“She’ll be able to give him information on Blair.”
“Does she know about you and Blair?”
“Yes.”
Isaac looks away. “He’ll use it against Blair. My advice – come out in the open about your relationship. If the press gets wind of it being a secret they’ll make more of it than what it is.”
“That’s up to Blair.”
“What else does Elise have on Blair or you or Lennox?”
Something jars uncomfortably in my mind. “Why the fuck are you asking me for intel, ‘Zac? You work for Goldsmith. This information is like little fucking golden nuggets to you and how do I know what the hell you’re going to do with it?”
He doesn’t move or flinch or cringe at my words, because that isn’t Isaac. He’s the epitome of calm and I remember he knows more than any of us realise. It’s just none of us know what his game is.
“As much as Goldsmith senior has influence, so do I. I’m not interested in muddying political waters by allowing a shit show to take up residence in the media. That doesn’t instil confidence in the public. I’d rather know what Elise could say to him and then I can filter it. It protects her. Possibly you. And stops William from looking like a complete fucking tool.” His eyes glance at the door behind which Blair and Goldsmith sit.
“Why aren’t you in there?”
“Because Goldsmith’s father is and we generally don’t inhabit the same room.” His words are muttered. Almost a curse.
“So why does he have both of you working for him?”
“His other people insist I’m there. And most of the time he listens to me and we overrule the Lord.”
A storm has clouded his eyes. I want to press because there’s more to this than what he’s just said but now isn’t the time. I don’t know when that time will be either.
“I also don’t want Blair to get shafted.” It’s a confession.
“Why? What is she to you?”
He shrugs and I see the boy he used to be.
“Because she didn’t ask for this.”
It isn’t just that. We both know it.
“Elise. Tell me what you will. Or can.”
I sum up what I know of her, her family, friends, connections. I describe her relationship with Blair and then what I know of it with Lennox.
There’s silence when I’m done. Isaac sits there, his third coffee barely touched.
“What is it?” His expression has given nothing away.
“She’s collecting information.”
“I figured as much. I don’t think she’s always done that and there are times when she’s been a good friend.” There had been. I remembered holidays when Blair had come home from school and something had happened to upset or worry her; Elise was one of the friends who supported her, who saw beyond the crown that cursed her head.
“Elise’s father’s gone bankrupt. Her mother’s threatening to leave him and any money from the mother’s side is being held hostage by the maternal grandfather. Gambling debt. The family’s facing ruin – in their eyes anyway. She’s also lost face by her engagement to Lennox never being properly announced, so I hear.” Isaac still won’t look at me. “She knows a lot, Ben. And when I say a lot I mean a fucking shit ton of stuff that could pretty much damage a lot of people.”
“Including you.”
He turns to me for the first time in what’s felt like forever. There’s worry on his face, his dark brow frowning and his eyes are blacker than I’ve ever seen.
“Including me.”
“Do I need to see she’s no longer a bother?”
