"And I tried to find homes for them, but everyone in the village already has cats or doesn't want cats or is allergic to cats. So I thought maybe if I just kept them until they were bigger and more adoptable…"
"Sophie, you can't keep eight cats in your bedroom indefinitely."
"I also keep them in the lilac room next to mine sometimes. And why not? They're very well-behaved. Mostly. Except for Livingstone, but he's got character."
Sasha sighed.
The lilac bedroom was, Sasha had to admit, quite impressive in its organization. Food and water bowls were strategically placed, along with what appeared to be a sophisticated litter box system.
"At least they’re all comfortable in here," she said. "And your parents have no idea?"
"They think I'm studying. A lot. Which technically I am, just not the sort of studying they think." Sophie settled cross-legged on the bed, immediately attracting three kittens who began purring and kneading her pajamas. "I've been reading everything I can about cat behavior and health. Did you know that cats can live twenty years if properly cared for?"
"Sophie, you do realize that at some point you're going to have to let them go, right?"
Sophie pulled a face. "Is this that whole ‘if you love something set it free’ bullshit?"
"No," Sasha said, perching on the edge of the bed. "It’s the reality of the fact that you can’t keep eight grown cats in one room."
Sophie's face fell slightly. "I know. I just… they need me right now. And I like taking care of them. It feels important, you know? Like I'm actually doing something useful instead of just sitting around being the baby of the family."
Sasha felt her chest tighten with unexpected sympathy. "Is that what you think? That you're just the baby?"
"Aren't I? Victoria's the perfect daughter with her perfect career. Archie's the heir with all his responsibilities. Ambrose is… well, Ambrose is Ambrose, all effortless charm and good looks. And I'm just Sophie, who likes animals and doesn't fit into anyone's idea of what a proper Sullivan daughter should be."
"Sophie, you're fifteen. You're not supposed to have everything figured out yet."
"Victoria did. She knew what she wanted when she was my age and went after it with complete determination." Sophie picked up the black kitten, who immediately began purring against her neck. "I just want to take care of things that need taking care of. Is that so wrong?"
"It's not wrong at all. But you can't keep eight cats secret forever. Eventually, you're going to have to trust your parents enough to tell them the truth."
"Are you in love with my sister?"
The question came out of nowhere, which Sasha supposed was the point. It was designed to put her off the scent of the kittens. But it still hit like a physical blow, and Sasha felt heat flood her cheeks. "That's… it's complicated."
"Not really. It's yes or no. Are you in love with Victoria?"
"I…" Sasha looked at Sophie's serious expression, at the eight cats scattered around the room, at the evidence of a fifteen-year-old girl trying desperately to matter. "No. It's not love. It's just… a grown-up thing. Physical attraction and good chemistry and timing." Sasha felt something twist painfully in her chest even as she said the words.
"Huh," was all Sophie said.
Sasha got up. "You’re going to need to come clean about all this sooner or later," she said. "Because these cats won’t be happy here for much longer."
Sophie sighed, but nodded, and Sasha left her to her cats and went to take her walk in the garden.
SHE WAS MAKING her way back toward Victoria's room when she caught sight of movement through the partially open morning room door. Victoria was already up, sitting at her laptop with that focused intensity that meant serious business was happening.
She paused in the hallway, watching through the gap as Victoria typed rapidly, phone pressed between her ear and shoulder, hair twisted up in a messy bun.
"Yes, absolutely, I can be there Friday," Victoria was saying, her voice crisp and professional. "That works perfectly. Thank you so much for the opportunity."
Sasha felt something settle heavily in her stomach. Another interview. Another step closer to Victoria's inevitable return to London and proper banking and everything that mattered in her real life.
She knocked softly on the doorframe, waiting for Victoria to finish the call before entering.
"Good news?" she asked, though the answer was written clearly across Victoria's face.
"Second interview with Richmond Brothers," Victoria said, and her smile was real, bright with excitement. "Final round. They want me to meet all the senior partners together."
