“No. I’m capable of finding my own dates.”
“What’s her name?” Logan asked.
“Kate.”
“Last name?”
“Hamilton.”
“Kate Hamilton,” Logan repeated slowly, his expression thoughtful. I knew exactly what was happening in his head: He was trying to link her name to a respectable family. We didn’t usually date outside our social circle—it was snobbish, but it was the truth. Before Kate, I had never dated a woman whose last name wasn’t associated with wealth. Not because I wanted to date only wealthy women, but because doing so was the path of least resistance. “It doesn’t ring a bell.”
“It would have surprised me if it had. She’s not from a wealthy family.”
Logan’s second eyebrow shot up. “Oh, oh. A mere mortal?”
I nodded and turned left onto Westminster Bridge. An ambulance with flashing lights raced past me to St. Thomas’ Hospital.
“Do Richard and Amanda know you’re taking her to the ball?”
“No, and it’s none of their business.”
Logan let out a bitter laugh, as if I’d told a joke with a macabre punchline. “I’d really like to see their faces when you introduce Kate to them. It would almost make coming to the hotel worth it.”
“The Darlington doors are always open to you.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Do that,” I answered, even though we both knew that he wouldn’t. Logan avoided the hotel like the plague, and our parents would rather starve than step foot in The Meridian. I had tried everything over the last few years to bring my family together again, but nothing had worked. The media speculated that my dad’s atrocities would tear our family apart, but the truth was, it had already happened long ago. Something had been broken when our parents sent Logan away, and there was no fixing it.
33
There’s no way that was just an interview between Henry and an employee! That touch. That eye contact. It’s giving date vibes.
Online comment by BookwormLily
Kate
The doorbell rang.
“I’m coming!” I called. I grabbed my rucksack, which felt surprisingly light now that it no longer contained my entire life, and went to the door. Grace and I both had the day off, and I’d asked if she wanted to go shopping.
“Hey!” I said when the door opened.
Grace grinned at me from beneath a red hat. Beside her stood a young woman in a mustard-yellow coat, and I instantly recognised her as Grace’s twin—the resemblance was uncanny. They had the same brown eyes, the same blond hair, and the same even features with soft, feminine contours.
“Hi. I brought reinforcements,” Grace said. “This is Amy.”
Amy raised a hand. “Hey, it’s nice to meet you.”
“Likewise. I’m Kate.”
Grace clapped her hands impatiently. “Can we leave?”
I nodded and pulled the door shut behind me. At reception, I handed Naomi my room key—for security reasons, keys had to stay on the premises. We left The Darlington through the underground car park, since the press was still camped out in front of the main entrance. I didn’t know how they weren’t getting bored. Once we were sure that the coast was clear and no journalists were about to pounce on us, we slipped outside and crossed the street, heading towards Soho.
Grace shoved her hands into her jacket pockets. “So, what are we shopping for today? Are you looking for something specific, or are we just window-shopping?”
“I need a dress for the Halloween ball,” I replied.
