“You look lovely, stop worrying.” Ella could wear rags and look beautiful. She practically did the first day I met her, and even without makeup and wearing a ridiculous outfit, I was still attracted to her. But tonight, in a tight but elegant little black dress? Perfection.
“I just . . . I know you’ve said your mother is nice, but it’s still nerve-wracking meeting someone’s mother. And your mother isn’t just anyone. She’s Catherine Rothschild Langford.”
“Yes, that is her name.”
Ella gives my bicep a small punch. “You know what I mean. She’s a legend. And she’s nobility. The fact that she’s still known by her maiden name before your father’s surname speaks for itself of how big of a deal she was before she married him. She was the ‘it girl’ of her day, and people are still fascinated by her. It’s intimidating.”
“Yes, she does draw a lot of attention. She always has. But she isn’t the type of person you might expect her to be with her fame. She’s still just a person, and most importantly, when it comes to us, she’s just my mom. Try not to think about her as the great Catherine Rothschild Langford.”
“That is easier said than done. And it’s even stranger since we’re in this . . . arrangement. What does she know about that?”
Ella’s nose is scrunched in that adorable way of hers and I can’t help it, I bend down and kiss her below her ear. I wish again that we weren’t at my parents’ house but that I had her home, naked, in my bed.
“Not here,” she breathes, though I can tell by the blush on her cheeks that she’s affected. Hmm. Could I convince her to let me have her somewhere while we’re here?
“Asher, what does your mother know about all this?” Ella repeats, nudging me away.
I scowl at her. “She knows. And she’s supportive.”
Ella nods just as the door opens, and Harold, my parents’ butler, ushers us inside.
“Welcome, Asher.”
“Good evening, Harold. This is my girlfriend, Ella Hale.”
“A pleasure, Ms. Hale. Welcome to the Langford residence.”
“It’s lovely to meet you,” she says, holding out her hand and shaking his. Harold looks at me and gives me an impressed wink after he lets go of Ella’s hand. Most of the women in our social standings would not have shaken the butler’s hand. Our family doesn’t operate like that, though. We’re not people whoseparate humans into categories, and so Harold is used to being treated like family in our home, but most of the time, our guests don’t extend that same basic courtesy. He’s very used to high society guests ignoring him, and he has assured us many times it doesn’t bother him, but I know he appreciates it when someone acts with normal human decency.
“Your parents are in the dining room. Have a lovely evening.”
“Thank you.”
“Residence is a bit of a misleading term,” Ella whispers to me as I lead her through the grand foyer. Her eyes are wide as she takes it all in. “Mansion is the word I would use.”
I chuckle. “The perks of your family having wealth back when there was still ample land available on the East Coast.”
Ella shakes her head in disbelief.
“Asher, darling, welcome,” my mother says as we enter the dining room. She hurries toward me and gives me a small kiss on my cheek. Even in my thirties, I cannot escape my mother’s affection.
She turns to Ella and grasps her by her hands. “And welcome to you as well, Ella. I’ve heard so many delightful things about you. I’m so glad I finally get to meet you.”
Ella is stiff and clearly nervous. “It’s lovely to meet you, Mrs. Langford.”
“Please, call me Catherine.”
Ella nods shyly.
“Welcome, Asher, Ella,” my father says.
“Hey, asshole,” Declan says, clapping me on the back.
“Declan!” my mother hisses. “This is dinner! And we have a guest.”
“Oh, Ella doesn’t mind.” Declan waves a dismissive hand. “She’s no stranger to our brotherly interactions. She works on the same floor as us. I eat lunch with Ella and Asher at least twice a week.”
“Be that as it may, this is dinner in our home, not the office. I expect you to behave like the gentleman I raised you to be.”
