Page 7 of Fortune's Ashes
She shrugged but I saw the concern in her eyes. ‘Lord Horvath,’ she began. ‘Does—’
I shook my head. ‘He doesn’t know and it’s not why I left him. I only just found out myself.’ I dropped my gaze. I’d been staying with Laura since the day Lukas had proposed to me and I’d realised I was a Cassandra. Until now, she hadn’t asked any awkward questions and had simply welcomed me into her home. Frankly, she’d been extraordinarily good to me over the last few weeks, but I didn’t want to outstay my welcome. ‘If I’m in the way here, let me know. I won’t take it personally and there are other places I can go.’
Laura’s eyes widened. ‘Piss off. You can stay as long as you want to. I enjoy the company. You know you’re going to have to face him sooner or later, though.’ She paused. ‘Right?’
Lukas’s dark features flashed into my head and I felt a heart-rending stab of pain. Yeah, a baby meant I had to speak to him. I couldn’t avoid him now, although it helped that I knew that he’d be the most amazing father no matter what else was going on with me. Even so, I wanted nothing more than to go back to bed, pull the duvet over my head and wish for the rest of the world to go away.
I cricked my neck. ‘I’m late for work,’ I muttered. ‘I ought to go.’ At least Supe Squad would give me enough to do that I could forget my current situation for a few hours. I reminded myself that I had to find a solicitor, too. The baby news had put Alan Cobain on the back burner but I doubted he was a problem that would go away.
Laura patted my shoulder. ‘I’m always here when you’re ready to talk.’
Feeling very small and very pathetic, I looked down at my feet. There was a drop of orange vomit on my shoe. My mouth tightened. ‘Thanks,’ I mumbled.
Laura gave me a reassuring smile. ‘Take care, Emma.’
I brushed my teeth, cleaned my shoe and headed out of Laura’s homely flat. The three vamps from the day before had been replaced by another hapless trio. I stared at them from across the street then, with shaky hands, I took out my phone.
Lukas answered on the first ring. ‘D’Artagnan.’
I’d rehearsed this conversation over and over and over in my head but I might as well not have bothered. The sound of Lukas’s voice sent my brain into meltdown and, instead of saying something, I stood there breathing silence into the receiver like a deranged stalker.
His tone altered. ‘Are you alright?’ he asked roughly.
I swallowed hard. ‘Yes.’ The word was little more than a whisper.
‘You don’t sound alright. Stay there. I’m on my way over to you now.’
That did it. I wasn’t ready for a face-to-face conversation. I needed more time. I licked my lips and found the words I needed. ‘No!’ I pulled a face, realising how I sounded. ‘I mean, not yet. I’m fine, Lukas. Honest.’
‘Emma…’
‘Please, Lukas. Not yet.’
It was his turn to descend into pained silence. Several beats passed before he growled again, ‘It’s been twenty-three days.’
My shoulders sagged. ‘I know.’
‘Twenty-threedays, Emma.’
‘I know,’ I whispered again.
‘I realise my proposal came out of the blue. I’m sorry if it shocked you and you’re not ready for that yet. I’ve tried to give you space.’
‘And I appreciate that, I really do.’ I took the plunge. ‘It’s not the proposal, Lukas. That’s not why I left.’
‘Then what? Why did you run away?’
He didn’t hide the pain in his voice but I couldn’t answer his question over the phone. ‘We need to meet in person and I’ll tell you all of it.’
‘I’ll get my car.’
‘No.’ I had work to do and so did Lukas. It would be better to wait until the evening when we were both free and there wouldn’t be any interruptions. This was already going to be hard enough. ‘Tonight. Let’s talk tonight.’
‘You’ll come to Heart?’
I couldn’t face his club and all those curious, prying eyes. ‘Not there.’
‘Home, then?’
