Page 14 of Smoke

I waited for more—when nothing else came, I nodded. “Yes, I have. I’ve been busy, too. Catching up on all the work I missed.”

It sounded like an apology. Why did I feel the need to apologize? There was nothing to be sorry for. I had only ever interacted with him a dozen times, at most.

He looked at George, eyebrows raised. “You haven’t told her, have you?”

“Told me what?” I looked at my uncle with much the same expression on my face. “What’s he talking about?”

“I wanted to wait a decent amount of time,” George explained to Bradley, who didn’t look satisfied.

“A decent amount of time for what?” I prompted.

Dread took root in my belly and started to grow. I didn’t like the way this conversation was going, not one bit. Anything that included both me and Bradley was nothing I wanted to be a part of.

George smiled broadly, but his eyes were as cold as ever. “Alina, dear, have a seat. There’s something we need to discuss.”

I sat down hard, staring at him. I had a sick sort of certainty about what he was gearing up to say. Something I hadn’t considered up to that point because it seemed too twisted to be believed.

Bradley perched on the end of George’s desk, facing me, twirling his sunglasses by one of the arms.

“Let me start,” he said, looking my way. “After all, it’s my future we’re talking about, so I feel as though it’s only right I should broach the subject if you haven’t, George.”

“Be my guest,” my uncle murmured.

“I think I know what you’re about to say,” I whispered, cutting them both off.

“You do?” Bradley smirked. “You’re as smart as I’ve always heard, then.”

Yes, I was smart. But not smart enough to guess at how bad things could be for me once I got home without my sister. I had planned my excuses, gone through the stories I’d need to tell to explain Jasmine’s absence. I had never considered that Bradley was out a bride, and that he wouldn’t be satisfied with letting go.

“See, Alina, Bradley’s been devoted to your sister throughout his life,” George chimed in. “There was less than a year until the wedding was designed to take place, as you well know.”

“Yes. I know.”

“The joining of our families has been promised for a generation,” George pointed out, “and it seems unfair to call a halt to everything which has been planned for so long.”

He was so full of it, I almost felt sorry for him.

Bradley’s family had more money than even mine. Papa had arranged the marriage because he’d loved his friend, and his friend had come from a good family. Now, both men were gone, and their children had no choice but to carry on with their plans.

“In other words, you want me to marry Bradley.”

“I want you to marry me,” Bradley corrected, his voice smooth and gentle.

Like he was actually pretending to care about me. The whole thing was so ridiculous, I almost laughed.

Instead, I sank my nails into my palms to hold onto my control and my sanity. “I have to admit, this all seems sudden. I don’t know you.”

“Jasmine and Bradley weren’t very well acquainted, either,” George reminded me. As if that made things better.

“I don’t want to get married,” I confessed.

Both men looked stunned, like the thought of a woman not marrying was beyond their comprehension.

I didn’t know why that would come as a surprise to me, considering who I was dealing with.

“I only mean that I’m so busy with my work. You know how it consumes my time,” I explained, turning to my uncle. “I might be locked up in my room for days on end, making potions and tonics.”

“I’m aware of that,” Bradley cut in, waving a dismissive hand. “I wouldn’t dream of getting in your way. I know how important your work is to you.”

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