Page 49 of The Himbo and the Lord

“Do you want some help?” I gesture towards the house.

He glances back at it and then swings back to me, his face a little sad.

“No, I’ll be alright.”

“Well, if you’re sure, but shout when you need me. I’m more than happy to give you a hand.”

It’s only when I leave him and start driving back to my own place that I remember the dinner tomorrow night, and I groan. I feel even less like attending now that Nate’s here.

* * *

“Rupert. How lovely.”Fenella’s voice is like ice when I greet her as the Dubarrys arrive.

“Fenella,” I say as pleasantly as I can, which isn’t much, and the sly look she gives me sends shivers down my spine. I decide to ignore her as much as possible, but she doesn’t seem to mind and sits talking with mother while we have pre-dinner drinks.

Fenella asks her extensively about the causes she supports and promises to go along to some of them. Mother is delighted of course, and I can already see her appraising Fenella as perfect daughter-in-law material.

After what seems like a lifetime but is probably only half an hour, Perkins opens the doors to the dining room, signaling that we can go through.

I take my place next to Petra, and as far away from Fenella as I can manage, but she’s too engrossed in talking to my mother to notice. When I do glance their way I see Fenella look at me with a sly smile and say something to my mother.

“Oh, he’s always doing things like that,” my mother replies, and they share a look as if I’m some sort of fixer-upper who just needs the influence of a good woman.

I barely pay attention over the next couple of hours, lost in my head and thinking over what Gabriel had said when I talked to him earlier. He couldn’t help much. The only useful piece of information he did offer was that Fenella had been engaged to someone until recently, but he couldn’t tell me what happened. He said that while he sees Xander regularly at polo matches, Xander doesn’t talk about his family at all.

I can’t blame him.

The rest of the meal is uncomfortable, and the way Fenella keeps looking at me, I can almost feel the noose tightening around my neck. Which Iwon’tlet happen.

When the Dubarrys have gone, I’m ready to leave too, but my sister drags me into the drawing room where my father is pouring brandy, and I decide I could do with a drink.

“What do you think, Rupert?” my father asks, as he hands me a glass.

“What about?” I ask, knowing full well what he’s getting at, but I feel like being surly.

“Fenella Dubarry. She's such a sweet girl, don’t you think?” my mother decides to chime in.

I take a swig of my drink, needing a bit of dutch courage.

“If you think I’m going to marry Fenella, you’re mistaken. I hate her. Ever since we were kids she’s been mean and spiteful to me, and I can’t see that she’s changed much.”

“I agree. Fenella is awful,” Petra pipes up from her seat on the sofa, flicking through a magazine. I shoot her a grateful look. She turns her attention back to the magazine.

“Oh look, Ru, here’s a picture of you and Jenna at Alice’s show last week. You look so dapper. Super smart. Both of you do.”

She turns the magazine round so I can see, and I have to admit we do look good. They managed to catch a brief moment when I wasn’t scowling, and of course, Jenna is smiling.

My mother holds her hand out for the magazine and Petra hands it over with a conspiratorial smile at me.

My father downs his brandy and rises, going to pour another. I join him to place my empty glass on the tray and can feel him repress a sigh.

“Alright, not the Dubarry girl, but this is far from over, Rupert.”

I don’t answer, and I certainly don’t thank him, because from his tone, I understand it’s only a short stay of execution.

I quit my parents’ house and drive back to my place. As soon as I get home, I shut the door and lean against it. My own sanctuary. I’m not safe, but here at least I can think clearer. My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out, expecting it to be Jenna.

It’s Nate.

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