“Does being head have to be like that?”
“Anyway, I just wanted to let you know,” I said, evading her question. There were things she didn’t know, things I’d never tell her. “Is there anything you want to ask?”
“Can I get an allowance for ear plugs?”
“Mia.”
She grinned unrepentantly. “I’m glad for you,” she said.
As she hit play on the TV remote, I swallowed, my throat suddenly aching. The love in her voice… I pressed a swift kiss to the top of her head before I left, hoping she could feel how much I loved her.
I was pretty certain my talk with Tim wouldn’t go so well.
OLLIE
I caught a bus out to near June and Chris’s, and walked the last part of the way. I’d asked Archer how I should dress for this, and he’d been firm that I should wear whatever I wanted. “But if it helps you feel more comfortable, June will be dressed likea Hollywood A-lister, and the rest of them will probably be in jeans, depending who she’s invited.”
When I arrived, June ushered me inside. Instead of taking me through to the garden, she invited me to have a seat in the so-called breakfast room. I crossed the room to the sofa, my feet sinking into the thickest carpet I’d ever walked on, and belatedly realised I should have removed my boots.
“Oh, that doesn’t matter at all,” June said when I apologised. “It’s what carpets are for. Now, tell me, Ollie, how are you getting on at the Court?”
“It’s fine,” I said. “I’m helping Tim in the garden.”
“Ollie, good to see you again.” I glanced at the door to find Chris standing there, loosening his tie. “I took off early from work for the party,” he said as he entered the room and pressed a kiss to June’s cheek on his way past.
I was glad to get confirmation therewasa party and I hadn’t misunderstood. But where were the other guests? I wassureJune had told me to turn up at three.
“I’m sorry, I think I’m early,” I said, wondering if it would betoorude if I excused myself and came back at the right time.
“Not at all,” June said with another of those wide smiles that looked—not fake, exactly, but not happy. “Chris and I wanted to spend some time with you and get to know you.”
They couldn’t do that at the party? Normally, I loved chatting to people and finding out more about them, but this felt weird.
“So howarethings at the Court?” June pursued. “I have the impression Archer’s been taking up your time rather.”
How was I supposed to answer that when prior plans with Archer had been my excuse to decline two other invitations from her? “I mean, we’re a little way out of Winchester there, so I’ve spent a lot of time with Archer and Tim and Mia,” I said at last.“But Archer’s said he’ll make sure to bring me with him each time he visits the family.”
“That’s something, I suppose,” June said, sounding as if it was the absolute bare minimum Archer could do. “Though if you were staying with us, it would be very different, Ollie.”
Yes, because I’d be straight on the phone to Mr Shaw, begging him to let me go home. I was uneasy at these almost-criticisms of Archer. It felt disloyal not to defend him, but I didn’t want to make matters worse between him and them, and I had no idea what the problem was. A diversion was called for.
“I’m enjoying Winchester,” I said, and started telling themallabout my shopping trip, my impression of every single shop I’d been into, how beautiful the cathedral was and that I’d seen the Roman city walls, or what was left of them.
Chris’s eyes glazed over, but June pretended to listen. When I paused for breath, she dived straight in. “It sounds as if you’ve had to cram a lot into a short visit, and you haven’t even seen all the military museums yet. Would you like to stay with us for a while? It would be far more convenient for exploring the city and for seeing the rest of the family. I understand you don’t drive, so I could take you for days out to visit some of the places around here.” She tilted her head, and her smile looked somehow condescending. “I’m sure Archer means well, but he’s not giving you the experience the moot had in mind.”
Probably not. The moot had almost certainly not expected me to end up on my back under Archer, being thoroughly fucked.
“That’s very kind of you,” I lied. “But my head of family wouldn’t like me staying with someone who wasn’t head of family.”
June’s lips thinned, and when I glanced at Chris to avoid her disapproval, his face had turned red and a vein in hisforehead was visible. I’d obviously blundered badly with what I’d said, but I didn’t know how.
ThankGodthe doorbell rang then—the first of about thirty-five dragons arriving for the garden party. Conversation turned general as we all moved into the garden.
It had been weeded and mown until it looked more like a fake film set than something with real plants. Very unlike the Court. Under a pergola, a table groaned with the weight of cakes and sandwiches.Instead of letting me eat, June gave me a cup of tea and escorted me around the garden, introducing me as if I were royalty, while Chris trailed in our wake.
“It will be so lovely to have another family we can get to know,” she said, and although there were some polite murmurings of agreement, I didn’t miss the way some of the older dragons looked less enthusiastic. Which led me to think again about the purpose of this visit. While I understood the idea behind striking while the iron was hot, arbitrarily sending individuals to stay with families when neither had prepared for the eventuality seemed kind of stupid. And of all the things Abimelech Mortimer was, stupid wasn’t up there.
Before I had a chance to follow that train of thought, June was asking me how large my family was, how spread out we were, what Tunbridge Wells was like, and I scarcely got to drink my tea for all the talking I had to do. I couldn’t say I got to know any of the Talbots any better because June never left my side and involved herself in every conversation. It was as if I had an overdressed probation officer beside me all afternoon. Nick, who’d been so flirty when I met him before, hadn’t had a chance to do more than eye-fuck me from a distance. Which was just as well—I hadnointerest in anyone except Archer.
