“What was so upsetting about the interview?”
Beni finally lifted his head, showing Scarlett the anger he’d been hiding. “The reporter asked me what it’s like living with Mum and Dad, and I…” He trailed off with a shrug.
“I see,” said Scarlett. He’d told the truth, which was that her parents were seldom around. Unfortunately for Beni, telling the truth to a reporter meant the whole country was privy to the truth, and Laylani valued her image as Lord Heroux’s wife and Beaufort’s mother above all things.
Laylani turned back to him. She picked up the magazine and threw it to the ground with such force that a curl came out of place and hung awkwardly down by her neck. “We’re going to insist they retract this article, and if you ever embarrass me likethis again, I’ll throw your laptop into the canal and send you to a screen-free boarding school.”
Beni’s eyes filled with tears.
Scarlett leaned in closer to her brother and whispered, “I won’t let that happen. Dad would never send you away, and if he tried, I wouldn’t let him.”
Before Laylani could react, Martin, their chef, strode into the room and put Scarlett’s usual breakfast of two eggs and toast down in front of her, along with a cup of hot coffee. She thanked him quietly and waited for Martin to leave before turning toward Laylani, who had only a cup of coffee—herusual breakfast.
“None of that is Beni’s fault. Maybe next time, you shouldn’t let your twelve-year-old son give an interview without you. Better yet, maybe you shouldn’t approve ofCitizenfeaturing him at all.”
“They took him to play tennis to get some pictures of him. It wasn’t supposed to be an in-depth interview,” said Laylani. The rage in her tone had been replaced by icy politeness. “We need Beaufort to getsomemedia exposure, even if he isn’t your father’s heir.” She sat back in her chair as she sipped her coffee, her gaze lingering on Scarlett. “Speaking of media exposure, you’re getting quite busty, Scarlett. Be sure to wear something that doesn’t show your cleavage today. Are you sure you should be eating eggs every morning? They’re so full of fat.”
Scarlett had to laugh. Laylani had been so judgmental all her life that the words intended to cut her down were only funny these days. “You think I’m gaining weight because of eggs? I thought it was the ten pints of ice cream I ate during exams,” she said.
Laylani snorted, and Beni’s face turned pink as he stared at his plate.
Scarlett took advantage of the lull in conversation by breathing in the grass-scented breeze. She stared out through the openglass doors to their lush garden, where the blossoming morning was so at odds with her stepmother’s vitriol. Judging by Laylani’s silence, she might have finished laying into Beni now. Scarlett spoke in an attempt to change the subject and spare her brother further attention.
“Alastair and I broke up yesterday.”
Beni’s expression shifted from subdued to shocked. “Wow. Are you all right?”
“I’m sad, but I’ll be fine.” Sad, but not too sad to eat. Scarlett shoved an egg onto a piece of toast and took a bite.
“I’m surprised to hearthat,” said Laylani. “Your father told me he was planning to propose.”
Scarlett chewed and swallowed, scrutinizing her stepmother’s moderate response. “He was.”
“That’s quite a bold move, alienating the Spencers. I’d have thought you’d marry for the political benefits alone. Does your father know yet?” Laylani asked with a glint in her eye.
If someone Scarlett cared about had reacted to her breakup this way—with political machinations and gleeful anticipation of a fallout with her father—she’d have been distraught, but from Laylani, it was totally on brand and didn’t warrant an emotional response.
“I haven’t spoken to him since it happened.” Scarlett turned to Beni. “Should we go surfing this morning?”
“Need some surf therapy?” he asked with a knowing smile.
Scarlett nodded. They’d chased away many a bad run-in with his mother with the sun and the ocean ever since Scarlett taught Beni how to swim. “Yes. Exactly.”
“Do we have enough time?” he asked.
“No, you don’t,” said Laylani loudly.
They both shot her dark looks.
“Don’t look at me like that,” she said. “Scarlett, you have to leave for Parliament in three hours. By the time you’ve takenthe ferry all the way to Lilac Beach, you’ll barely have time to surf before it’s time to come back again. Beaufort, you’re coming with me to the luncheon at the Bucklands’ house, and we have to leave at eleven.”
“Goddess, not that boring luncheon,” he muttered. “Can’t I go with Scarlett and Dad?”
Laylani’s dark eyes flickered. “Absolutely not. I’ve already said you’ll be there.”
Though she was married to Scarlett’s father, Laylani was also the sister of Lady Moira Ashworth, leader of the opposition: the Goldenrod Party. The luncheon at Lord Buckland’s house would be full of Goldenrods.
Scarlett sympathized with her brother, but it was the politics of the attendees that would drive her mad more so than the dullness. Her own ideals were Cerulean, like her father’s, and she found it impossible to avoid confrontation when surrounded by people who were such self-interested assholes. Putting in long hours surrounded by the press at Parliament was definitely a better use of her time. Time in the spotlight Laylani would usually vie for…
