He laughs again. “Well, good news, then. Luckily for us, the stable’s not too far from here. Once we’ve eaten, I figured a couple of hours on the trail might be a fine way to enjoy the day and get to know each other a little more.”
“Okay, sounds great. Also, I feel I must say something—sorry about attacking you with my mouth. At James’ birthday,” I explain, as if I need to distinguish this from other times I’ve attacked the Duke of Wiltshire with my mouth. Or in case he’s forgotten, somehow.
There’s a slight pink tinge to his cheeks. “Well. I did have to explain to my elderly mother who the handsome young man was who snogged me so thoroughly in Tatler.”
“Oops,” I say carelessly. Though in truth, it’s my turn to feel a little flustered. I love being called handsome, but I wasn’t prepared for news of media coverage of James’ birthday as a society event, though I should have expected it. But no one warned me about Tatler, and I can’t help but wonder if James deliberately sent them pictures from the night, taken by his official photographers. I wouldn’t put the idea past him. I keep my tone light despite the buffet of misgivings. “I hope I’m not causing any scandals again.”
He chuckles. “No. And for the record, I don’t feel like you attacked me with your mouth. Though it was unexpected. Albeit not unwelcome.”
“Well, that’s lucky for me, then.”
“And James encouraged it. I understand why.” Eddie gives me a meaningful look. “I understand I’m meant to be a good moderating influence on you. I’ll take it as a compliment rather than James typecasting me as a boring old man.”
I cough. “Yeah, well. I could totally use a moderator,” I say sheepishly. “Or, fairly regularly, an intervention. And you don’t seem boring, for the record.”
“Is it really so bad that you believe you need a moderator?”
“Well, I did sink a yacht, don’t forget. Also, apparently, I’m a philanderer, according to my ex and Hello!”
“Mm. Neither are particularly credible sources, I must say.”
“They’re not,” I say flatly.
Thin cloud passes by overhead, and the sun filters through. Eddie gives me a sympathetic look as our food arrives, and we dig in. The sunshine is welcome, though the fleeting thought of Aidan in this idyllic setting and reasonably easy company with Eddie is unsettling. Like, I don’t need thoughts of Aidan to ruin a meal.
And I can’t help but wonder what Stef’s doing this weekend up in Edinburgh alone. Or even if he is alone. He’s got to have a heap of friends up there from his uni days. What if he has a roster of friends with benefits? Though obviously not any other men, from what he’s told me.
I push some remaining peas around my plate.
Or maybe he skipped the country altogether and went back to New York. There’s something bittersweet about the idea of Stef being so far away.
Chapter Forty-Seven
After we finish dining, we walk to Eddie’s car, leaving behind James’ SUV for me to pick up later, with Miles following in his vehicle, and we make our way to the stables. By the time we meet our mounts and find ourselves on the bridlepath, I’m feeling a little unexpectedly homesick for my family. Beside me, Eddie glances over, sensing the shift in my mood.
“Alright?” he asks.
“Yeah, this is great. Sorry I’m a little quiet. I guess being out on horseback has me thinking about going on holidays with my family, growing up. My father passed away last year. I guess… thinking about it… the last big family holiday was a few years ago, riding together in Spain.”
Eddie gives me a wry smile. “I’m sorry to hear about your father.”
“Thanks. Yeah, it’s a big loss.”
I give him a sidelong glance, chewing my lip. Dare I mention my situation to him like James said? Who knows how much James has said to him already.
My horse whinnies and bobs his head, as if he knows I’m distracted, and spooks a little at who knows what in the woods. A bird, I think. Or maybe he picks up my stress. He prances sideways a little towards Eddie, who holds his mount steady, and I soothe my horse back to his track as well as guide him with a touch of my legs.
“Both my parents are gone now,” he offers, pulling up his horse as well. “Losing a parent is never easy.”
“It’s not. And—I’m going to be King,” I blurt out. “My sister’s abdicating soon. Please—don’t tell anyone. I just—I need to tell you.”
Eddie looks startled, giving me a sharp look. “Right?—”
“And James thinks we—you and me, not me and James, to be very clear—should make a pact in a marriage of convenience. And yes, that sounds totally mad because it is totally mad.” I glance over, fearing I look a little wild-eyed. My horse tosses his head. Fuck. I draw in a deep breath and refocus.
Eddie’s eyebrows have climbed considerably. “I see.”
Shit.
