Page 42 of Lovely Deceit

I welcome their outrage at my actions. Maybe that means I’m actually doing something right.

Footsteps echo around the room, and I finally pick my chin up, lifting my gaze to the upper level’s stone arches surrounding the room.

Sir Jarvis is the first to arrive. He stands in the middle, and then the spots to his left and right fill in. After they settle, Eden walks out. She takes the vacant spot to Jarvis’ left, and I swallow hard. She’s using the same crutches she was the other night, and she looks so broken next to the main Elder that I worry for her being that close. Her gaze passes over me as the other Knights file in, but I’m consumed by her stare. The firelight licks in her irises before she looks away. Behind her, Leo and Oliver fill in the space, and a punch in the gut tells me how wrong this is.

I should be next to her. Not here.

“Knight Barclay, are you here of your own will?” Sir Jarvis asks.

“Yes.”

“Do you understand the complaint against you?”

“Yes.”

“Do you refute the complaint against you?”

“No.”

There’s some shuffling on the upper level, the other Elders moving around. I know this is a power play, but I never realized how effective it would be. They all stare down at me, the hoods of their robes obscuring their identities, even though I’m well acquainted with every member of the Elder status.

For a moment, I think about what it would feel like to be Eden. Just a Pledge, now a Fledgling. And a woman. Someone they would look down on, anyway. I’m surprised they even took her complaint seriously, to be honest.

An idea sparks in my head. It’s an asshole thing to do, but it just might show Eden why I did what I did.

“Then we have no choice but to punish you for your outright refusal to follow my order.”

“Yes, Sir,” I say again, but this time, I’m buoyed by the fact that I might have a plan. Eden will hate me at first, but it might just work to clear the air of everything that’s happened.

My stomach pitches as I await the punishment. They could hurt me in my reputation, my finances, any current business dealings, though I don’t believe they’ll act that way. Eden has no businesses right now to give up some of my holdings to, unless they give them to the Astor line.

“Along with returning to your duty of assisting Fledgling Astor’s Knight process, it is with the Elders’ approval that you are ordered to give up one share of your Barclay holdings to each of the Elders in hopes that you will learn that thinking yourself above following our orders is a grave, grave mistake.”

My heart skips a beat as I make the calculations in my head. With the number of Elders and the shares I’m giving away, I’ll take a huge hit. I won’t be destitute by any means, but this is a low blow.

I swallow. Apparently I was wrong to assume that my punishment would be something in favor of Eden. They don’t see it as a grievance against her at all. It’s only about not following their orders.

“My CFO will make it happen.” My father’s going to go ballistic, but I can’t back out of this. Jarvis nods once and appears to be about to call the punishment meeting to a close when I speak up again. “Sir Jarvis, might I suggest a rapport building exercise with Miss Astor to ease our relationship?” His already beady eyes narrow, but I trudge forward. “I believe my relationship with her has been broken, and I would like to make sure that what I’ve done can be overcome. Perhaps the Deceit Test?”

“You mother—”

Sir Jarvis silences his grandson with a raise of his hand. Eden and Oliver appear worried now. It is a dickhead thing to do, but one I think the elder Jarvis will go for. The Deceit Test is not often used unless there’s a feud between Knights that cannot be overcome.

Judging by the confused expression on Eden’s face, I gather she hasn’t gotten that far in the Knights manual she was given the other day.

“You’re certain Fledgling Astor would have a problem accepting you back?”

I nod solemnly. “I attempted to apologize to her earlier, but she refused to listen to me.”

Sir Jarvis straightens his shoulders, and an ugly look crosses his face. “I don’t take these observations lightly. The very backbone of the Knights is built upon our relationships. Deceit Test approved and to be completed immediately.” He turns to Eden. “Then we can put this behind us as soon as possible.”

The smile he gives her is more a conniving smirk. He’s going to enjoy this.

22

Eden

Oliver and I are separated immediately. Leo’s at his grandfather’s ear but is shooed away like he’s an inconsequential gnat.

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