“It’ll be far easier to live with you if you’re not just fading into the background anymore,” she said. “Honestly, Eliza. I was so impressed at Roderick House. I didn’t think you had it in you, but perhaps you really are my sister after all.”
I bristled, my eyes narrowing. “So in order for you to recognize me as your sister, youwantedme to tell you off?”
“I wanted you to be an actual person,” she said, clearly exasperated. “Someone I could talk to without having to walk on eggshells all the time. Do you know how difficult it is to connect with someone who never tells you what they actually think? That day at Father’s house was the first glimpse I’ve seen ofyouin years.”
My lips parted, but I didn’t even have an answer to that. “Are you actually trying to apologize? Because it sounds like there might be a compliment in there somewhere.”
She gave me an elegant shrug, another smile playing on her lips. “I’m not apologizing, but I am complimenting you. I’m also hopeful that we might find some common ground now.”
“You threatened to expose the twins,” I said. “You were going to tell everyone unless the Westwoods paid you off and I know Will gave you the money, so no. There is no common ground. There’s only you, suddenly trying to get closer to me now that I’ve married into a wealthy family.”
Her eyebrows lifted slightly. “They’re not just wealthy, darling. They’re an empire. But be that as it may, their moneyhas nothing to do with this. I’m surprised he told you, but I really do like the dress. And the fact that there is a personality somewhere inside you. I’m looking forward to getting to know my sister finally.”
“You didn’t think he’dtellme? We’re married now, for goodness sake.”
“Yes, well, he hasn’t exactly been honest with you before, but if you must know, my ex-boyfriend has paid off his debts.”
Wait, what?“I’m not sure I’m following.”
“I broke up with him after, but not before ensuring there’s a loan agreement in place,” she said, as if that should help it all make sense. “He’ll be paying Will back, probably for the rest of his life, but your husband will get his money back, and in the meantime, he’ll be receiving dividends as an investor in the company as well.”
I frowned. “Why would you do that?”
“He made poor decisions.” She sniffed and pretended to study her manicured nails. “I corrected them, then chucked him in the bin. That whole situation made me realize he was a loser and I don’t need one of those in my life.”
“That was a surprisingly responsible way to go about things,” I said, then threw her own words back at her. “I didn’t think you had it in you.”
“I know. Shocking, right?” She paused briefly, her head tilting as she studied me. “Maybe I took a page out of your book. You stood up for yourself and I followed suit.”
My eyes widened, my brain still whirring trying to catch up. “Is thatanothercompliment?”
She inclined her chin, the expression in her eyes softening. It was so alien to see that I leaned in a bit closer when she smiled. “You deserved to find the love of your life, Eliza. I’m happy for you.”
Before I could respond, Will appeared at my side, not subtly placing himself ever so slightly between Eugenie and me. “Eliza, are you okay?”
His gaze flicked briefly to Eugenie, still very much distrustful of my oldest sister. I slid my hand into his and offered him a reassuring smile. “I’m fine.”
Eugenie looked between us, then back at me. “Alright, well, I just wanted to congratulate you both, but do you think it would be okay if I started calling you a little more often?”
My eyebrows inched up. “You want to call me, as in, speak to me on the telephone?”
“Yes,” she said. “Voluntarily. It would be nice to have a chat every so often, don’t you think?”
I stared at her for a second, then nodded slowly. “Okay.”
She smiled again. “Excellent. In that case, I’ll let you get back to it. Congratulations. Both of you.”
With that, she turned and walked away, and I watched her go, still completely baffled. “Did that just happen?”
Will’s head was shaking as he let out a quiet laugh. “I think so.”
“Yeah, wow.” I leaned into him, my head tipping toward his shoulder. “I have no idea where that came from, though.”
“Neither do I,” he murmured, just standing there with me for a minute as we watched her disappear into the crowd. Then he straightened up. “Come with me.”
“Where are we going?”
“Escaping from our own reception for a few minutes,” he said, leading me out of the hall through one of the side doors.
