Page 157 of The Grosvenor's Ghost
He nods back, smiles again. “Can I take it off?”
His hand is already trailing up the buttons. “Only if you promise to talk to your family. Maybe not Sebastian but at least Ev. I know she misses you, Arthur.”
“Fine,” he relents with an eye roll. “Now can I take my shirt off?”
I tug the bottom of his t-shirt. “I’d love it if you did.”
He laughs, crashes his lips to mine and you know the rest by now. It’s the same as two plus two being four and circles having no straight edges. This is just who we are and even though it isn’t fair or nice or particularly straight forward, there aren't a lot of things in life that are. Every love will be different to yours. And isn’t that wonderful? There will be no two of the same kinds of love.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Prince Arthur
I stayed away because it’s what I thought everyone wanted.
My family is a fucking curse, we know that but being around them—in their presence just emphasises that. Maybe I feel bad for saying that because there were good times, too, before Theo. When he died, though, everything shifted slightly to the left. Our entire dynamic is off center now and it doesn’t feel right. I don’t think it ever will.
Ev will never be ten again, I’ll never be thirteen but Theo will always be seventeen.
I stand on the doorstep, think about knocking, think about going away but then I remember my promise to Phoebe so I knock and Delphine answers.
She smiles warmly, welcomes me in and then sends me through to the living room where my parents and sister are. No site of Seb. Can’t say that I’m upset over that. Whole country has gone off him—me included.
Mum jumps up, hugs me. “This is a nice surprise!”
I stare into her clear blue eyes. They’re almost transparent. “You knew I was coming.”
She tuts. “It doesn’t matter. It’s just so lovely to see you.”
I sit down on the sofa. Dad gives me his usual acknowledgment of a slight chin nod while Ev doesn’t look up from her phone.
“So…” Mum smiles, glancing at us all.
“So?” I nod, shift awkwardly.
She taps my knee. “How are you and Astrid getting on?”
Ev looks up from her phone.
I pull back. “What?”
“You and Astrid!" Mum says like it’s obvious.
“Yeah,” I nod. “What about us?”
“She wants to know if you’re shagging her,” Ev interrupts pointedly.
“Evangeline!” Dad shouts. “Room! Now!”
She scoffs, rolls her eyes. “It was getting cold in here, I decided to break the ice!”
“I don’t care,” he laughs dryly. “That is no way to talk to anyone!”
She rolls her eyes one last time before storming off upstairs.
“Well…?” Mum gives me a nudge, looks a little hopeful. “Are you?”
“Jesus, Mum!” I look at her. Look at my dad, too. “Is that the only reason you ever want to talk to me? To find out who I’m sleeping with? I don’t remember that ever being your business.”
