Page 16 of Love and Loathing

Something flickered across Aubrey’s face. “It was…very unexpected.”

She shot him a look. He wasn’t going to deny it? It would save her a huge amount of awkward explanations—the whole story of why she’d really been at the Actuaris Awards—if he kept up the pretence. But why would he?

“You’re in the position you’re in largely because of your intelligence and judgement,” her father continued before flicking a hand towards where she stood. “How is this…choice…meant to reassure me of your competency?”

“If it helps, George, I can honestly say I have no intention of letting Evie influence my work. In fact, I’m doing everything I can to keep the two completely separate.”

Evie had to bite her lip to silence her unexpected amusement. The gall of the man!

“See that you do,” her father said sternly. “But, Aubrey, honestly. I’m disappointed in you. Have you ever even spoken to the girl? Do you know what type of leftist, liberal nonsense she spouts? You had better keep her away from Domnall. The last thing we need is some rant at dinner about the rights of bloody trees. This is your mess, Aubrey. You’re responsible for her. Keep her on a leash, or you’ll be gone. Understood?”

“Yes. Though I was thinking more of a muzzle.”

Her father laughed darkly and shook his head. “And I thought Roscoe’s choice was bad enough. As for you…” He gave Evie the disgusted look she knew well. “If you can manage it quietly, without making your usual sort of scene, pack your bags. I want you gone by morning. Aubrey and I will come up with a reason for your departure.”

He turned back to Aubrey. “Library at seven. Dinner at eight. See that she behaves.”

He left. Neither spoke. Aubrey was giving the door a hard look, jaw tense.

“Well,” said Evie, attempting a laugh. “Welcome to Conyers!”

Aubrey turned his stare on her, his eyes and his jaw no softer. When he didn’t speak, Evie, blushing, said, “Thank you, for…um…not telling him the truth.”

“And have him realise how easily you played me? That I was nearly the one who facilitated you publicly assaulting Domnall? Do you think that would have improved his opinion of me any more than…” He waved a curt hand in her direction. “This?”

“It won’t be so bad,” Evie said guiltily. “I’ll keep mostly to my room. Appear at dinner. Sit there quietly like a good girl. Unless…” Her glance fell on his laptop bag, calculations going on rapidly behind her eyes.

“What?” asked Aubrey warily.

“We could really make Liv jealous. You should have seen her face when—”

“Jesus Christ, Evie, no.” He snatched his suits from her arms. “Learn to let things rest, will you? For God’s sake.”

He marched from the room. Evie followed, eyes falling from the square, tensed set of his shoulders to the laptop bag again. She had to stick close. And it wouldn’t hurt him, what she was going to do. FTP had promised. He wouldn’t even ever know.

“It’s left at the end,” she said helpfully.

Aubrey turned, glaring at finding her following him. But maybe he was losing the will to live, because he made no attempt to dissuade her from following him and marched left as instructed. She suppressed a smile. This was better, riling Aubrey, thinking about all the kinks and difficulties in her plan, letting the butterflies swoop through her stomach… This was all better than thinking about her father.

It would come out later. She would probably cry in the shower—her usual place. Or in bed, at night, hands screwed into the pillow, jaw aching with the weight of holding it all back. The shower was better. No one could hear.

“This staircase,” she said. “Remember it by that sickly looking lion statue.”

They were halfway up the stairs before Aubrey spoke, and he did it without turning to look at her. “Is he always like that?”

She didn’t need to ask who. “Yes.”

Aubrey didn’t reply. They reached the half-landing, started on the other flight.

“But I’m used to it,” she said.

Aubrey glanced back, gave her a measuring look. “You really should leave,” he said. “First thing. It would be better all round.”

She just smiled. “Ah, but I have a job to do.”

He let out a long breath. “You should have stayed in London. How did you even know about Domnall coming here anyway? I presume your father didn’t tell you.”

“My brother Hugo lives here. With his girlfriend, Amelia, who happens to be my best friend. Dad called them to get the house ready for visitors, gave them the guest list.”

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