Page 27 of The House Guest
“Sure.” Benjamin peeked into the tray. “Not a bad effort.”
After he left the kitchen, I noticed Patsylooking at me funny.
“Hmm…” she said.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Patsy, what is it?”
“Something going on between you and Mr. Vanderbilt?” she finally asked.
It sounded funny to hear Dorian referred to asMr. Vanderbilt. Remington would always be the only Mr. Vanderbilt to me.
“Dorian and me?” I snorted uncomfortably. “No.”
“But he made this for the two of you, yes?”
I’d never said anything about who he made it for, but perhaps the guilty look on my face gave me away. “Yes, but it was just a friendly gesture.”
Patsy looked around then whispered, “You should be careful.”
My stomach dropped. “Why do you say that?”
“Just that…if he’s anything like his father, you should be careful about getting too close to him.”
My chest tightened. “Whatabouthis father, specifically?”
Patsy’s eyes began to water.
What the fuck?“What’s going on?” I asked, looking over my shoulder to make sure we were still alone. “Why are you upset?” When she didn’t clarify, I placed my arm gently around her. “Let’s go sit.”
We went to the breakfast nook.
Patsy stared out the window at the ocean. “There was a time before Remington married your aunt when he and I…got close.”
Got close.
Oh.
Okay, for some reason, this wasnotwhere I’d thought things were going, even if the tears should’ve clued me in.
“You had a relationship with him?”
She nodded. “If you want to call it that.”
Wow. Patsy and Remington Vanderbilt…
Holy shit.
Did not see this coming.
Was I naïve that this seemed so surprising? Despite only ever seeing her in a housekeeper’s uniform, I knew Patsy was an attractive woman. She was older than my aunt, but I could certainly see why Remington might’ve been interested.
“How did it happen?”
“One night, I was working late. He asked me to stay and talk. I’d always had a secret crush on him. I mean, who wouldn’t? He was a handsome guy, just like Dorian is. But I never thought he saw me in the same light.”
