghostly haze. A striking scene for a photo. Not so great in reality, with the scent of dampness and polluted river water overpowering to dragon senses. I shoved my hands in my pockets, trying not to freeze my butt off as we waited for the boat’s captain to stop talking to Anna Fortescue and let us board. Apparently, there was food and drink aboard, and I wasfamished.It was almost an hour since breakfast. If I didn’t get something to eat soon, I’d probably pass out. Let us on board, damn it.
The reason for the delay was some sort of problem with the engine, and Anna Fortescue suggested coffee in a nearby café while that was sorted out. I took the opportunity to stop Margaret from going in with the others, and I told her what Nate had said about the Fortescues’ ruthlessness.
She pursed her lips and didn’t speak for a moment or two. “Bearing in mind that is only Nate Mortimer’s opinion—”
“He spent years with them, and from what he said, his family’s the same.”
“Only Mortimer’s opinion,” she repeated sternly, “I still think this is too dangerous a game for us to be playing. I think we’ll have a need to go home tomorrow.”
She took hold of my hand, something so unusual I didn’t want to hear what was coming next. “Alex, darling, I hate to use you like this, but one way we could get out of this situation without causing offence is to let it slip about your mother being human. I doubt they’ll be interested in pursuing a partnership between you and Ella after that, and none of the others here are directly in line to the succession. I think that’ll get us out of it quite nicely, but I won’t do it without your permission.”
“I don’t give a toss what they think of me,” I said truthfully. “Tell them whatever you want so long as it gets me off the hook for today.”
“I suppose you’ve earned that. No doubt you intend to do things I don’t want to know about with that Mortimer dragon.”
“He’s called Nate,” I snapped, because it smarted that she wasstilltreating him as if he was no different from the Fortescues. “He can’t help the family he was born into. And being a banker isn’t a sin on its own. Neither is being wealthy.”
Shit.I had no idea where that anger had come from. But as I stared in horror at Margaret, waiting for her to tell me she’d have my wings andtail for such impertinence, I realised the truth of what I’d said.
All this time, I’d been thinking how much I cared for Natedespitethe fact he was a rich banker. As he’d said to Ella about Jane Austen, that was denying his full identity. I’d made up my mind what bankers were like before I’d even met one. My attitude was no different from the way Anna Fortescue judged me.
“Well,” Margaret said. “I’m beginning to think the family won’t be in such bad hands when your father and I have shuffled off this mortal coil, although you do need to work on your diplomacy, Alex.”
Deeply relieved, I dared to kiss her cheek before turning to get the hell out of there. On my way past the café window, I threw a salute at Fiona and got a betrayed glare in return. Then a text.You’re deserting me to the most awkward river cruise ever?
Dead right. I have better things to do.
Such as Nate. Ireallywanted to do Nate. I sped up as I thought of all the things we could do with everyone else out of the house.
