“Or a fine way to ensure you don’t forget who they are. Sometimes, this guy forgets he’s one of the richest men in the country.” Bea lowers her voice and leans into me.
“I think Lord and Lady Kilby do alright for themselves,” Jack smirks, looking up to the tall ceiling of their lavish home.
“I hear differently. Will… he’s my boyfriend,” she explains, “tells me that they’ve just made their gamekeeper redundant, and they’ve supposedly asked their house staff to take a salary cut.”
“Beatrice Stanley, are you turning into a gossip?” Jack accuses her, winking at me over the rim of his glass.
“I’ve just learnt that if you can’t beat them, join them.” She shrugs unapologetically,
“Did you hear about the rift this party caused? That’s why thedragonisn’t here.” I decide to offer Bea a little something in return.
“You two together are dangerous.” Jack shakes his head and laughs.
“Andyoushould be mingling.” Grabbing him by his shoulders, Bea spins him around to face the room. “You can trust me to entertain your wife.” Giving him a gentle shove, she takes my arm and leads me in the opposite direction. I look over my shoulder and smile helplessly at Jack when he’s approached by Elizabeth Winfield and her daughter.
“You're going to have to come up with a better excuse for not drinking; antibiotics have been done to death,” she tells me as we head for the buffet table.
“I’m sorry?” I pretend to be confused.
“Grace, I already know you're pregnant.” She laughs.
“I’ll kill him!” I look over to where Jack is now talking with Alex.
“It wasn’t Jack.” Bea finishes swallowing her tempered prawn and helps herself to another. “I overheard Olivia giving you tips on how to curb the morning sickness.”
“That was ages ago,” I whisper, wondering why she never said anything before.
“They’ll eat you alive if you go with antibiotics. It’s practically code for ‘pregnant’,” she informs me.
“So what would you suggest?” I ask, and before she can answer, the clinking of a glass silences the room, and everyone’s attention turns to Lord Kilby.
“Welcome, friends," he starts, standing proudly beside Jack. “My wife and I would like to welcome you all to our home for this very special occasion.” His wife takes his hand and smiles; I can totally imagine her and Cecelia being friends. “As the previous Duke of Fairfax’s best friend, I feel it is my duty to introduce and welcome his son, Jack, into our society.” His words are followed by a round of applause. “Jack, I speak for us all when we offer our condolences on the passing of your father and brother, but I’m certain that they’d be proud to have you heading the family in their honour.” He raises his glass, keeping it short and sweet, and once everyone finishes toasting and is about to get back to their conversations, Jack surprises me when he uses a knife to tap his own glass.
“Rupert, Deirdre. I’d like to thank you for such a wonderful welcome, and since we’re joined by so many new friends, it seems like a fitting time for my wife and me to share our happynews. Gracie, will you join me?” He looks through the crowd of people directly at me, and I feel my cheeks start to burn.
“You reallyaregoing to kill him,” Bea whispers before I slowly make my way over to join him, feeling the eyes of every person in the room follow me.
“My wife and I would like to announce that we…” He puts down his glass and presses his palm to my stomach, “...are expecting.” The smile on his face as he looks at me makes it impossible to be mad at him. His eyes fix on mine as if we’re having some kind of moment, and it’s not until everyone breaks out in applause and cheers that I’m reminded we’re in a room full of people.
“So, here is to the future of Fairfax.” He raises his glass, and while everyone follows, he kisses me the way a proud husband is expected to kiss his pregnant wife.
I cling to his lips for what I’m sure is longer than appropriate, and when we pull apart, I feel tears stinging my eyes. I wish they were fake happy ones, put on for the audience in front of us. It would be far less complicated if they were. Instead, they’re tears of sadness, because I won’t be a part of that Fairfax future, and the more time I spend with Jack, the more I’m starting to wish I could be.
JACK
Iknock on her bedroom door when it becomes apparent that I’m not going to get any sleep.
“What?” she bites coldly, proving that my senses were right.
She’s mad at me. Which makes no sense, because something passed between us after I made my announcement. It wasn’t just the way she looked at me, or the kiss that followed after it. It was a feeling that made my spine tingle, and I know she felt it too.
“I know I should have told you about the announcement before I did it, but it just seemed like the right time. We’re past the–”
“I’m not mad about the announcement. I told you that in the car,” she shouts back, and, refusing to have this conversation through a piece of wood, I open her door and let myself in.
“This is supposed to be my private space,” she pouts, looking adorable sitting on her bed, still wearing her dress, and eating a Snickers bar.
“Then what are you mad about?” I smile at the sight of her as I move to sit on the bed beside her.
